Czar Nicholas the Second and Mr. Jones
Czar Nicholas II was the final emperor of Russia, who ruled from November 1894 until March 1917, when he abdicated because of the February/March 1917 revolution of Russia.
Nicholas II was known to not be a very good leader. He began to reign at a young age of 26, inexperienced and not ready to lead an entire nation. Russia was a highly autocratic nation at the time when Nicholas II was in power. Like other autocrats, Nicholas II strongly supported the military, but he did not believe that the country needed a change in the way it was being run (http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/a/Nicholas-II.htm).
The Russian society at the time demanded political and social reforms, but changes were never implemented. This provoked protests by the citizens, small ones at first, but they only became more widespread and violent. Eventually, citizens, Bolsheviks and soldiers revolted, forcing Nicholas II to abdicate (http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/nicholasii.htm). This was a major step in establishing communism and the Soviet Union.
In Animal Farm, Mr. Jones was the owner of the farm in the beginning of the story. Following a lawsuit, he becomes alcoholic and very irresponsible over his farm. Mr. Jones was very cruel to the animals at times, beating them with a whip and providing them with very little food - only enough for them to continue working.
The animals were not happy with their way of life, leading to a revolution by the animals that was planned by Old Major. The revolution was successful, and the animals forced Mr. Jones, his wife and all the workers out of the farm. As a result, the animals could enjoy much better lives.
Mr. Jones and Nicholas II were very similar people. Mr. Jones was harsh to the animals, providing them with only basic necessities to survive and continue working. Similarly, Nicholas II was an autocratic ruler who, for the most part, disregarded the status of society. George Orwell has drawn several subtle but relevant connections between the two, such as Mr. Jones being an irresponsible farm owner due to him constantly being under the influence of alcohol, and Nicholas II being a bad leader due to his inexperience and young age.
Nicholas II was known to not be a very good leader. He began to reign at a young age of 26, inexperienced and not ready to lead an entire nation. Russia was a highly autocratic nation at the time when Nicholas II was in power. Like other autocrats, Nicholas II strongly supported the military, but he did not believe that the country needed a change in the way it was being run (http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/a/Nicholas-II.htm).
The Russian society at the time demanded political and social reforms, but changes were never implemented. This provoked protests by the citizens, small ones at first, but they only became more widespread and violent. Eventually, citizens, Bolsheviks and soldiers revolted, forcing Nicholas II to abdicate (http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/nicholasii.htm). This was a major step in establishing communism and the Soviet Union.
In Animal Farm, Mr. Jones was the owner of the farm in the beginning of the story. Following a lawsuit, he becomes alcoholic and very irresponsible over his farm. Mr. Jones was very cruel to the animals at times, beating them with a whip and providing them with very little food - only enough for them to continue working.
The animals were not happy with their way of life, leading to a revolution by the animals that was planned by Old Major. The revolution was successful, and the animals forced Mr. Jones, his wife and all the workers out of the farm. As a result, the animals could enjoy much better lives.
Mr. Jones and Nicholas II were very similar people. Mr. Jones was harsh to the animals, providing them with only basic necessities to survive and continue working. Similarly, Nicholas II was an autocratic ruler who, for the most part, disregarded the status of society. George Orwell has drawn several subtle but relevant connections between the two, such as Mr. Jones being an irresponsible farm owner due to him constantly being under the influence of alcohol, and Nicholas II being a bad leader due to his inexperience and young age.