The Classics Never Die - Animal Farm

As I'm in the midst of a book that I likely won't finish for a while, I thought it appropriate for another installment of The Classics Never Die.

I was all ready to write this post about Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (an all time favorite of mine that I haven't read in years).  I always pair Brave New World with 1984 by George Orwell.  And when I think about 1984, I think of Animal Farm.  And, then, when I thought of Animal Farm, I thought of one of my all-time favorite lines from any novel, which is discussed below.  So, we'll put off Brave New World for a while.

(While there are a bunch of these lists all over the place, here's a link to the Modern Library best 100 novels--as selected by its Board and by its readers.  Animal Farm is No. 31 on the Board list and No. 20 on the Readers List.  I do have some lists bookmarked, etc.  If you have any lists that you could post or send to me, that would be great.  I will then do a blog entry listing these.  The lists can be fiction, non-fiction or even a particular type of fiction or non-fiction.  Here's a sci fi list, for example.)

Back to Animal Farm.  I've read this book at least twice though not in many years.  There are many levels to the book.  Of course, the book is about ANIMALS on a FARM.  If that's all you got from the book, stop reading, you missed it.

It's also an allegory for the Communists coming to power in Russia-USSR-Russia.  On a third but related level, it's about how power corrupts.  I'm sure there are more.

My favorite part of the novel has always been the Animal Farm Constitution and how it "evolves."  I had to google it (I didn't do this from memory), but here's the initial Animal Farm Constitution:

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill another animal.
7. All animals are created equal

Now, to refresh your recollection of the story, this Constitution is drafted after the animals "overthrow" the evildoer humans (which consisted of a FARMER and his wife.  After all, the story takes place on a FARM).  Gradually, of course, the animals in "power" on the ANIMAL FARM begin to eliminate or modify one after another of the items in the Constitution ("No animal shall sleep in a bed WITH SHEETS").

My favorite line from the novel has to do with the modification to Item 7 which, after a while, becomes, "All animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal."

I urge you to re-read a favorite classic--especially if you haven't read it in many years--or pick up a new one.  It may not be a page turner, and it may not be an especially good read.  But it's a classic because it has something to say--something that, I guarantee you, survives to this day even if the book was written long ago--Animal Farm was published in 1945!

Remember, Reading is Fundamental.