How did George Orwell use animal allegory to expose social problems?

In his 1945 novella Animal Farm, George Orwell utilized animal allegory as a powerful tool of satire to expose the corruption of the Russian Revolution and the rise of totalitarianism under Joseph Stalin.12

By framing the narrative as a simple fable about barnyard animals who overthrow their human masters to establish an egalitarian society, Orwell created an accessible medium to critique complex political betrayals. The pigs, acting as intelligent and power-hungry leaders, represent the Soviet elite who subverted revolutionary ideals to establish a dictatorship more oppressive than the one they replaced.134

This allegorical structure allowed Orwell to illustrate how political propaganda can manipulate public perception. By reducing the founding principle of equality to the cynical maxim, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," he effectively exposed the hypocrisy and moral decay inherent in authoritarian regimes. Through this artistic form, Orwell sought to ensure that Western audiences could clearly perceive the true nature of the Soviet regime, demonstrating how satire can be used to censure vice and inspire critical reflection on human conduct.3154