Class Struggle and Power Manipulation in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, New Study Finds
A new literary study from Universitas Negeri Medan reveals that George Orwell’s Animal Farm offers a sharp and systematic portrayal of class struggle and ideological manipulation that remains relevant to modern societies. Written by Syamsul Bahri, Aditya Raffa Nanda, and Samuel Sihombing, the research was published in 2026 in the International Journal of Advanced Technology and Social Sciences (IJATSS). The findings show that revolutions can fail to deliver equality when power and ideology fall into the hands of a new elite, echoing real-world patterns of social inequality.
The researchers closely examined how Orwell’s famous political allegory depicts classism—the unequal treatment of social groups based on class position—through the interactions between animals after they overthrow their human owner. Their analysis matters because Animal Farm continues to be widely read in schools and universities, often used to explain how power, propaganda, and inequality operate in both historical and contemporary contexts.
Why Animal Farm Still Matters Today
Although Animal Farm was first published in 1945, its themes resonate strongly with current debates about inequality, political leadership, and social justice. Many societies experience cycles in which revolutions or reforms promise equality, only to reproduce old hierarchies under new leaders. The study situates Orwell’s novel within these broader social concerns, showing how literature can illuminate patterns of exploitation and control that persist across time.
According to the authors from Universitas Negeri Medan, classism is not only an economic issue but also a cultural and ideological one. In Animal Farm, power is maintained not just through force, but through language, education, and selective control of information. This dynamic mirrors how modern elites can shape public opinion and suppress dissent without overt violence.
How the Research Was Conducted
The study used a qualitative descriptive approach based on a careful, chapter-by-chapter reading of Animal Farm. Rather than relying on statistics or surveys, the researchers analyzed the text itself, focusing on dialogue, speeches, and key narrative events.
In simple terms, they:
-Read all ten chapters of the novel in detail
-Identified passages that show conflict between social groups
-Categorized these passages using ideas from Karl Marx and Georg Lukács
Through this process, they identified 74 significant textual instances related to classism, which were then grouped into two main categories: class struggle and class consciousness.
Key Findings: Class Struggle Dominates the Story
The analysis found that class struggle is the dominant theme in Animal Farm. Out of 74 identified instances:
-46 instances (68%) reflect class struggle
-28 instances (32%) reflect class consciousness
Class struggle appears most clearly in the way the pigs gradually monopolize power after the rebellion. While all animals initially share revolutionary ideals, the pigs take control of leadership, decision-making, and knowledge. Over time, they exploit the labor of other animals while enjoying privileges similar to those once held by humans.
Class consciousness, meanwhile, emerges early in the story through Old Major’s speeches, which awaken the animals to their shared exploitation. However, this awareness weakens as propaganda and fear replace open discussion. The working animals, especially Boxer, continue to believe that hard work alone will bring equality, even as conditions worsen.
Ideology as a Tool of Control
One of the study’s most important insights is how Orwell illustrates the role of ideology in sustaining inequality. The pigs do not rely solely on physical power. Instead, they rewrite rules, manipulate language, and frame obedience as moral duty.
Syamsul Bahri of Universitas Negeri Medan explains that Orwell’s narrative closely reflects Karl Marx’s concept of false consciousness, where oppressed groups accept ideas that work against their own interests. In Animal Farm, slogans and speeches convince the animals that sacrifice is necessary for a greater good, while the ruling class benefits disproportionately.
The study notes that when ideology is controlled by a small group, revolutions risk collapsing into new forms of domination. This pattern, the authors argue, can be observed in many political systems beyond the novel.
Real-World Implications for Education and Society
The findings have clear implications for education, civic awareness, and policy discussions. For educators, Animal Farm remains a powerful teaching tool for explaining how inequality can persist even after major social change. The study encourages teachers to move beyond surface-level readings of the novel and focus on its deeper analysis of power and ideology.
For society at large, the research highlights the importance of sustained critical awareness. Political change alone does not guarantee justice. Without transparency, shared access to knowledge, and collective vigilance, new elites can reproduce the same inequalities they once opposed.
Samuel Sihombing, one of the co-authors, emphasizes that Orwell’s message is ultimately a warning. Equality, he suggests, depends not only on changing leaders but also on maintaining collective awareness and accountability.
Author Profiles
-Syamsul Bahri, M.Hum.
Lecturer at Universitas Negeri Medan. Expertise in literary criticism, Marxist theory, and political literature.
-Aditya Raffa Nanda, S.S.
Researcher in literature and cultural studies at Universitas Negeri Medan, focusing on ideology and power in literary texts.
-Samuel Sihombing, M.Hum.
Academic at Universitas Negeri Medan specializing in social criticism and modern literary studies.
Source
Bahri, Syamsul; Nanda, Aditya Raffa; Sihombing, Samuel.
An Analysis of Classism in George Orwell’s Animal Farm.
International Journal of Advanced Technology and Social Sciences (IJATSS), Vol. 4, No. 1, 2026, pp. 1691–1704.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijatss.v4i1.144
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