THE ILLUSION OF FREEDOM: A FOUCAULDIAN STUDY OF BIOPOWER IN THE NOVELLA ANIMAL FARM
Keywords:
Anatomo-politics, Animal Farm, Biopolitics, Biopower, Discourse, Docile bodies, Freedom, Illusion, Panopticon, TruthsAbstract
This research investigates how Orwell’s Animal Farm illustrates the illusion of freedom and examines how, through the use of bio-power, masses can be deceived and kept under constant domination without their awareness. The study explores the limitations of traditional power in sustaining control in modern societies and explores how bio-power creates its own systems of knowledge, and truths, through discourses, to shape and control the thoughts and behaviors of the masses, thereby securing its legitimacy. Focusing on key events and the manipulation of language, as well as of characters, this research reveals how bio-power perpetuates domination and shatters the animals' dreams of freedom by applying Michel Foucault's theory of bio-power, particularly its two main concepts: anatomo-politics and biopolitics. The outcome is a deeper understanding of how bio-power operates in the modern world, how it is used to rule and exploit populations, and how this form of power makes freedom a utopian concept. This analysis contributes to the broader discourse of politics and literature by offering new insights into the interplay of power, domination, and the elusive nature of freedom.
Downloads
References
Ahmad, S., & Yaquub, H. (2022). Beyond the Political Allegory: A Study of George Orwell’s Animal Farm as an Ecofeminist Text. International Journal of Agriculture and Animal Production (IJAAP), 02(03), 33-38.
Albloly, A., & Nour, H. (2019). The portrayal of political symbolism in George Orwell’s writings: with reference to Animal Farm. The International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Inventions, 06(09), 5642-5648.
Amir, P., Rahman, F., & Anriadi. (2022). Instruments of Symbolic Violence in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 13(4), 826- 833.
Atmadja, M. D. P. (2024). Power in George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm. Calakan: Journal Sastra, Bahasa, Dan Budaya, 02(01), 57-66.
Basuki, E., & Authar, N. (2019). Manipulative discourse in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Education and Human Development Journal, 04(01), 80-88.
Cisney, V. W., & Morar, N. (Eds.). (2015). Biopower: Foucault and beyond. University of Chicago Press.
Foucault, M. (1978). The History of Sexuality: Volume 1: An introduction (R. Hurley, Trans.). Pantheon Books.
Foucault, M. (1995). Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison (A. Sheridan, Trans.). Vintage Books. (Original work published 1975).
Jabak, O. (2019). George Orwell’s Animal Farm: An Outcry against False Revolutionary Leaders. English Literature and Language Review, 5(10), 173-179.
Jasim, M. H., & Aziz, F. H. (2013). Propaganda in George Orwell’s Animal Farm: An Allegorical and Satirical Study. Journal of the College of Arts. University of Basrah,
Nawaz, S., Jabeen, I., Rao, T., Bibi, A., Afzal, F., & Sadaqat, S. (2015). Allegory and satire in Animal Farm. International Journal of Academic Research and Reflection, 03(05), 48-50.
Orwell, G. (2013). Animal Farm. Penguin Books.
Pelpuo, R., Bakuuro, J., & Tuurosong, D. (2018). Literature and Politics, A review of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. International Journal of Language and Linguistics Research, 06(02), 01-26.
Putra, Y. L., & Rahman, I.A. (2024). Dark Triad Personality Identification on Napoleon: An Analysis of Animal Farm, Novel by George Orwell. E-LinguaTera, 4(1), 332-341.
Umam, F. (2016). The portrayal of totalitarianism in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. (Undergraduate thesis). State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Talha Barki, Abdullah Khan (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
