Rebelión en la granja

Por George Orwell

"Todos los animales son iguales, pero algunos animales son más iguales que otros."
Un día, los animales de una granja se rebelan contra el trato desconsiderado y cruel que reciben por parte de sus dueños humanos y se apoderan de la granja.
Movidos por un espíritu idealista, comienzan a gestionar la granja por su cuenta con el propósito de construir un mundo mejor en el que todos los animales sean libres e iguales. Sin embargo, pronto queda claro que la igualdad entre los animales no existe y que la libertad es un sueño perecedero.
Esta fábula atemporal de George Orwell sobre la revolución en busca de la igualdad y la libertad es una de las reflexiones más afiladas sobre el efecto corruptor del poder. La rapidez con que nuestras visiones de un mundo mejor pueden convertirse en una pesadilla totalitaria es la advertencia que confirma la enorme vigencia de esta obra en nuestros días.

• Idioma: Español
• Editorial: Océano Gran Travesía
• Fecha de lanzamiento: 10 oct 2021
• ISBN: 9786075573977

George Orwell

George Orwell (1903–1950), the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, was an English novelist, essayist, and critic. He was born in India and educated at Eton. After service with the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, he returned to Europe to earn his living by writing. An author and journalist, Orwell was one of the most prominent and influential figures in twentieth-century literature. His unique political allegory Animal Farm was published in 1945, and it was this novel, together with the dystopia of 1984 (1949), which brought him worldwide fame. 

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Comentarios para Rebelión en la granja

[kaethe_1 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

I spent my senior year in high school reading dystopias. To my amusement, they're all the rage these days.

***

Veronica is doing a section on Utopias in her English class. They're reading some great stuff. While I can remember the general idea of Animal Farm, I can't remember any of the specifics, so I've decided I should re-read. Not least because I think Orwell is a brilliant writer. And also, I think it'll be funny to read it after seeing so many live-action talking pig movies like Babe and Charlotte's Web. It may well be hilarious this time around.

***
Not hilarious. As much as I admire Orwell's reporting, I don't care much for his fiction. The jacket copy on this one is copied from the jacket of 1946: "There is the same kind of reality one concedes to Alice in Wonderland". Yeah, no, this has nothing in common with Alice, which is framed as a dream. For one thing, there isn't the slightest bit of charm, whimsy, or fun in it. This is a revolution that permits no dancing, nor ribbons in one's mane. And while "all animals are equal" Orwell doesn't think the female animals are worth talking about, except Mollie, who is vain.

Gah. It is worthwhile to read it again, if only to be clearer in memory. But it's the worst kind of moralizing: shallow.

There's nothing to suggest that Orwell was concerned with the treatment of actual farm animals, which is kind of a pity: in the intervening span the small private farm has become kind of rare, with most animals now confined in large-scale factory farms that are truly heinous. By comparison, the unequal pig regime on the small farm is a paradise, which I'm reasonably sure wasn't the message he was trying to convey.

Well, that was a long way round to say that men are pigs.

Library copy

[artemisa-191823 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I loved this book.

I hate politics and I know next to nothing about it. But I think I actually understood what the book was about (the intro helped a lot).
I was surprised that a society that wanted to be equalitarian achieved corruption in less than a day, and actually lasted for several years without anyone realising it (I think that at least one animal realised it from the beginning but the society as a whole didn't realise it).

I liked the way the pigs slowly bent the rules (actually changing the written rules) and gradually became "men", but the moment of the book was that moment in the end of chapter 2 when even the smallest amount of power (it wasn't even power, just leadership and intelligence) corrupted Napoleon, and made him take the milk for himself...

I was that naive, that I thought the nothing could be that easily corrupted.

[lauraklemme · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I first read Animal Farm as required reading in high school. I recently re-read Orwell’s 1984 and got so much more meaning out of it that I decided to re-read Animal Farm.

Although Animal Farm was written in 1945 as an allegory regarding the Russian Revolution (1917) where key characters represent Karl Marx, Leon Trotsky, Joseph Stalin, Czar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra, Hitler, the countries of US and UK, and others, the story can be interpreted generally and still offer a powerful message.

The story begins when the farm animals are suffering under the poor working conditions and neglect of their owner, a drunkard human farmer and his wife. They dreamed of the day where they could work less and keep more of the harvest of their hard work. The farm animals had enough and decided to initiate a Rebellion and expel Farmer Jones and his wife from the property. They met as a group and decided to form a collective and establish agreements.


THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS
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 any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.



All of this sounded great and the animals had a positive attitude about the future of the farm. What could go wrong? Almost immediately, the pigs took over as leaders and little by little, they gave themselves more privileges and forced the rest of the animals to work harder and harder and with fewer and fewer rations. They rationalized it and provided a convincing story to keep the rest of the animals in compliance. Over time, each of the commandments were modified and finally the last one became:


All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.



