In literary criticism written by William S. Brockington Jr., Brockington discusses the importance of understanding the environment in which George Orwell wrote Animal Farm. It was a turbulent time following the end of World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Animal Farm served as an allegory for the Soviet Union, and the animals in the story have counterparts in history. Although the story is rooted in history, it still has a universal message. Animal Farm tells the story of the animal revolution on a poorly managed farm. Old Major's encouragement influences the animals to do so and creates a utopia for all the animals. But the utopia lasts only for a time as they transform into cruel and selfish individuals, just as bad as the humans who cared for them before. The time in which Animal Farm was written has a lot to do with the absence of a “happy ending.” As the trust many people had in government deteriorated, few people had hope for a better future. After all, all they had known for the past thirty years was war and poverty. The context of the literary article discusses how the characters in Animal Farm have counterparts in the story. Napoleon represents Stalin of the Soviet Union. Even though there is an alternative meaning to the actions and decisions of the characters in Animal Farm, the book's theme can still be applied to modern society. The idea that not all dreams of utopia are possible is a theme of the novel. In this case, the idea of ​​a failed utopia transformed into a cruel society led by atrocious rulers. In Charles E. May's literary criticism, May states that Animal Farm was a financial success for George Orwell and was called a classic. Even if there are some criticisms... in the middle of the paper... people with ulterior motives. This is driven by greed, selfishness, and the desire for power and control. When given the opportunity to have a large amount of power, most people jump at the chance. But when people take advantage of power by controlling every part of society, that's when problems happen. In Animal Farm, the original seven commandments were gradually modified each time Napoleon encountered a problem. For example, the commandment “No animal shall kill another animal” was later changed to “No animal shall kill another animal without cause.” It was changed after an animal massacre by Napoleon after the animals admitted treachery. The novel is appropriate for lower reading levels who want to read for content. But it is also a suitable read for those who want to read it for its references to people and events in history.