Animal Farm
The animals of Manor Farm have revolted and taken over. Upon the death of Old Major, pigs Snowball and Napoleon lead a revolt against Mr. Jones, driving him from the farm. The animals embrace the Seven Commandments of Animalism and life carries on, but they learn that a farm ruled by animals looks more human than ever.
Challenges:
Political and ideological reasons
- Anti-communist allegory: The book is an allegory for the Russian Revolution and Stalinism, and its strong criticism of communist systems led to its ban in the Soviet Union, Cuba, North Korea, and China.
- Promotes rebellion: Some challenges stem from the book’s theme of revolution and a mass revolt against authority, which can be seen as a call to overthrow existing states.
Religious and cultural reasons
- Islamic values: In some countries with Islamic majorities, such as the United Arab Emirates, the book has been banned for including content that contradicts local values, such as depictions of pigs and alcoholic drinks.
Other reasons
- Perceived propaganda: The book’s anti-authoritarian stance has led to it being labeled as propaganda in some contexts.
- Classroom challenges: In the United States, it has faced challenges in schools over its themes of rebellion and political theories.