Orwell presents a powerful story about the dangers and progression of unchecked authority in what seemed to be started as a system of equality.


If you had read Animal Farm in high school, this is definitely worth a re-read.

[sucharita1986 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

*Animal Farm* by George Orwell is a brilliant allegory that highlights how power can be both deceptive and corrupt. In the story, the animals overthrow the humans to escape exploitation, but soon, they find themselves under an even more oppressive regime. This mirrors the situation in many countries today, where power is misused, and some citizens blindly support their leaders due to a lack of awareness or education. Orwell’s narrative sheds light on how unchecked authority and ignorance can perpetuate oppression, even after revolutions.

The novel emphasizes the importance of education and critical thinking, suggesting that without knowledge, people can be easily manipulated. It also serves as a reminder that true freedom cannot exist when individuals or groups dominate and exploit others. Orwell's *Animal Farm* forces us to reflect on modern political systems and the importance of equality, accountability, and justice in society.

This classic book not only critiques totalitarianism but also serves as a timeless warning about the dangers of power and the need for an informed, vigilant population to prevent history from repeating itself. Its lessons are as relevant today as when it was first published.

[rmarcin-630843 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

This book has been on my TBR for quite some time. I finally read it to complete a book challenge, needing a book told from an animal's POV.
This book is an allegory which describes the Russian revolution and the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. The animals who live on Mr. Jones's farm decide to rebel against the farmer and the pigs assume leadership of the animals. This was begun by Old Major who dies shortly after the rebellion. Then Napoleon and Snowball lead the animals, but have differing ideas. Squealer helps to spread propaganda and turns some of the animals against Snowball.
This was an excellent book - especially putting these historic times into such an easy way to understand for various ages.

[dinadansfriend · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

A short and brutal book, demonstrating the corruption of power over others. The Farmer disappears, and the effect on all the other animals shows no difference in the new management by the pigs.

[sriddell_8 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Such a classic, there's really no surprises left in the plot. But still, an interesting book to read during the heat of a crazy political season.

The audio version I listened to was narrated by Ralph Cosham. Wonderful narrator - he sang the "Beasts of England" anthem the animals take up, and he did a passable "sheep" voice for their endless chant of "4 legs good, 2 legs bad".

Certainly a good reminder that power corrupts, and reinforced my own thoughts that ALL politicians are corrupt - even when they start with the best intentions.

[crezbi · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Short but sweet. Holds a lot of legitimate power in its allegorical work and symbolism, and it's a message that can be applied to power and government structures generally, not just the Russian Revolution it was commenting on. Orwell also manages to weave some decent characters in as well amongst the political commentary, which helps the readers investment in what's going on, though it's nothing too in depth. Some of the writing is a touch dry and repetitive, but it does what it does efficiently and effectively, and some of it does serve the commentary of its story nicely.

Well deserving of its legacy, I think.

[thebacklistbook · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

A dystopian novella comparing the Russian Kremlin to that of a drastically mismanaged farm, is nothing short of the most annoying book i have read to date, though I may be biased. I had to read for a class, three different times.

[e_morgan_huhn · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Another excellent book that I am glad I revisited. I read this while in El Salvador in 2023. As a work of literature, the book provides an excellent character study into the hierarchies and struggle for power that emerge in societies (particularly newly forming or revolutionary societies). As a piece of history, this book provides an amazing mirror on the rise to power of Stalin and totalitarianism in the Soviet Union - though, given the contemporaneous publication I would be surprised if Orwell was that keenly aware of what was going on in the USSR. Overall, this provides an excellent lens through which to study capitalism, revolution, communism, and the way power corrupts and decays the messages so often relied upon by leaders. After rereading Animal Farm, one can only be sickened by the "promise" of politicians in the creation of a better future.

[hipney · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

A quick read.
Wasn't the amazing book I thought it would be. Have also just read 1984, so they are similar.



The saddest part was there wasn't any protest from the animals, but that reflects our society still. We just do what we are told as that is easiest.

[caanderson-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

So relevant today as it was when it was first written.

[nyshkin · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Great book!

[kevn57-163679 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

As relevant as 1984 in the current political climate. How easy it is to control people through lies and fear.

[cheryl_in_cc_nv · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Yes, I read this brief fable of my own free will several times when I was young. Decided to revisit... still impressed. Five stars because Everyone Should Read It. Enough said.

Reread for group. There I said:

It does help to know some of the history of the Soviet Union and communism. I hope most of us know the basics. I especially appreciated the lies about how successful the farm was, how much food had been harvested even as the animals went hungry, because I remember that problem in the USSR best, as I as a teen in the 70s.

I also was interested to note the revisions of the 'commandments.' It certainly does resemble the rewriting of history in the author's other touchstone book, "1984."

