A society in transition in the story of animal farm emphasis on the fundamentals of any society are a direct result of the system of cooperation amongst beings of a society. The people of a society choose their own structure of rules and regulations that they see to be fit; regardless of the society’s nature, whether primitive or an industrial capitalist society, there is always an established order of societal norms and rituals. The disciplines of Philosophy and Sociology have crafted various thinkers who have presented ideological arguments regarding the functions of an ideal society. A society in transition in the story of Animal Farm means the story in the book, Animal Farm by George Orwell, is a good example for all student to understand the meaning of society in transition. What, then, is a society in transition? A society in transition refers to a changing society. According to Longman’s Dictionary, transition is the act of changing or passing from one form, state, subject or place to another. A society, according to the Chamber’s Dictionary, is fellowship, companionship, company, association, a community, a corporate body or any organized association.
This readily implies a group of people with unified interests and goals. Thus a society in transition refers to a society which is yet to stabilize; still requiring adjustments in the way of life of the people in it to suit the changing times. The changes that a society undergoes could either be for better or for worse. To properly grasp the idea of a changing society, dealing with the question of why societies change would bring us closer to precise assessment of which society is in transition. Societies have goals and nurture a picture of the ideal; a picture of what they want to be. The aim of change is usually to project into the future.
The yearnings of members of the society for better conditions are what often cause transition. All societies seek to be without strife, economically independent and also to be regarded as one of the best, to become the biblical land of milk and honey. To become the ideal, a society changes by pressing higher towards the mark of perfection. According to Heraclitus, a pre-Socratic philosopher, change is said to be the only constant thing in life. Looking at things in that light, all societies are in transition because there’s always room for change. Like a popular adage says, “The grass is always greener on the other side”, so there’s always something to change to thereby leaving everything “in a state of flux”. Transition is often initiated by external pressures from the people. For example, wars, revolutions, conquests and even commercial connections instigate changes.
Like i suggested in the first paragraph of this articles, a perfect example of a society in transition is reflected in the story of Animal Farm by George Orwell. This is the story of a farm owned by a certain Mr. Jones with different types of animals in it. The animals felt their living conditions were very bad and that they were being exploited by humans. This led to a revolution where the animals chased all the humans away from the farm. They sought better living conditions where animals would govern themselves in the best of their own interests.
They made different rules, for instance, the rule which stated that all animals were equal. They thought they had achieved an egalitarian society but they were proved wrong later when their leader, Napoleon, made amends to their constitution to help achieve the ideal picture he had as opposed to that which the society had as a whole. At this juncture, a particular society with unified goals and interests will be chosen for consistent reference. This is the Nigerian society which is continually in transition largely without assessment of the relativity of its current position to the idea.
A society in transition in the story of animal farm also emphasis the believe that the entire society, regardless of class, needs to understand the concept of mutual dependency. When one class or section of society forgets the idea of mutual dependency, a sense of alienation develops with the overall system. If the Bourgeoisie don’t realize their dependency on the exploited, the Proletariat, and in turn do not do enough to keep the system in order by looking into the condition of welfare for the suppressed, rebellion or revolution becomes indefinite. The collectivistic identity that now emerged on Animal Farm, despite their differences, was a result of the mass exploitation that led them to overwork and not enjoy their own produce; while another approach can be seen in Old Major’s speech to the animals (in Chapter One) where he unites the animals against the general concept of man. Man as an entity has been taken as a symbol of hierarchy and inequality, a symbol of exploitation for the working class (animals). Nearing the end of Old Major’s speech, the ideology behind the rebellion further strengthens when he emphasizes on the factor of complete equality on the basis of produce and opportunity after the rebellion that animals will receive; “And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. It is all lies. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.”