Compare and Contrast Essay: Animal Farm and Anthem

The characters quests for freedom in both Animal Farm and Anthem are not spontaneous
occurrences, but rather are inspired by the teachings and promises of freedom from a
knowledgeable source. The characters do not possess this knowledge or inspiration on their
own because it has been suppressed by the authorities of their society.

Erika Ortega
ENG2DA-01
Due: September 26th, 2012
Submitted: September 26th, 2012
Submitted To: Mr. de Melo

Ortega C & C Essay 1

Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or
restraint. Throughout history, freedom has only been a rumor whispered among those who do
not possess it. Only through this knowledge of the possibility of having the power to choose how
you live your life can it be achieved, because one cannot work towards something if it is
unknown to them. The characters quests for freedom in both Animal Farm and Anthem are not
spontaneous occurrences, but rather are inspired by the teachings and promises of freedom
from a knowledgeable source. The characters do not possess this knowledge or inspiration on
their own because it has been suppressed by the authorities of their society. The authors had
the ability to express their opinions on the impact of a lack of education in a society as well as
the dangers of collectivism and communism and how they relate to greed through their
characters and situations.
George Orwell tells the story of animals living under the control of Mr. Jones, the farmer,
unaware of the idea that a life without humans is possible. They live this way until one pig, Old
Major, brings to their attention an opportunity to better their lives by ridding themselves from the
tyranny of humans. This pig, who is highly regarded by the farm animals, is the first to propose
the idea of work[ing] night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race!
(Orwell loc 63). Through an elaborate speech, Old Major proceeds to move the animals and
make them aware of the potential lives that they could experience with freedom as opposed to
the life they would face under the rule of their current master, Mr. Jones. He includes in his
speech frightening facts of life for a farm animal, informing them that, no animal escapes the
cruel knife in the end. You young porkers, who are sitting in front of me, every one of you will
scream your lives out at the block within a year. To that horror we all must come (56). This
information makes his speech all the more convincing and inspiring for the animals, taking
advantage of their fear to drive them to rebellion. Old Majors words serve as both the kindling

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and fire for this impending inferno, because these thoughts would never have occurred in most
of the animals minds without them. Without the proper education and will, they could never be
capable of merely proposing the idea of rebellion, let alone carry it out. In addition to planting
the idea of rebellion into the animals minds, Old Major also planted hope in the form of the song
Beasts of England. Riches more than mind can picture, Wheat and Barley, oats and hay,
clovers, beans, and mangel-wurzels, Shall be ours upon that day (95) are the words of
encouragement and optimism in the song, telling of the pleasures that will come with the day
that man is eradicated as the masters of beasts, the future golden time (95). The song is a
beacon of hope and a light at the end of the tunnel for the farm animals during the rebellion,
helping them keep optimistic even though their lives do not better after Mr. Jones banishment.
The song further inspires them to work towards freedom, and because it had such an impact on
the animals, the rebellion would have been much more difficult or impossible to carry out. Old
Major instigated the uprising of the animals by providing them with; promises of good fortune
and prosperity, warnings of the possible future, and a beacon of hope to help inspire them. It
was only through the combination of these things provided by him that lead to the success of
their rebellion.
Anthem is the story of Equality 7-2521 who unknowingly embarks on the journey to
freedom from the collective society he is subjected to. Never does he understand why he feels
and thinks the way he does until he gives in to his instinct, allowing himself to feel good about
his differences and division from other people. Only after he discovers the Unspeakable Word,
I, banished by his collectivist leaders in an attempt to completely eliminate individualism, does
he recognize what was urging him, from inside and out, to realize his individuality and break free
from his uniform society. The most important of these motivators for Equality 7-2521-- though he
does not understand it until his quest is complete-- is that of his human instinct, embedded in
the human heart and mind by nature. This causes him to feel, think, and do things which are

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unacceptable and seen as evil, which leads him to the conclusion that [he was] born with a
curse...but there is no will in [him] and no power to resist it (Rand loc 23). He cannot resist it
because he knows in his heart and at the back of his mind that his curse is in fact his gift that is
not to be ignored. In addition to his human spirit guiding his thoughts and actions, which lead
him to question and eventually disobey the laws of his society, he is also influenced by an
outside source that produces further rebellion and doubt in his mind about the great We. The
Transgressor, another human who is gifted with an understanding of his spirit and individuality,
directs Equality 7-2521s mind to the Unspeakable Word as a child, encouraging him to
embrace his curse and take action. Because the eyes of the Transgressor had chosen [him]
from the crowd and were looking straight upon [him]...and it seemed as if these eyes were trying
to tell [him] something through the flames, to send into [his] eyes some word without sound
(345), Equality 7-2521 had the audacity and determination to challenge the way of life that he
has always known. The Transgressors burning sparked Equality 7-2521s curiosity for the
Unspeakable Word, a trait of his that is not easily dismissed, which allowed him to succeed in
his quest for truth and freedom. As a result of this urging from within himself to give in to his
curse and from others who knew the truth, Equality 7-2521 was given the courage and
motivation to achieve the freedom he realizes but always knew to be right.
The world that Orwell illustrates through the farm is one in where the most intelligent and
cunning have the power over those who are inferior in these aspects. Because of this, a society
where all are equal can never exist, due to the lack of effort required for personal gain and
manipulation of others combined with the greed of these intellectually superior few who seize
power and seek to keep it using whatever means are necessary. The pigs on the farm,
specifically Napoleon and Squealer, use their intellect to acquire and maintain control over the
farm and its inhabitants by taking advantage of their poor memories and ability to think for
themselves. Although the actions of the pigs were initially out of good intentions, they

