The raven Moses: the christian religion on animal farm, by GeorgeOrwell

Abstract

In the plot of Animal Farm, George Orwell exposes the betrayal of democratic ideals that characterizes every totalitarian regime, especially when it originates from a spontaneous popular revolution. The characters in the story, crafted so well that none of them seem out of place, invite us to reflect on their representations and their speeches. Among them, I highlight in this paper the character of Moses the raven who, while not a main protagonist, is closely tied to the theme of the revolution as he represents Christianity during a period of sociopolitical deconstruction and reconstruction. Through his appearances in the narrative, Moses illustrates how religion was viewed from a socialist perspective in terms of his stance and conduct at the time of the book’s publication in 1945. Thus, through the subtle mentions of the raven, I emphasize perspectives on Christianity as a utopia via the message of a paradise-like mountain where all animals would go after death and as an institution historically detached from sociopolitical reality due to its worldview or alliances. Therefore, I bring into discussion the relevance of the critique made in the early 20th century of Christianity, concerning its value and usefulness in sociopolitical issues—an absence that, however, contradicts the ethos pointed to in its creed, which emphasizes love for one’s neighbor, fraternity, and justice in the world with hope for its transformation.