Czar Nicholas II- A Brief Description.
Tsar Nicholas II came into power in 1896 at an exceptionally turbulent time in the Russian monarchy. Russia experienced three changes of power just in the period between 1825 and 1894 where Alexander I and Alexander II had been revolted against and assassinated, respectively. The Russian people were extremely unhappy with the czars, and Nicholas did not do much to dissolve the tension.
In the same way that the Russian monarchy was the government system before Russian communism, Mr Jones is the predecessor to Animalism. Czar Nicholas, his actions, and characteristics are represented by the humans in Animal Farm (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008). We can see the similarities between them through the following events:
In the same way that the Russian monarchy was the government system before Russian communism, Mr Jones is the predecessor to Animalism. Czar Nicholas, his actions, and characteristics are represented by the humans in Animal Farm (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008). We can see the similarities between them through the following events:
Russian Revolution.1) Nicholas II leaves Russia at a time of turbulence to be at the front line of war.
2) Empress Alexandra's poor ruling and trust in corrupted advisors.
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Animal Farm Event.1) Mr Jones indulges in drinking all the time. Both at night and in the day. He leaves the care of the animals to the farmhands who do a poor job and lack responsibility like him.
2) Mrs Jones' passive behavior and fleeing.
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Analysis.1) Mr Jones' irresponsible behavior can be interpreted as Nicholas II’s need for autocratic rule but lack of responsibility to the people. Mr Jones is the head of the farm and relies on the farmhands to do all the world while he drinks and sleeps the day away. The farmhands do not feed the animals and indulge themselves, although on a smaller scale than Jones. The farmhands represent the corrupted members of Nicholas's court who only benefit themselves (Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008).
Was Orwell successful? Orwell mirrors Nicholas with Mr Jones and makes the similarities so apparent so as to make identifying parallels with the Russian revolution later on in the novel easier. By making the parallels easier to see, the reader can experience Orwell's thoughts, making understanding his message interactive. Orwell is successful in this, although perhaps it is sometimes a little too obvious; but this can be interpreted as making it easy for the average reader. By making the experience of reading the book interactive, the message at the end is much more vivid and effective. 2) A result of Nicholas's absence in Russia was Empress Alexandra's poor ruling. There is no evidence given of Mrs Jones attempting to stop Mr Jones' drinking, and Mrs Jones is oblivious to the farmhands' irresponsibility. This can be interpreted as Alexandra's wrong trust in people at court and most of all: Rapsutin, the mystic healer. The last indication we have of Mrs Jones is of her being the first to flee quietly from the farm when the animals begin to revolt; mirroring the Romanov's escape from Russia.
Was Orwell successful? Orwell's lack of inclusion of Mrs Jones has a larger impact than if he had included her. The fact that Mrs Jones is a very minor character actually makes the parallels between her and Alexandra's irresponsibility more apparent. By including the other humans just enough, Orwell also highlights the overall lack of responsibility of the aristocrats as a whole and not only the czar. Orwell is successful in showing that all the humans lack responsibility, and therefor implies his own disapproval of the bourgeoisie. By making his disapproval clear, Orwell takes away the possible suspicion that he sympathizes with them and that he aims to target Stalin's methods. |
Sources.
Shmoop Editorial Team. (November 11, 2008). Mr. and Mrs. Jones (humans) in Animal Farm. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from http://www.shmoop.com/animal-farm/mr-jones-mrs-jones.html