Proceedings of English Linguistics and Literature
Vol. 5 (2026)

BAD FAITH UNDER TOTALITARIAN REGIMES IN GEORGE ORWELL’S ANIMAL FARM

Muzhaffar Hibatullah (Unknown)
Rini Susanti Wulandari (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Sep 2026

Abstract

This study analyses how the character Boxer in George Orwell’s Animal Farm represents bad faith and how that bad faith constructs identity under a totalitarian regime. Using a qualitative textual analysis grounded in Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialism, the study focuses on Boxer as the research object, with Animal Farm as the primary data source. Data were gathered through close reading and analysed through data condensation, data display, and conclusion verification. The findings show that Boxer’s bad faith emerges through self-limitation in learning, repeated acceptance of slogans, labour-centred self-imposition, and the postponement of self-development. Despite Boxer occasionally showing moral hesitation and brief recognition of contradiction, these moments remain fragile and do not develop into sustained resistance. The study concludes that the interplay between totalitarian pressure and self-imposed compliance shapes Boxer’s identity. Thus, bad faith functions as a process of existential self-construction rather than a single act of obedience. The study contributes to existentialist literary criticism by expanding existentialist literary criticism to identify identity development under totalitarian conditions.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ELLit

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

The proceedings consists papers presented in the Biannual National Seminar on English Linguistics and Literature (ELLit). The seminar aims to exchange and share ideas as well as research findings from all presenters in Indonesia. Also, it provides forum for those involved to present and to discuss ...