THROUGH ANIMALS TO HUMANITY: THE POWER AND STYLISTIC POTENTIAL OF ALLEGORY IN "ANIMAL ARM"

ACTIVE RESEARCHER SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL activeresearcher.com December, 2025 volume 2 issue 12 140 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17875450 THROUGH ANIMALS TO HUMANITY: THE POWER AND STYLISTIC POTENTIAL OF ALLEGORY IN “ANIMAL ARM” Rajabova Zilola Oybek qizi National university of Uzbekistan E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT This paper investigates how allegory functions stylistically in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Allegory enables writers to present complex social, political, and moral ideas through symbolic characters, events, and settings. In the novel, the farm and its animal inhabitants represent social classes and political leaders, while major events, such as the revolution and Napoleon’s rise to power, illustrate the dynamics of totalitarian regimes. Orwell skillfully combines allegorical representation with stylistic devices like metaphor, personification, and irony, enhancing both the narrative’s depth and its impact on the reader. This study shows that allegory in Animal Farm not only enriches literary expression but also encourages reflection on power, justice, and human behavior in society. Keywords: allegory, stylistic function, George Orwell, Animal Farm, political satire, symbolism, totalitarianism, literary analysis. ABSTRAKT Ushbu maqola Jorj Oruellning “Hayvonlar fermasi” asarida allegoriyaning stilistik jihatdan qanday ishlashini o‘rganadi. Allegoriya yozuvchilarga murakkab ijtimoiy, siyosiy va axloqiy g‘oyalarni ramziy qahramonlar, voqealar va muhitlar orqali taqdim etish imkonini beradi. Romanda ferma va uning hayvon aholisi ijtimoiy sinflar va siyosiy rahbarlarni ifodalaydi, inqilob va Napoleonning hokimiyat tepasiga kelishi kabi yirik voqealar esa totalitar rejimlarning dinamikasini aks ettiradi. Oruell ACTIVE RESEARCHER SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL activeresearcher.com December, 2025 volume 2 issue 12 141 allegorik tasvirni metafora, personifikatsiya va istehzo kabi stilistik vositalar bilan mohirona birlashtirib, hikoyaning chuqurligini ham, o‘quvchiga ta’sirini ham oshiradi. Ushbu tadqiqot shuni ko‘rsatadiki, “Hayvonlar fermasi” dagi allegoriya nafaqat adabiy ifodani boyitadi, balki jamiyatdagi hokimiyat, adolat va inson xattiharakatlari haqida mulohaza yuritishga ham undaydi. Kalit so‘zlar: allegoriya, stilistik funksiya, Jorj Oruell, “Hayvonlar fermasi”, siyosiy satira, simvolizm, totalitarizm, adabiy tahlil. АННОТАЦИЯ В данной статье исследуется стилистическая функция аллегории в романе Джорджа Оруэлла “Скотный двор”. Аллегория позволяет писателям представлять сложные социальные, политические и моральные идеи через символических персонажей, события и обстановку. В романе ферма и её животные-обитатели олицетворяют социальные классы и политических лидеров, а такие важные события, как революция и приход Наполеона к власти, иллюстрируют динамику тоталитарных режимов. Оруэлл умело сочетает аллегорическую репрезентацию со стилистическими приёмами, такими как метафора, олицетворение и ирония, усиливая как глубину повествования, так и его воздействие на читателя. Данное исследование показывает, что аллегория в романе “Скотный двор” не только обогащает литературное выражение, но и побуждает к размышлениям о власти, справедливости и поведении человека в обществе. Ключевые слова: aллегория, стилистическая функция, Джордж Оруэлл, “Скотный двор”, политическая сатира, символизм, тоталитаризм, литературный анализ. INTRODUCTION Literary works often reflect social and political realities through various artistic techniques, and one of the most effective among them is allegory. In many classic texts, ACTIVE RESEARCHER SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL activeresearcher.com December, 2025 volume 2 issue 12 142 writers use symbolic characters, events, and images to convey deeper meanings that go beyond the surface storyline. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is considered one of the most notable examples of this approach. Although the story is presented in the form of a simple animal fable, it addresses complex issues such as power, corruption, and social inequality. Understanding allegorical elements in literature is important because it helps readers interpret what the author intended to express indirectly. Instead of giving direct explanations, writers rely on symbols and figurative images, which require analytical thinking from the reader. This makes allegory not only a literary device but also a tool for critical reflection on real-life situations. In this article, I will discuss the symbolic images used in Animal Farm, their functions, and the overall role of allegory in interpreting different episodes of the novel. The aim is to show how Orwell transforms ordinary farm animals into representations of historical figures and political ideas, and how these elements contribute to the deeper meaning of the text. METHODS This study is based on literary analysis, which includes: • textual analysis of the novel Animal Farm to identify symbolic characters and allegorical representations; • comparison of the novel’s characters with historical figures such as Stalin, Trotsky, and the Soviet working class; • analysis of scholarly definitions of allegory by C. S. Lewis, Northrop Frye, M. H. Abrams, Jonathan Culler, and J. R. R. Tolkien; • examination of key passages, slogans, and symbols (e.g., “All animals are equal”, “Some animals are more equal than others”). These methods help interpret how allegory functions stylistically and ideologically in the novel. Allegory has long been recognized as one of the