Animal Farm Group

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a12345
a12345
Student

In chp 4 of Animal Farm, how does Orwell achieve a balance between the serious and the comic? Why does he include the comic element?

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Posted by a12345 on Sunday December 14, 2008 at 4:43 PM and tagged with animal farm, comic elements, plot.

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  1. jessecreations
    jessecreations Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    On the serious side of this chapter, the animals make their stand against the humans and declare their independence from their oppressors.  They are organized and well-prepared for the fight, and they triumph over those they feel are there to force them into a life of servitude.  It is the victory of the slaves over the slaveholders.

    On the comic side, it's a bunch of pigs and other animals beating up a bunch of humans.  It is interesting to picture in your head, a bunch of grown men getting beaten by pigs and sheep.  It is also rather unrealistic to assume that animals could be so well organized and people could be so stupid. 

    So what is the point?  Well, some of the comedy may be there to show Orwell's true feelings about the people his characters represent.  What does it say, for example, that he chose pigs to represent the leaders of the Russian revolution?  Surely the symbolism there cannot be missed.  Also, using comedy makes the story more approachable, and might encourage more people to read the book and therefore receive Orwell's message.  If his book had been too serious, it might have offended many of the people he was trying to reach, and his message could have been lost.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/animal

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    Posted by jessecreations on Monday December 15, 2008 at 7:33 AM