Animal Farm

### Setting/Time Period

Manor Farm, EnglandPossibly around the events of the Russian Revolution (1917-1945)

### Themes

Power and corruption, totalitarianism, power of language, tyranny

### Symbols

Animal Farm, Names, The windmill, the barn

> "*All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal to others.*"
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**Animal Farm: A Fairy Story** is a 1945 novella by George Orwell. It tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer and live free from their owner's tyranny until their society becomes corrupted by totalitarianism.

The Russian Revolution occurred at the time of its publication, and the Soviet Union was rising. The novella is an allegory with its characters and events loosely based on Russia's leader, Joseph Stalin and the USSR. Orwell made it a satire to express his concern for Russian politics and society during his time.

## Plot Summary

Old Major, an elderly prize-winning boar, gathers all the farm animals of Manor Farm in the barn one night for a meeting. He describes to them a dream that he had where all animals lived free from their human masters' tyranny. He persuades them to work hard and prepare for the rebellion that would soon come to make his dream a reality.

After Old Major dies three days later, two younger pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, begin to take the lead and formalize Major's principles into a philosophy they call Animalism. The animals defeat their drunk, negligent owner, Mr. Jones, by running him off the property. They renamed their home Animal Farm and created the Seven Commandments of Animalism posted on the side of the barn. The farm animals work together to govern themselves, with the cart-horse Boxer being the most hard-working. Animal Farm begins to improve.

The pigs become the primary supervisors, with Snowball teaching the animals how to read and Napoleon taking in a group of puppies to teach them the principles of Animalism. When Mr. Jones returns to try to retake his land along with a group of other men, the animals successfully defeat them in an event they call "The Battle of the Cowshed." Shortly after, a conflict emerges between Napoleon and Snowball, especially when Snowball plans to construct a windmill.

One day, while Snowball is giving a speech about the windmill, Napoleon summons his guard dogs (the puppies he had trained earlier), and they chase Snowball off Animal Farm. After he is gone, Napoleon takes over as leader and makes the decisions himself. But he decides to allow the animals to build the windmill anyway. Everyone, including Boxer, constructs the windmill for a whole year despite experiencing gruelling, difficult working hours. As food shortages run low, Napoleon trades with other farms nearby.

After the windmill is destroyed during a storm, the pigs and Napoleon blame Snowball for causing the structure's sabotage and even see him as a threat to Animal Farm. Any animal who opposed Napoleon and participated in Snowball's conspiracy would be executed for treason. He expands his powers and becomes a totalitarian dictator, and he and the pigs act like humans, such as sleeping in beds inside Mr. Jones' house (despite being against the rules of the Seven Commandments). He even enlists a pig named Squealer as his propagandist. He defends his actions by justifying the animals that Napoleon is doing the right thing, except that the animals are starved and overworked. In contrast, the pigs thrive on a lavish lifestyle.

A local farmer named Mr. Frederick swindles Napoleon after a purchase of timber and attacks the farm by destroying the windmill with dynamite, which the animals had worked so hard on for a greater expense. But they managed to fend him off in another battle. They continue to work on rebuilding the windmill. Still, after Boxer collapses from being weak and exhausted, Napoleon sells him to a glue factory, and Squealer tells the animals that Boxer died peacefully in an animal hospital.

Years go by, and Napoleon and the pigs behave like humans, such as walking on two legs and drinking whisky, while the rest of the animals' lives remain the same. The Seven Commandments are now induced into one principle: "*All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others*." Animal Farm has now been changed back to Manor Farm, and everyone else has forgotten that the rebellion had happened. The animals witness the pigs and farmers playing a card game and can't decide who are the humans or the pigs.

## Characters

### The Animals

Napoleon- A fierce-looking boar who gains power as leader of Animal Farm. He rules the farm as a corrupted, totalitarian dictator, making the animals' working lives miserable and keeping his power and wealth to himself. He is ruthless towards his enemies and constantly sees one of the pigs, Snowball, as a potential threat to his power.

Snowball- One of the pigs who participate in Animal Farm's rebellion. He challenges Napoleon for leadership but is popular and loyal to the animals and tries to improve the Farm's environment by constructing a windmill. After he is permanently chased off the Farm by Napoleon, he becomes forgotten by the others and rewritten as a villain.

Squealer- One of the pigs is Napoleon's second-in-command and propagandist. He convinces the animals that the pigs are working hard in everyone's best interest and also gives out false statistics that make the others believe in what he says. Whenever the pigs disobey the Animalism principles, he defends them by using his powerful, energetic speaking style in the best way possible.

Boxer- A cart-horse. He strongly believes in the revolution and is always loyal and determined. He uses his strength and dedication to help build the windmill and be a faithful follower of Napoleon. He trusts the pigs in everything they say and that hard work and perseverance can solve problems.

Old Major- An elderly, prize-winning boar. At the beginning of the story, he tells the farm animals about his dream of freedom and revolution and is the one who convinces them to take part in the rebellion. He created the ideas of Animal Farm and originated the principles of Animalism. He dies shortly after he announces his plans of rebellion.

