Although communism began in the early 1900s, its negative effects are still felt in modern economies, global relations, and even literature such as George Orwell's Animal Farm. Communism began under the rule of Vladimir Lenin, a man who brought prosperity and reform. Then it passed to the vengeful dictator Joseph Stalin. After several changes of power, an economic and political system remains. Like the animals on Animal Farm, people want big change and are willing to stop at no cost. However, like the Russian people, they soon discover that, by using communism to free themselves from slavery, they are merely slaves to a new master and lose all memory of the past culture. The winter of 1917 was one of the harshest winters Russia had faced in years. Food was scarce and the population was ravaged by disease. Peasants toiled grimly in the fields only to see their harvest consumed by the aristocracy. Every day was an extension of the inevitable revolution to come. However, like all great revolutions, they needed both an ideological leader and one with the ability to carry out the actual revolution. These qualities were found in Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. Like Old Major in Animal Farm, Karl Marx spurs revolution with the idea that the proletariat must no longer be subservient to the bourgeoisie (Marx xi). The animals had the incentive to follow Old Major, because he imagined a totally equal society and such wonders as hot and cold water in all the stables. A classless society appealed to the majority of Russians, of whom 80% were serfs (Gottfried 79). Now that the ideological aspect had been taken care of, all that was needed was someone to put the plan into action. Vladimir Lenin was the leader of the Bolsheviks (those of... middle of paper... Putin is the current Russian Prime Minister and has said he wishes to run again in the next elections. Despite the cold The war has been over for more than 19 years, communism has soured Russian relations with the United States and all the countries they previously occupied Russia is still in the process of economic and political transition, but like the animals in Animal Farm, to gain freedom they have become their worst. enemies: the capitalists. In conclusion, the deceptive charm of utopian communism is represented in George Orwell's Animal Farm. Like the Russian people, the animals hope to have a totally equal society, but for this dream they will ultimately have to sacrifice a lot no longer succumb to totalitarian communism and to gain freedom must pay the highest price. For the animals he was becoming man and for the Russian people he was succumbing to capitalism.