Essay on Utopian Societies as Perceived in Animal Kingdom and Looking Back 2000

Introduction

Political systems and distribution of power determine the welfare of the people in a community. This statement is supported by the two stories that will be discussed in this essay: George Orwell's, Animal Farm, and Edward Bellamy, Looking Back, 2000. In Animal Farm, Orwell feels that revolutions are displacements of one oppressive regime by another, and in the end, the majority in the society cannot tell the difference between the two regimes. On the other hand, Bellamy promotes the notion that a highly coordinating society leads to everyone benefiting. All the people in the society have a chance to be wealthy, and successful. Although they are providing conflicting messages about political systems and distribution of power, the two novelists are addressing different aspects of the society. Orwell seems to be cautioning the society against 'blind' revolution, whereby they feel that a change in leadership is enough to improve their livelihood. People should assess the qualities of their leaders on a regular basis to ensure that they are not being exploited. Also, the followers have more power than their leaders, and if they realize they are being exploited instead of keeping quiet, they should rebel against such leaders. Bellamy emphasizes that a 'perfect' society can exist. However, he cautions for this to be possible, all the people in the society need to be willing participants, and nobody should be exploited in order for others to benefit.

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Animal Farm is a political allegory. Mr. Jones, the owner of Manor Farm is cruel to his animals. He constantly neglects his duties such as feeding the animals, milking the cows (which is considered to be a dangerous biological mistake that can lead a cow to develop Mastitis, or become overly agitated), and whips them (the animals) on a regular basis for failing to fulfill different objectives as he would like. Old Major, a twelve-year pig assembles all the animals in the farm one night and provides them with the idea of equality among all animals, a system referred to as Animalism (Orwell 1). Manor also informs them that if they unite, and rebel against the owner, they can be able to overthrow them, and live in a society where 'all animals are equal' (Orwell 3). Old Major dies before the animals can revolt against their master. Two pigs, Napoleon and Snow Ball take up the responsibility of leading the revolution, which is successful (Orwell 7). However, even after men are ousted based on the belief that they are evil, and the reason for the animal problems, a sense of tyranny remains (Orwell 10). The pigs become the new masters who rule over the animal kingdom in a similar or even harsh manner, (based on the forced confessions that were frequent during Napoleon's regime). In the end, the revolutionaries become the oppressors, and this is signified in the scene where the animals that are unable to distinguish between the men and pigs while they are playing poker.

The most important political ideas that are presented in this story are political revolutions are futile. A majority of revolutionaries are inspired by great political idealists such as Old Major. They have lived in an oppressed society for a long period, which leads them to come up with their own ideologies. However, the misconception that most of them have is that only the oppressors are evil, and the oppressed if given the opportunity to lead will be fair, and ensure a sense of equality in the society. A revolution will only take place if there are strong, highly intelligent, and willing leaders such as was the case in this Story-Snow Ball and Napoleon. However, a majority of these leaders are greedy for power, which makes them propagandists and ruthless in their rule as was the case for Napoleon. They employ scare tactics such as public death penalties to rule. Leaders such as Snowball who have good intentions and followers of political idealists are ousted as they are opposed to the greedy leaders. He further states that this oppressive rule becomes cyclic because the people who can end it is either not intellectually capable such as Boxer, Clover, and the sheep, or ignorant as was the case with Benjamin, and Molly. As they are ignorant, or not capable to oppose this form of leadership, they allow themselves to be oppressed.

Bellamy believed that the industrial revolution or age was a stage that the society needed to pass through in order to achieve a sense of equality. This is demonstrated by his story, Looking Back 2000. Julian West is a young man in a 19th-century society whereby the gap between the rich and poor is vast, and he belongs to the upper class. He feels that he is superior to the members of the lower class, and he is angered by their frequent strikes partly because they are delaying his wedding to his fiancee Edith Bartlett, who also belongs to the upper class of the society (Bellamy 4). Julian suffers from insomnia and enlists the services of Doctor Pillsbury to mesmerize him to sleep in a secret chamber. Only him and his servant Sawyer can revive him. Unfortunately, during one of his mesmerized sleeping occasion his house burns, and he is assumed to have died along with his servant Sawyer. He sleeps for 116 years before being discovered and revived by Doctor Leete who teaches him about the changes in the twentieth century. He learns that the society has changed for the better, and it is based on the ideals of brotherhood, rather than wealth production as was the case in the 19th century. He is able to understand and appreciate the ideals of the 20th century. He becomes engaged to Doctor Leete's daughter who is coincidentally the great-granddaughter of Edith Bartlett. One day he has a nightmare whereby he dreams that his recent experience was nothing but a dream (Bellamy 37). He is back to the cruel 19th-century world, and when he tries to explain the new social ideals that he had learned to his friends, they expel him from his company. He wakes up to find that he had a nightmare.

Bellamy believed that the future society would have answers to all the problems that troubled his society. Although he uses nationalism instead of socialism, the economic framework that he proposes is similar. For instance, he conceptualizes a national government that fully controls wealth production and distribution to the society. There is total equity of income, universal public education, healthcare systems, and social welfare. All people can choose the careers that they want, work until the age of 45 years, and then retire with the full benefits. The general assumption is that as people advance technologically, the sense of individualism will be replaced by collectivism. People will have a high regard for others than themselves.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the two stories provide valuable insights, especially from a political perspective. For instance, in Animal Farm, the readers are cautioned against placing all their faith in their leaders. They should implement systems that will keep the leaders in check and avoid an authoritarian, or oppressive regime. It teaches the readers that people are first individuals before being members of the society. This means their individual interests come before those in the society. On the other hand, in Looking Back 2000, the readers are advised a perfect, or high functioning society will only exist if people begin to think in a collective rather than individualistic manner. Equality cannot exist in a society where some members regularly exploit other people for their individualistic benefits or achievements.

Works Cited

Bellamy, Edward. Looking Backward (2000-1887), Or, Life in the Year 2000 A.d: With Extra Chapter, Index and Portrait. William Reeves, 1900.

Orwell, George. Animal Farm. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990.