An Analysis of Structural Violence in Animal Farm by George Orwell

Abstract

This thesis delves into the intricate issue of structural violence within the context of George Orwell ‘s renowned novel “Animal Farm.” The primary objective is to identify how the mechanisms of structural power, embedded within a repressive system, engender structural violence. The study employs a two-fold approach to investigate this phenomenon: identifying the elements of structural power that give rise to structural violence in “Animal Farm,” and providing concrete evidence of instances of structural violence within the narrative. The research methodology employed here is primarily literature review-based, drawing from both primary and secondary sources. The main source is “Animal Farm,” and the other sources are books and articles that connect with literary theories, especially the sociological approach by Wellek and Warren, and the theory of structural violence by Johan Galtung. This sociological perspective is crucial in establishing the connection between structural power and structural violence within the novel. The findings reveals that structural power manifests in various forms, leading to structural violence through practices such as exploitation, which occurs on four occasions, penetration, observed five times, fragmentation, occurring twice, and marginalization, documented on two occasions. These findings substantiate the presence of structural violence against second-class groups as depicted in the narrative. Notable instances include the execution and psychological manipulation endured by characters like Snowball, Boxer, and other animals, as well as the collective memory loss concerning history and the past experienced by most characters, excluding the pigs. The research also suggests avenues for future scholars interested in exploring George Orwell ‘s novel from different angles, such as the examination of cultural violence.

Keywords: Structural Violence, Structural Power, George Orwell, Animal Farm, Exploitation

Penetration, Fragmentation, Marginalization, Johan Galtung, Sociological Approach,

Sociology of Literature