Effects of Orwell’s Time Period and Cultural Situations in Animal Farm

Abstract

This paper examines how the historical period and cultural conditions during which George Orwell wrote Animal Farm shaped its narrative, themes, and allegorical representations. Utilizing New Historicism and Cultural Materialism as theoretical frameworks, the study explores the interplay between Orwell’s socio-political context and the novella’s depictions of revolution, mimicry, nostalgia, scientific progress, and power dynamics. The analysis demonstrates how events of the early- to mid-20th century—from world wars to rapid industrial advancements—are interwoven with the symbolic structure of the text. Through comprehensive review of scholarly literature and close textual analysis, the paper argues that Animal Farm critiques totalitarian regimes and the corruption of revolutionary ideals while reflecting the complexities of Orwell’s era. Thus, it underpins the idea of literature as being a lasting and dynamic repository of human experience, capable enough to transcend its immediate historical moment and inform future debates on social transformation, justice and power.