Is it a more painful fate to lose all the people you once loved, or to live alone and not love at all?  In Animal Farm, an allegory by George Orwell, the animals of Manor Farm overthrow their farmer in an attempt to create an equal community and honor an old friend’s belief that “all animals are equal”. What the animals don’t realize is that in the process of reforming society, they will encounter rivalry, natural disasters, traitors, and most significantly, a human-like desire for power. It isn’t before long that the animals must face the harsh truth that the smart and respected animal who was once their close comrade has become their worst enemy — an intimidating and ruthless dictator that is no different from their farmer. On the other hand, imagine being the daughter of a Communist, and therefore an enemy of the Nazi government. You are all alone in a frightening and dark world. You have been separated from your birth family for various reasons, and your heart constantly aches from isolation. When you finally are taken in by people who love and care for you, your life is changed forever. You learn that as long as you’re with your best friend, a chaotic game of soccer on the run-down streets is exciting and engaging; as long as your Papa and favorite book are by your side, you don’t need to be afraid of nightmares; as long as there is love, death cannot part you from the people you care about.  This the life-changing journey that Liesel Meminger embarks on in The Book Thief. Depending on the circumstances, a corrupt government can either tear characters apart, or bring them closer together. 

In Animal Farm, the animals are not able to stick together in the presence of power. After overthrowing the farmer, the pigs take over his role as leader and “the [other] animals … [work] diligently … not knowing whether to be more frightened of the pigs or of the human visitors”(Orwell 135). When the pigs were given the opportunity to embrace power, they are unable to maintain equality with the rest of the animals and turn into feared tyrants. To them, there’s nothing more important than power – why be a comrade when you can be the dictator? Furthermore, to the animals’ horror, the 7 Commandments of Animalism have been replaced with a single commandment, which reads, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”(Orwell 134). There is no doubt that this is the work of the pigs, who also broke the 7 previous commandments and abused their power after appointing themselves as the leaders without the consent of the rest of the animals. The question is, was it okay for the pigs to make decisions for themselves, since they are, after all, smarter and more natural leaders than the rest of their friends? Even if there are leaders and followers, can that still be considered a true equal society? No, and no! What the pigs have done is not for the good of the entire farm, as they claim — it is only so that they can gain the riches and profit without working by manipulating the less intelligent animals. However, while in Animal Farm a tough situation turns good intentions into cunning means of gaining dominance and power, this proves to be false in other cases.

In The Book Thief, struggles only bring a family closer.  Before the core struggles of the war came into effect:

[Mama’s] words were shoved back to Papa with the rest of the junk.  “Where are those damn scissors?” …  Hans cowered. “Goddamn it, woman, deafen me, why don’t you!” …  “Quiet, Saukerl.” Rosa went on riffling and addressed the girl. “Liesel, where are the scissors?” But Liesel had no idea, either. “Saumensch, you’re useless, aren’t you?” …  More words were delivered back and forth, from elastic-haired woman to silver-eyed man, till Rosa slammed the drawer!  (Zusak 244). 

At this point, the members of the Hubermann household argue often; they do not appreciate one another and take their family for granted. As the Hubermanns cannot quite imagine the role their loved ones would play in a frightening and life-changing situation at this point in which their lives are at ease, Rosa, Hans, and Liesel lash out and throw harsh insults at one another for small, minor inconveniences, such as a pair of lost scissors. (They are, for the record, found shortly thereafter.) However, the family’s dynamics change once the effects of the war begin to get to them. After Papa goes off to fight in the war, Liesel and Rosa finally realize how much they love and — now — miss him:

[Liesel’s] papa was still away … she could even hear his voice … “Make them come back alive,” [Mama] repeated. “Please, Lord, please.  All of them.”  Even the wrinkles around her eyes were joining hands”(Zusak 472-474). 

People say that “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” and we can see the truth of this statement by observing the changes that Liesel’s family undergoes. Unlike in Animal Farm, the war (though it separates them temporarily) strengthens the bond of the Hubermann family. Even Mama, who normally is cantankerous and addresses everyone as a useless and dumb “Saukerl” or “Saumensch”, is now anxiously praying for the safety of her husband and country. Imagine being separated from your own family. You do not know when you will be reunited again (if ever!) and you feel a hint of guilt, for when you were with your family, you were often rude to them, oblivious to the fact that soon you would have to say goodbye to them. Mama’s inner love and concern — though not always obvious — towards the people around her can finally be acknowledged in these difficult situations. Afterall, although corruption leads to war and destruction, it can also nurture unconditional love and teach characters to care for their friends and family.

Unknown fates and unique turns in a book’s plot contribute to the excitement of reading a historic book on corrupt government and war; however, if we dig a little deeper, we can find true reflections of past reality in these entertaining and spine-tingling page turners. Both Animal Farm and The Book Thief are fictional books that were written to give readers a more thorough understanding of the history of the human race. These stories are meant to help us sympathize — they teach us not only step into the shoes of the characters, but walk around in them and experience what may seem fantasy to us, yet, to them, was reality. Just think about it: would you want to live in constant fear, finally learn to love when you are blessed with comfort of your newly found friends and family (about time!), then come out of your basement one day and find that all the people you ever loved have been killed? Would you like your “comrades” to turn against you simply because they are smarter, completely change the rules to — what is supposed to be — an equal society, and abandon you and your friends for the people who are supposedly your enemies for the sole purpose of gaining wealth? While we may not always realize it today, the lives of many in history – including children — were full of uncertainty and fear that is incomparable to the minor “I got a bad grade!” and “my parents won’t let me get social media!” stresses that we face today. Countless uncontrollable factors determined their fate, and with their lives in the hands of the government, a happy ending was rare, and could only be reached with a hefty dose of luck. That is why it is with the greatest thought and solicitude that we must hear out (or rather, read out!) the struggles of our ancestors. Wartime struggles and a corrupt government brought the uncertainty of not knowing how you could end up — today, it is essential for us to acknowledge their lives and all that they fought for.