The correct option is
C. man's greedy individualistic nature always subverts the realization of ideals.
Explanation of the Correct Answer
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Understanding the Theme: "Animal Farm," written by George Orwell, is an allegorical novella that critiques totalitarian regimes and explores the nature of power and corruption. The story follows a group of farm animals who overthrow their human farmer in hopes of creating a society based on equality and shared prosperity. However, as the story progresses, the initial ideals of the revolution are corrupted.
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The Role of Individualism: The key to understanding why option C is correct lies in the concept of individualism. In "Animal Farm," the pigs, particularly Napoleon, represent the greedy and power-hungry individuals who manipulate the revolutionary ideals for their own benefit. Instead of fostering equality and community, they prioritize their own interests, leading to the subversion of the original goals of the revolution.
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Examples from the Text: Throughout the novel, we see how the pigs gradually change the commandments of Animalism to justify their actions. For instance, the commandment "All animals are equal" is altered to "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." This change illustrates how individual greed and the desire for power can distort and ultimately destroy collective ideals.
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The Inevitable Degeneration: The degeneration of revolutionary ideals in "Animal Farm" is a direct result of the pigs' individualistic nature. They become indistinguishable from the oppressive humans they initially overthrew, demonstrating that when individuals prioritize their own desires over the common good, the ideals of equality and justice are inevitably compromised.
Explanation of the Other Options
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A. Social equality, the goal of such idealism, is actually undesirable: This option suggests that social equality itself is a flawed goal. However, the novel does not argue against the desirability of social equality; rather, it critiques how the pursuit of this ideal can be corrupted by those in power. The problem lies not in the ideal itself but in the individuals who fail to uphold it.
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B. Revolutionary ideals are dreamed by blood-thirsty individuals: While some characters in the novel may exhibit violent tendencies, the primary issue is not that the ideals are conceived by such individuals, but that once in power, they exploit these ideals for personal gain. The revolution begins with noble intentions, but it is the actions of the pigs that lead to degeneration.
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D. Revolutionary ideals are inimical to progress: This option implies that revolutionary ideals inherently hinder progress. However, the novel illustrates that the ideals themselves are not the problem; rather, it is the betrayal of these ideals by those in power that leads to stagnation and regression. The story shows that true progress can be achieved through collective ideals, but only if they are genuinely upheld.
Revision Summary
- "Animal Farm" illustrates how revolutionary ideals can be corrupted by individual greed and the lust for power.
- The pigs' actions demonstrate that when individuals prioritize their own interests, the collective goals of equality and justice are undermined.
- The degeneration of ideals is not due to the flaws in the ideals themselves but rather the failure of individuals to adhere to them.
- Understanding the dynamics of power and corruption is crucial to grasping the central message of the novella.