Animal Farm Theme of Religion

Religion in Animal Farm is used, as Karl Marx famously said, as an "opiate of the masses." The animals are distracted from their horrible living situation and life of labor with visions of "Sugarcandy Mountain," a supposed heaven. Religion is also peripherally associated with corrupt power. The government tolerates religion precisely because of its ability to placate and to distract the lower-class animals. Yet religion is also the only thing that makes the animals’ lives seem worth living as their situation becomes increasingly miserable.

1. Why would Orwell choose a raven as the main proponent of religion?
2. Why call the raven Moses? It sounds like a biblical reference, i.e., Orwell beating you over the head with the club of literary significance. Yet Moses the raven doesn't do anything resembling Moses the man (leading a great big horde of people out of oppression and into freedom). So what gives?
3. What's going on with Moses and the Joneses? They seem to have a closeness…and there seems to be some connection between corrupt power and religion. Notice how we said "seems," so you'll have to argue one way or the other.

Although relatively little text time is devoted to Moses the raven, the theme of religion is constantly present in Napoleon's regime.

Although they play very different roles, Moses and Napoleon derive power and interact with the other animals in similar ways, making clear a connection between dictatorship and religion.