most important literary devices in literary studies. It allows authors to express complex social, political, or moral ideas through symbolic characters and imagery. Different scholars have described the function and characteristics of allegory in various ways. C. S. Lewis defines allegory as “expressing moral or spiritual truths through symbolic figures”. [44;358] According ACTIVE RESEARCHER SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL activeresearcher.com December, 2025 volume 2 issue 12 143 to him, allegory helps convey complex ideas in a way that readers can easily understand. Northrop Frye views allegory as a two-level text: “In allegory, the narrative always refers to another parallel set of ideas or historical events”. [89;252] This perspective shows that allegory encourages readers to think beyond the text itself and relate it to reality. M. H. Abrams emphasizes that allegory operates on two levels: “the literal story and the underlying meaning coexist”. [8;295] This approach presents allegory as a tool that invites readers to search for meaning beyond the surface narrative. Furthermore, Jonathan Culler describes allegory as a device that urges readers to interpret meanings not directly stated in the text. [62;146] According to him, allegory helps develop critical thinking in readers. The famous writer J. R. R. Tolkien, although not very fond of allegory, highlighted an important point about its interpretation by readers: “I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations… but I much prefer history - true or feigned - applied to the reader’s own thought”. [129;423] In addition, classic literary works have been extensively studied for their allegorical elements. For instance, Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene is considered an epic allegorical example in which hidden meanings lie beneath the surface narrative. Based on these scholarly sources, it can be concluded that allegory is not just a decorative device or a way to enrich the plot, but a powerful stylistic tool that encourages readers to analyze texts more deeply and reflect on social and political issues. Therefore, studying allegorical elements in Animal Farm is essential, as it helps to better understand both the stylistic features and the social and political meanings of the text. RESULTS Although George Orwell’s Animal Farm begins as a simple story about farm animals, each event and character carrie deep political and social meaning. The allegory in the novel allows readers to understand historical events and totalitarian regimes through the actions of animals: • Napoleon and Snowball symbolize real historical political leaders. Napoleon consolidates power with the help of dogs and suppresses opposition, reflecting Stalin’s ACTIVE RESEARCHER SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL activeresearcher.com December, 2025 volume 2 issue 12 144 totalitarian rule. Snowball, on the other hand, promotes progressive ideas similar to Trotsky and drives revolutionary changes. • The commandments are initially meant to ensure equality and justice, but over time their meaning changes. For example, “All animals are equal” eventually becomes “But some animals are more equal than others,” illustrating the manipulation of power and propaganda in an allegorical way. [11;112] • Boxer - a loyal and hardworking horse, represents the working class. His motto, “I will work harder,” allegorically shows the exploitation of laborers. [22;112] • Mollie - seeks personal comfort and luxury, symbolizing opportunism and selfishness. Squealer - manipulates information and spreads propaganda, serving as a symbol of political manipulation. • Through the farm and its animals, Orwell portrays different social classes, power structures, and political processes. Each event and symbol encourage readers to analyze political actions critically. DISCUSSION George Orwell’s Animal Farm is more than a story about farm animals; it is a powerful allegory that examines political and social systems. Through its symbolic characters and events, the novel reflects the dangers of totalitarianism, the corruption of revolutionary ideals, and the misuse of power. The animals on the farm represent different social classes and political roles: Napoleon symbolizes oppressive leaders, Snowball embodies reformist ideas, and Boxer represents the loyal working class. The gradual manipulation of the “Seven Commandments” highlights how those in power can twist rules and ideals for their own benefit. By using allegory, Orwell encourages readers to think critically about leadership, propaganda, and social justice. The novel shows that without vigilance, equality and freedom can easily be replaced by exploitation, inequality, and tyranny. Animal Farm demonstrates that allegory is not just a literary technique - it is a tool for moral and political reflection, urging readers to examine the real-world implications of power, corruption, and human behavior. ACTIVE RESEARCHER SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL activeresearcher.com December, 2025 volume 2 issue 12 145 REFERENCES 1. Lewis, C. S. The Allegory of Love. Oxford University Press: A Study in Medieval Tradition.1936 2. Frye, N. Anatomy of Criticism. Princeton University Press. 1957 3. Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Harcourt Brace, 1999 4. Culler, Jonathan. Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. 1997 5. Tolkien, J. R. R. The Fellowship of the Ring. Preface. 1954 6. Spenser, Edmund. The Faerie Queene. General Prologue. 1590 7. George Orwell: Animal farm. Secker & Warburg .1945 8. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/symbols/ 9. https://ejournal.iaida.ac.id/index.php/dej/article/view/3967