"Some books are like swords without handles. No matter how you reach out to grasp them, they will mercilessly cut you, leaving you bleeding. Yet, just to appreciate their unique charm, you will ultimately be unable to resist picking them up." George Orwell's "Animal Farm" is precisely such a work, akin to a sword without a handle.
The meaning of this "sword without a handle" is profound and unique. Those books with deep thought and critical perspectives are like swords without handles; they do not change their sharpness based on the reader's preferences or acceptance levels. When we attempt to touch and understand such books, we often feel pain and discomfort due to the cruel truths and profound essence revealed within, as if our hands were cut by a sharp blade, leaving us bleeding. Nevertheless, the unique charm contained within, the wisdom radiating from deep insights into the world, human nature, and society, deeply attracts us, compelling us to pick them up despite the pain. "Animal Farm" enters the reader's spiritual world with such powerful force.
It quietly rests there, radiating dazzling brilliance, mesmerizing those who gaze upon it. But when faced with it, do you truly have the courage to reach out, pick it up, and carefully read its pages? After all, it is like a blade without a handle; once touched, it will instantly sting you. Once it stings, that deep pain does not stem from the body but arises from the depths of the soul. "Animal Farm" constructs a world full of metaphors and warnings through seemingly simple animal stories. The talking animals enact the changes of power, the shattering of ideals, and the complexities of human nature on the farm.
The animal characters in the book are vivid, with each type of animal representing a certain class of people in real society. The pigs are undoubtedly the embodiment of the ruling class; they acquire power through intelligence and cunning, trampling on rules and deceiving the populace to maintain their own interests. Napoleon, the pig, eliminates dissent through various means, expelling Snowball from the farm and monopolizing power. His actions evoke thoughts of dictators who stop at nothing for power. The other animals symbolize the masses. Boxer the horse is loyal and hardworking, devoted to the farm, yet ultimately sent to the slaughterhouse due to overwork. He represents those who silently contribute but are ruthlessly exploited by the ruling class. The sheep are typical of the mob; they blindly follow, echoing others, swayed by the pigs' propaganda, losing their ability to think independently.
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," this seemingly absurd commandment is the highlight of the entire book. It starkly reveals the hypocritical nature of power. In the real world, equality is often just a beautiful vision; the existence of power always leads to the emergence of inequality. Those at the pinnacle of power always use the banner of equality to seek more privileges for themselves. This inequality manifests not only in material terms but also in spiritual dimensions. The ruling class consolidates its position through means such as controlling public opinion and indoctrinating thoughts, leading the masses to accept this unequal status quo.