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progressed into selfish deeds, rooted solely in their personal gain. Due to this hunger for power
and luxuries exclusive to the leaders of the farm, they soon felt the need to manipulate their
once-comrades as to prevent doubts and thoughts of opposition or rebellion. If there was any
uncertainty in the animals minds of their leaders intentions, the pigs would swiftly make their
way out of the conflict, subtly changing or adding words to laws so that they are never
incompliant with them. One of the most major of these changes was that of the commandment
No animal shall kill any other animal (Orwell loc 770) to No animal shall kill any other animal
without cause (770), after the slaughtering of traitors to the farm as ordered by Napoleon.
This manipulation of words serves one purpose for the pigs keeping the animals trust and
remaining in power of the farm. They could also talk their way out of trouble by proposing
ridiculous excuses to the rather gullible population on the farm. It is for your sake that we drink
that milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty?
Jones would come back! (297) was Squealers excuse for the pigs taking the apples and milk
for themselves rather than sharing it equally amongst the animals. This logic was not
questioned, because if there was one thing the animals were completely certain of, it was that
they did not want Jones back (297). Their ability to be manipulated so easily, simply by the
mention of their previous master, made the animals extremely vulnerable to the pigs methods,
only encouraging the pigs to further exploit them. They enjoyed their authority and life of luxury
while in command, and they constantly manipulated words and used false logic to serve one
selfish purpose keeping the animals trust and therefore remaining in power of the farm.
The authority in Rands collectivist world consists of the World Council and many smaller
councils distributed in various cities, such as the Council of Scholars that Equality 7-2521
speaks of frequently. They are in charge of decisions of all sorts, from how to punish
transgressors to if they should accept new technologies. Since these councils act as the mind of
the collective society, they are, naturally, the enforcers and preachers of the great We. It had

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been that way for many generations, the mould on engravings and withered items from the
Unmentionable Times evidence of the years that had passed. Throughout this time, the Council
of Scholars, under the jurisdiction of the World Council, successfully eliminated individuality
from the minds of the people, and in doing so, they themselves ceased to be aware of its
benefits. So much time had passed that the notion of happily living as individuals had slipped
from the minds of those who had the power to change their society. When Equality 7-2521
presented the Council of Scholars with his glass box and ideas they were hesitant and afraid of
the independence that Equality 7-2521 had shown in rebuilding and revealing this technology.
Their fear is then conquered by their ignorance of individuality and unwillingness to question the
way they (and many before them) have lived, and the rules that they have followed for so long.
These are the main reasons that the authority in Equality 7-2521s society suppresses
knowledge of freedom from the people. In addition to their ignorance and fear, the Council of
Scholars saw not the opportunity for technological advancement, but only an evil man
attempting to prove himself to be better than others, going against the society that they have
known their entire lives. They rejected Equality 7-2521s invention, stating, among many things,
that many men in the Homes of the Scholars have had strange new ideas...but when the
majority of their brother Scholars voted against them, they abandoned their ideas, as all men
must (Rand loc 547) and that if this should lighten the toil of men, then it is a great evil, for
men have no cause to exist save in toiling for other men (558). One member also proceeds to
remind the room that [i]t took fifty years to secure the approval of the Councils for the
Candle...and to re-fit the Plans so as to make candles instead of torches. (558) All of these
reasons for rejection-- if they can be described as reasons rather than excuses-- reveal that
their refusal was not only due to the fact that the box was created by an individual, but that they
were also disguising their own selfishness under the pretense that their actions were for the
greater good. If the focus of the councils was only the good of humanity, it would never have
taken so long to approve the beneficial candle with a unanimous decision, demonstrating that

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the councils do not wish to advance technologically if it is not to their credit, adding extra
incentive to suppress the knowledge and inspiration for freedom.
Both Equality 7-2521s quest to escape from his collective society and the animals
attempt at bettering their lives through rebellion would never have succeeded without
encouragement, suggestion and guidance from a well-informed source. They rose up against
their leaders-- those who had held back these necessary elements for freedom out of
selfishness, fear and ignorance-- after learning the truth about their lives. The characters
learned the meaning of freedom, against the wishes of the authority of their society, and
executed the necessary actions to achieve it, demonstrating the authors views on the
importance of freedom, and the lengths that we, as humans, can go to to suppress or attain it.