Animal Farm

It really is amazing how well this story, the writing, and the use of allegory has stood the test of time. It is just as relevant today as it was the day that it was published considering our current political climate. I read this in high school for my AP Lit class in like 10th grade and I remember thinking it was good then but I'm really glad I revisited it as an adult, fully being able to appreciate it for what it is.

Orwell heavily utilizes allegory in this novel with a fable about farm animals taking full control of their farm and overthrowing their human farmer representing events and figures of the Russian Revolution and the corruption of communism. Orwell uses the animal characters to explain how the ruling class abuses the working class, using their resources and labor for their own pleasure, how the working class is being brain washed that they are happy and satisfied and free despite of the obvious slavery they have been undergoing, and the timeless cyclical structure of revolution.

This is a timeless classic for the political satire genre and definitely a must-read for the younger generation. How sad that this novel is still being banned in different places across the world.