Messages of Human Nature Portrayed by Alas, Babylon and Animal Farm

Chandler Skinner

Jeannie Fonville

English I

26 August 2013

Messages of Human Nature Portrayed by Alas, Babylon and Animal Farm 

        Humans, like any organic organism, adapt and change with the environment around them. They take different roles and positions based on their personality. Someone with a directional attitude might fall into a leadership role. This happens in the best and worst of times. In a utopian environment, one might have different roles and positions than in a dystopian environment such as in the case of Animal Farm and Alas, Babylon.

        In Animal Farm, Orwell puts forth a plot that metaphorically relates to Stalin’s reign over the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The plot shows that when given unlimited power, humans will become corrupt. They will manipulate the people around them to create a utopia for themselves. The people around them think it’s a utopia for everyone, but it’s really a dystopia for them and a utopia for the ruler. The other animals doing manual labor and the pigs “thinking” is an example of that.

        The characters in Animal Farm are developed very well by Orwell. Napoleon, the head figure throughout the book, is seen as a simple leader trying to do what is right for the animals, but he is actually a cruel, unpleasant superior who uses the animals for his own indulgence. He symbolizes Joseph Stalin, the Premier of the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1953, though he could symbolize every tyrant throughout history. Snowball, one of the two rulers at the beginning of the story, is a leader that actually wants what is best for the animals; however, his focus on the future of the animal farm allowed him to be taken advantage of by Napoleon. Snowball represented Leon Trotsky. Trotsky and Stalin both wanted to lead the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, like Napoleon and Snowball. However, like Stalin and Trotsky, one of them became the leader.

        In Alas, Babylon, the town of Fort Repose, in Florida, is suddenly turned upside down by nuclear missiles touching down around them. The main character, Randy Bragg, is given the task of protecting his sister in-law, niece, and nephew. Though the story, Frank puts forth ideologies that contradict those put forth by Orwell. Frank illustrates that when given power in a dystopia humans will try to rebuild what they once knew.

Randy is put in charge of Fort Repose under martial law. His does not go corrupt with the power he is given; he does what is best for the people. This disaster also causes a change in Randy. He was a failed politician living off of his family’s property. After this disaster, he has become a kind and considerate leader. Frank focuses the story on the town of Fort Repose rather than on the international affairs occurring elsewhere. He does this to present his ideas of human nature. If he were to focus on the international affairs, he would not get these messages across.