George Orwell's Animal Farm is an example of a satire. Satire is a literary genre that uses irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to expose and criticize human vices or shortcomings. In Animal Farm, Orwell satirizes the Soviet Union under Stalin's leadership, particularly the abuse of power, corruption, and propaganda used to manipulate and control the population. The novel uses animal characters to represent real historical figures and events, such as Napoleon representing Stalin and the pigs representing the Soviet government. The use of satire in Animal Farm serves to both entertain and educate the reader about the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of questioning authority.