Which Orwell book do you think best anticipates the BFEE?

[XemaSab]

Animal Farm or 1984?

[jane_pippin]

1. I think they thought 1984 was a "How-To" book. Hence my gentle reminder

in the old sig line.

[Ariana Celeste]

2. 1984 for sure

I re-read it just recently, and it was eerie :scared:

[XemaSab]

3. I think Animal Farm's pretty prescient

It's what they've been doing to the constitution.... changing it, right in front of us. And the sheep...

[Ariana Celeste]

5. Orwell sure knew what he was talking about

{sigh}

Need to pick up Animal Farm again and refresh my memory

[hobo_baggins]

4. Animal Farm is about communism...

the BFEE is anything but communist.

[XemaSab]

6. It's true that Animal Farm is about communism

but mind control is mind control, no matter time or place.

[ET Awful]

11. Saying Animal Farm is about communism is oversimplifying it

by a large margin.

The concepts shown in Animal Farm can just as easily apply to other forms of government. After all, our own system of government is based on concepts very similar to what the animals in animal farm used initially (all men are created equal for example).

On its face, yes it is about communism (just as on its face, 1984 is about socialism, the "party" of Big Brother is INGSOC, a socialist party), but the story is about much more than just a particular form of government, it's about how easily corruptible government is, and how easily lead the masses are.

[ghostsofgiants]

13. Actually it's more about Stalinism and corruptibility of government...

Than it is about communism itself. Orwell was a socialist, after all, he just rejected the Soviet (especially Stalinist totalitarian) style. He was actually heavily influence by Trotsky in that regard. (Though he wasn't a Trotskyist.)

That's how I see it anyway, an allegory for corruptibility of government, based on the Russian revolution and especially Stalin's totalitarianism.

But then again, I haven't read it in almost 7 years, so I could be wrong.

[NMMNG]

7. Definitely 1984

The Rethugs don't even pay lip service to the ideal of equality, let alone attempt to achieve it. They openly pander to the uber-rich and the corporations while stealing from the middle class and shirking all duties to the needy. Therefore the quote from Animal Farm doesn't really apply.

[XemaSab]

8. It was the only quote from Animal Farm I could remember off the top

of my head.

The last time I read Animal Farm I was amazed at the crowd control techniques used, and the parallels between the book and now.

[NMMNG]

9. It's a good quote

And they do indeed think "some animals are more equal than others", but they don't even try to claim that "all animals are equal". That ideal of democracy was dropped years ago unfortunately. In fact, democracy has been left by the wayside, although they are claiming it is being instilled in Iraq :eyes:.

I myself can't recall any other quotes from Animal Farm off the top of my head as I haven't read it in a few years. I should read it again just to refresh my memory.

Here is a link to some quotes that you might find useful.

[billyskank]

10. Animal Farm doesn't anticipate anything. It's allegory.

Allegory necessarily looks backwards.

[XemaSab]

14. I tried to think of a good word to say what I meant

and I couldn't come up with one. :hi:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. It has to be Animal Farm.

Anyone that's read it recently can see it's pretty much their guide book for the "war on terror". Although there are a lot of parallels to 1984 as well, Animal Farm has pretty much been taken in its totality during the BFEE years, while 1984 is still slightly extreme for their comparison.

Now, if BFEE continues for another 10 years, 1984 will probably be more apt.