Reflections on the 1917 Russian Revolution in George Orwell's Animal Farm: M.H. Abrams' Mimetic Approach

Authors

  • Dyah Shofiah Universitas Billfath
  • Wilujeng Asih Purwani Universitas Billfath

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61132/morfologi.v4i1.2603

Keywords:

Animal Farm, Mimetic Approach, Russian Revolution, Social Conflict, Social Revolution

Abstract

This study analyzes George Orwell's novel Animal Farm as a reflection of social conflicts in the 1917 Russian Revolution using M.H. Abrams' mimetic approach. The novel functions as an allegory, with Mr. Jones representing Tsar Nicholas II, Snowball as Leon Trotsky, and Napoleon as Joseph Stalin. Through the mimetic approach, this research identifies how the rebellion, power struggles, and the corruption of revolutionary ideals are depicted in the novel, ultimately leading to dictatorship that mirrors the regime they initially rejected. Orwell highlights how the revolution's original vision of equality was ultimately betrayed by the new leaders. The findings of this study show that Animal Farm not only critiques Stalinism but also reflects broader social and political phenomena related to the concentration of power, abuse of authority, and the cyclical nature of power in history. This study supports mimetic theory by demonstrating how literature can deeply reflect historical realities, contributing to the discourse in both literature and politics, and serving as a reminder of the dangers of authoritarianism.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abrams, M. H. (1953). The mirror and the lamp: Romantic theory and the critical tradition. Oxford University Press.

Agustin, R. (2019). Social conflict in Easy A movie: A mimetic study. Journal of Literature and Culture Studies, 7(2), 45–58.

Davenport, J. C. (2010). The Bolshevik revolution. Chelsea House Publishers.

Fadaee, E. (2011). Symbols, metaphors, and similes in literature: A case study of Animal Farm. International Journal of English and Literature, 2(2), 19–27.

Fitzpatrick, S. (2017). The Russian revolution. Oxford University Press.

Kershaw, I. (2004). Totalitarianism revisited. Contemporary European History, 13(2), 151–173. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960777304001626

Lohr, E. (2020). Russia in World War I: The collapse of the Tsarist Empire. Harvard University Press.

Meyers, J. (2001). Orwell and totalitarianism. The Sewanee Review, 109(2), 261–274.

Moorehead, C. (2017). The Russian revolution: A new history. Random House.

Orwell, G. (1945). Animal farm. Secker & Warburg.

Patai, D. (2008). Orwell and the uses of language. College Literature, 35(4), 71–90.

Peters, J. (2010). Satire and social justice in Orwell's Animal Farm. Studies in the Novel, 42(4), 451–467.

Rodden, J. (2002). The reception of George Orwell in the West. Modern Age, 44, 45–57.

Service, R. (2005). Stalinism and ideology. History Today, 55(3), 14–20.

Shelden, M. (2010). Orwell: The authorized biography. HarperCollins.

Steinberg, M. D. (2017). The Russian revolution, 1905–1921. Oxford University Press.

Tucker, R. C. (2001). The political culture of Stalinism revisited. Slavic Review, 60(3), 567–582.

Downloads

Published

2026-02-28

How to Cite

Dyah Shofiah, & Purwani, W. A. (2026). Reflections on the 1917 Russian Revolution in George Orwell’s Animal Farm: M.H. Abrams’ Mimetic Approach. Morfologi : Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan, Bahasa, Sastra Dan Budaya, 4(1), 127–134. https://doi.org/10.61132/morfologi.v4i1.2603

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.