In the heart of every intellectual, there is a hidden wound. A wound that burns silently, fueled by societal expectations, peer pressure and the fear of going against the grain. George Orwell, with his sharp pen and his indomitable spirit, showed this wound in "Animal Farm", exposing the silent and insidious censorship that permeated the British intellectual society of his time.
But what happens when an author of this caliber collides with the "wound" of intellectualism? When his voice is drowned out not by oppressive laws, but by the fear of upsetting the dominant orthodoxy? Here is the story of a man who dared to challenge the system, not with force, but with truth.
The intellectual's dilemma
Deep within the soul of every intellectual, there is a conflict. On the one hand, there is the burning desire to express the truth, to challenge conventions and to expose injustices. On the other, there is the fear of being ostracized, of losing the respect of one's colleagues and of being labeled a heretic.
This dilemma was not alien to Orwell, who, with his acute perception, recognized censorship not as an act imposed from above, but as a self-imposed choice by the intellectual community.
Animal Farm: A "Political Fairy Tale"
"Animal Farm" wasn't just a story about animals taking over a farm. It was a scathing critique of the Soviet Union's transition from revolution to totalitarianism under Stalin. But while the novella was clear in its satire, the reaction of the British intellectual community was far from favourable. Why? Because Orwell had touched the "wound" of intellectualism: the fear of going against the dominant orthodoxy. And this wasn't just the case in the Soviet Union.
Orwell had not been censured by any government or outside entity. He had been censured by the same community that was supposed to defend freedom of expression. It was "spontaneous" censorship, born not of an organized campaign, but of a collective fear of going against the tide. And this censorship was all the more dangerous because it was invisible, silent and insidious.
The preface to the book, "Freedom of the Press," was omitted from the first edition of the book, then disappeared and it was only rediscovered in 1971.
What the preface of "Animal Farm" said
Of course it is undesirable for a government department to have any censorship powers (except security censorship, which no one opposes in wartime) on books that are not officially sponsored.
But the main danger to freedom of thought and speech right now is not direct interference from the MOI or any other official body. If publishers and editors try to keep certain topics out of print, it's not because they fear prosecution, but because they fear public opinion.
In this country, intellectual cowardice is the worst enemy that a writer or journalist has to face, and this fact does not seem to me to have been discussed as it deserves…
Orwell and his struggle
Despite these challenges, Orwell did not give up. He fought against censorship with his pen, exposing the hypocrisies and contradictions of intellectual society. And while many criticized him, many others celebrated him for his audacity and his bravery.
Because, as he himself wrote, "if freedom means anything, it means the right to tell people what they don't want to hear."
Orwell's story reminds us of the importance of defending freedom of expression, not only from external threats, but also from internal ones. He reminds us that censorship can take many forms and that we must always be vigilant. And above all, he reminds us that truth is a powerful force, and that those who dare to speak it, despite the challenges, are true heroes.