In the intro. to the edition I just finished, the writer says that, because there is no bad rewarded or good punished, there is no moral to this "fairy-story." I cry bs... imo, the moral was unlearned by the characters but still can be learned by the reader, and can very simply stated as "speak up." Pay attention to what's happening, state your objections, protest, fight back. resist.

[craiggoodwin-154015 · Calificación: 3 de 5 estrellas]

Enjoyed this about as much as I did when I was at school.
About as successful as Floyd's album taking the same theme as inspiration.

[akbouterse · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I knew a lot about this book going in. I knew famous quotes, the characters, what it was referencing, and basically the entire plot. For some books, this would completely ruin the point of actually reading the book but so much of the excellence of this story comes from how effectively it was told.

I read 1984 when I was in 7th grade and I remember not really enjoying it. It's something I should probably revisit before passing any final judgements but it did make me hesitant to pick this one up. This one is not that different in style or theme in many ways but was different enough in the overall plot to allow me to enjoy it a lot more. I was somewhat familiar with the actual events of Russian revolution but I don't think you really need to know that much to appreciate the themes in this book. Orwell does an excellent job making apparent the parallels that are being drawn but even if you don't get any of them, I think the overall tone of the story would still be impactful.

This is a classic that has been on my bookshelf for a while that I'm so glad I read and while I recognize this book won't be for everyone, it is a book I would recommend.

[nosborm · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

A classic book I've finally read. Although it reads like anti communist propaganda it conveys its message well and even had me rooting for the characters. Shorter and lighter than I expected which might explain why it's so popular in schools.

[dwcofer_1 · Calificación: 1 de 5 estrellas]

Having not read this book during my school years, I figured it was about time to read it and see what all the fuss was about. However, I was greatly disappointed in the book. I fail to understand why it is talked about so highly and considered a classic that everyone must read. Fortunately, the book is very short, only about 90 pages and can be read rather quickly.

I am certain most everyone knows the gist of the story. A group of farm animals rebel against the farmer and attempt to create their own society where everyone is equal, happy, and free. Of course, all does not go well, and in the end, the society created is more like life was before the rebellion. The more things change, the more they stay the same, right?

Orwell claims he wrote the book as a commentary on socialism and communism, but I found the parallels to religion more obvious. The animals held a meeting every Sunday. A raven named Moses claimed there was a rest and a better life to await after death. The story has a traitor named Snowball (Judas Iscariot), and a charismatic leader in Napoleon (Jesus Christ). The animals were intent on building a windmill and since it was destroyed twice, it had to be rebuilt (Tower of Babel). There were 7 commandments written on the side of a barn (Ten Commandments), which were constantly being revised and rewritten.

Overall, the book was boring and a drudgery to read. I’m not for sure why so many people feel it is a great book.

[sjh4255 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Great book describing in animal form, the struggles that humans have faced through our lifetime... how everything we have now seems so awful and a change will bring only good... for the first bit, until things get out of hand, and we need a change again...

[whatsleepsbeneath · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Never have I felt so passionately about farm animals.

[davidgotts · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

A very telling comment on the main fault of socialism. Though its ideals are noble in 'rule of the people by the people through revolution of the workers', there is no mechanism built into the system to prevent the rise of a new elite as bad or even worse than the deposed one.

[wickenden-285487 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

One of the first non sci-fi novels I read as a young man. Great satire of human society.

[amcheri-1 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I can't believe it took me this long to read this classic.

[morcys · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

Spectacular

[sarah220-732610 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

If you want to read an allegory featuring animals that critiques the Russian Revolution and totalitarianism, this book is for you!

Sad but important book. Sad time in history, sad that it is not as out-of-date as it should be, and sad because I like aminals.

[evelyn.b · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

One of the most disturbing books I have ever read. Glad i read this classic

[aliceanna-1 · Calificación: 4 de 5 estrellas]

Written by Orwell as a direct attack on Russian Communism, the book has more power for me as a take on the corrupting influence of power and the tendency of ordinary people to accept their fate without a fate than it does as a cautionary tale on communism. Because the abuse of power and the apathy of those not in power can and does happen in a wide variety of political venues. My take on the book isn't beware of communism as much as it is beware of those for whom power is everything. Do not become complacent or you may end up with an orange-tinted narcissistic idiot in charge of making life or death decisions that affect you.

[atdcross · Calificación: 2 de 5 estrellas]

I enjoyed 1984 much better. The fantasy-like storyline just did not do it for me.

[booklove2 · Calificación: 5 de 5 estrellas]

I might be the last bookish person that hasn't read this yet. I thought it was time. On that note, what more can my dim mind say about this classic that hasn't been said before? Between this book and '1984', Orwell had a unique mind.

*Book #127 I have read of the '1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die'