George Orwell and Religion: A Marxist Perspective

This study examines the representation of religion in George Orwell’s Animal Farm through a Marxist critical framework. Drawing on Karl Marx’s conception of religion as an ideological apparatus that alienates individuals from their material conditions, the paper analyzes how religious belief functions as a mechanism of social control within the narrative. The character of Moses the raven is interpreted as an allegorical figure representing institutional religion, particularly its role in discouraging revolutionary consciousness among the oppressed. By promising spiritual rewards in the afterlife, Moses diverts the animals’ attention from material exploitation and socio-political injustice. The study argues that Orwell’s portrayal of religion aligns closely with Marxist critiques, demonstrating how religious ideology can be manipulated by ruling powers to maintain dominance and suppress resistance. Through close textual analysis, the paper highlights Orwell’s broader concern with ideological manipulation and the intersection of religion, power, and class struggle.