Animal Farm , written by George Orwell , is a political fable that tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their cruel human master, hoping to create a society where all animals are equal, free, and happy. Inspired by the dream of the wise old pig Old Major, the animals overthrow the farmer Mr. Jones and take control of the farm, renaming it Animal Farm. At first, the animals work together to build an egalitarian community based on the principles of Animalism, summarized in the Seven Commandments painted on the barn wall. However, over time, the pigs—led by the cunning and power-hungry Napoleon—begin to seize control. They gradually assume privileges, manipulate language and truth, and use fear and propaganda to maintain power. Eventually, they become indistinguishable from the humans they once overthrew. This allegory clearly reflects the events of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the rise of Stalinism. The animals represent different social and political groups...
After Queen Victoria's death, her son Edward VII came to the throne in 1901.
His reign was characterized by widespread industrialization, the growth of urban areas, an increase in population and the extension of the transport network. On Edward VII's death, his son George V came to the throne in 1910. This period was characterized by Belle Époque which ended with the outbreak of the First World War.
In June 1914 the heir to the Austrian throne, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was assassinated in Sarajevo, Serbia, during an official state visit.
Immediately, Austria and Germany declared war on Serbia and, next months, France, Russia and Britain sided with Serbia.
According to historians, the economic and political instabilities, which date back to 40 years ago, were real causes of the First World War. These causes are recognizable in the division of the global market (French-English capitalism against German capitalism) by European countries and the affirmation of its political supremacy.
This division was easily organized according to the two opposed alliances;
- the Triple Alliance (1882): which included Austria-Hungary empire, Germany and Italy;
- the Triple Entente (1907): which included France, England and Russia.
The main contrasts between European countries were:
- French-German conflict (1870-71): which was based on possession of Alsace and Lorraine between Germany and France. France lost this conflict and was animated by the desire for revenge against Germany;
- Anglo-German contrast for the growing economic power of Germany and for the division of the German colonies in Africa which broke the continuity of the English ones;
- Austriac-Russian conflict over hegemony in the Balkan region.
In 1918 the First World War ended.
During the war, over 900.000 British troops died. Britain had fought the war mostly in the trenches of northern France and World War I was a shock for a whole generation which was faced with the horrors of modern warfare.
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