Collectivist Debate

The Collectivist Debate

The Debate and It's Effects on Literature

George Orwell's Animal Farm

Description

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This socialist debate soon spilled over to the popular literature of the time. In particular, George Orwell became strong critic of the socialist ideals. In particular, his 1946 book Animal Farm accurately depicts a cartoon adaption Hayek introduced following the publication of his book The Road to Serfdom.

In Orwell’s book we see the introduction of central planning coming from war-time necessity. The reader is also introduced to the central planners, the pigs (Napoleon, Snowball, and Squeaker) who take it upon themselves to teach and organize the other animals on the Manor Farm for the upcoming rebellion. The pigs push forward the idea of rebellion with the promise that no mouths will go unfed and that every animal would be free. As we move to chapter 3 in Animal Farm we can see that directly view themselves as the supervisors and are becoming like the planner is Hayek's Road to Serfdom. On page 30 we read that “the pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume leadership.” Around this time we can see the pigs planning, instituting resolutions, and forming committees

Similarly, the cartoon portrays the idea of planning begin due to war-time situations in order to fully mobilize the nation's economy. In the same regard as Orwell's book, the cartoon demonstrates that once the war (or rebellion) is over, the planners want to stay in power and promise a Utopian society with hopes of remaining in power.

The cartoon then demonstrates a potential flaw of planning is that the planners cannot agree on a single plan. The argument is based on the fact that for each individual planner has an incentive to get their particular plan passed and will not cooperate with others. Not only that, but the cartoon shows that even if plan is introduced, citizens often disagree whether it was the correct plan (often these disagreements occur between two different groups of people (e.g. farmers and factory workers)).

On page 34 we see that Orwell captures the potential flaw that Hayek discusses when he contends "Snowball and Napoleon were by the most active in the debates. But it was noticed that they were never in agreement: whatever suggestion either one of them made, the other could be counted on to oppose it." As the book continues the reader is brought to the attention of the windmill debate. Here we see Snowball presenting the idea of the windmill, and Napoleon vehemently opposing it. At one point he (Napoleon) urinates on the construction plans. We also see at this time, that the plan of building the windmill has also divided the farm into two factions.

Two parties are formed (1) with Snowball and for the construction of the windmill and (2) with Napoleon and against the construction of windmill. During a great debate, Napoleon seizes power using 9 enormous dogs who he has under his control. These dogs chase out the only opponent,Snowball, leaving only Napoleon to become the leader of Manor Farm.

Description

Here we notice a slight discontinuity between the cartoon and the events within Animal Farm. Within the cartoon the people become tired of the fighting and constant disagreements among the planners want to get a man who can make the plan work. However, the end is the same in both the literature and the cartoon. The "strong man" (Napoleon) takes power and has complete control over the daily workings of society.

On page 62 we see how propaganda plays a important role in ensuring obedience and loyalty from all of the animals. After Napoleon has taken control of the farm, Squealer (another pig) is sent around to explain the situation to all the other animals. He begins by arguing about the sacrifice that Napoleon has made and that leadership brings heavy responsibility. He also proclaims that "bravery is not enough, loyalty and obedience are more important." He also threatens that disobedience will bring back their enemies (the farmer, Mr. Jones).

We also begin to see the manipulation of events to create a united coalition of farm animals by implicating the ousted pig, Snowball, as being a traitor and in cahoots with the humans. On 65 Orwell writes, "and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor...had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers." We see this portrayal of Snowball as the enemy or traitor again after the windmill they had been building was blown down: "Comrades, do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!" Observing the cartoon depiction of the Road to Serfdom, we also see how it is not uncommon for the newly appointed (whether by force or misfortune) dictator to use a negative aim at a particular person or group of people. As the cartoon asserts, in Germany the negative aim was Antisemitism.

In both the cartoon and Orwell's book we also see the use of secret police to keep anyone from opposing the plan and to impose the dictator's will. Specifically, on page 85 in Animal Farm the hens on the farm are told that they must give up their eggs because Napoleon had signed a contract for four hundred eggs a week. The hens protested saying that taking the eggs should be considered murder. They proceeded to lay their eggs up in the rafters. Napoleon then ordered his dogs to stop their rations until they went back to their boxes and allowed their eggs to be taken. From this situation 9 hens died, but all the other animals were told that a disease had led to their death.

Description

As we move towards the end of the cartoon, we are left with the idea that the strong man controls every aspect of an individual's life determining what a person does for recreation, for a profession, and even so far as telling someone what to think. Orwell uses these ideas when he writes about every animal required to work on the windmill and the chickens required to turn over their eggs to be sold. Similarly, Orwell demonstrates that Napoleon attempts to change historical events and the way that the animals view things through the book by showing how the seven original commandments were changed to permit actions that he (Napoleon) felt were entitled to him.

Animal Farm concludes with the striking reality that the oppression and misery experienced when the farm was controlled by Mr. Jones is no different from the reign of Napoleon and the pig "planners" after the rebellion took place. The animals are still hungry, still labored, and still received no extra benefits from what they produced. In the end, Orwell seems to have been taken the words of Hayek very seriously when he argues that planning may very well put society down the path to the Road to Serfdom. His literature follows very accurately the cartoon version of the Road to Serfdom and the subtleties in Animal Farm display the distrust Orwell seems to have regarding any type of central planning.