Clover- Another cart-house at Manor Farm who is a close companion to Boxer. She is supportive and devoted to the Revolution but witnesses the pigs' corruption and isn't smart enough to resist it. She also serves as a motherly figure to the other animals.

Benjamin- An elderly, cynical donkey. He is as clever and intelligent as the pigs but refuses to participate in their revolution, especially when he senses things are about to go wrong. The Animal Farm rebellion doesn't infect his personality; he believes life remains the same.

Mollie- One of the mares who once pulled Mr. Jones' cart. She enjoyed being pampered and looked after and wearing ribbons in her mane. She misses her old lifestyle once Animal Farm is formed and later flees from the Farm to find a different life elsewhere.

Moses- A tame raven who tells the animals stories of a heavenly place called Sugarcandy Mountain, where the animals would supposedly go after their death.

Muriel- A goat who reads the Seven Commandments aloud whenever Clover suspects of the pigs' corruption and tyranny.

Minimus- One of the pigs who writes propagandist songs and poems dedicated to Animal Farm and Napoleon.

Bluebell, Jessie and Pincher- The dogs of Animal Farm. Jessie and Bluebell give birth to some puppies, but Napoleon takes them in to "educate" them and make them his guard dogs.

### The Humans

Mr. Jones- The owner of Manor Farm. He is often drunk and neglectful of his livestock. The animals managed to overthrow him by running him off the property and claiming it as their own.

Mr. Frederick- A farmer who owns Pinchfield, a neighbouring farm. Napoleon tries to look at him for help, but Mr. Frederick ends up betraying him by tricking him and trying to sabotage Animal Farm.

Mr. Pilkington- Another farmer who owns Foxwood, also a neighbouring farm. He is bitter enemies with Mr. Frederick but is a close ally to Napoleon.

Mr. Whymper- A human solicitor Napoleon uses to represent Animal Farm to human society and the outside world.

## Writing History/Reception

George Orwell began work on Animal Farm in 1943-44, during WWII and the UK's alliance with the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany. The events of the Russian Revolution inspired the story in 1917 that was written from Orwell's point of view. It involved barnyard animals rebelling and overthrowing their human master and establishing a dystopian society based on the Revolution figures. 4 publishers rejected the novella since the Soviets were at war with Germany then, and the story was deemed controversial. They also worried that publishing the novel would be offensive to Britain's Russian allies.

On August 17th, 1945, Animal Farm was finally published, selling 4,500 copies in two weeks and becoming a success in England and the United States. It was met with mostly positive reviews, with some critics praising its intelligent writing on satire and moral values, which would later make Orwell an inspirational writer. Other reviewers, such as George Soules of New Republic, criticized it for being 'clumsy' and disappointing. Animal Farm was banned in the Soviet Union, mainly to keep their faith in their alliance with Britain, and selling the novel would receive backlash.

## Themes

### Power and Corruption

Most animals in Animal Farm use power and corruption, making their home a wretched society. When Mr. Jones was the original owner, he not only neglected to look after his livestock, but he may have also been physically abusive towards them to have power and violence over them. After the animals use their ability to take over the farm, they fight back against Mr. Jones and his men by physically kicking them off their property. But as time passes, the animals, mainly the pigs, become corrupted by their power to manipulate and exploit them with their leadership. An example includes Squealer and the dogs used by Napoleon to intimidate fear and lie to the animals, especially when the animals ask questions about the windmill.

Another example was when the Seven Commandments of Animalism were established; they were usually meant to represent that all animals are equal and to protect their rights. But as the Commandments underwent significant changes, the pigs used their corruption to persuade the others that they were right and that it is how it has always been. Overall, the evolution of the Commandments causes the pigs to be consumed by corruption.

### Totalitarianism

Like 1984, Orwell used totalitarianism in Animal Farm to describe how it could easily corrupt communism. The novella's premise was for the animals to create their utopia without humans and be more equal. However, as the story progresses, the leaders of Animal Farm, including Napoleon, lose their equality and become more corrupt and hypocritical. Compared to Hitler’s Nazi Germany and Stalin’s USSR, Napoleon dictated his empire with an iron fist. He displays the Seven Commandments as propaganda and has several other pigs, such as Squealer, to defend him and justify his actions. Old Major’s final wish was for animals to live free from humans, but he should have realized the dangers Napoleon had placed in his society. Orwell also used this theme to explain the harsh truth about totalitarianism and how leaders like Napoleon abuse their power until they become corrupt themselves.

### Power of Language

The pigs use the power of language and eloquence to manipulate and take control over Animal Farm. With the power of their words, they could banish Mr. Jones from the farm and allow Napoleon to take over. Before the main events, the pigs spent most of their time educating them about speech and language, including coming up with the main principles of what would be called Animalism. They also attempt to inform the animals by reading, but only a few manage to become fully literate. Language would cause the pigs to abuse their power slowly, such as breaking the important rule “Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad” and somehow teaching themselves how to walk on their hind legs. Without words and languages, the rebellion would have likely never been established, and Napoleon’s disastrous reign wouldn’t have happened either. But with the power of Napoleon’s words, he managed to have the unsuspecting animals fall under his control and his power of language. By the novel's end, the language theme became more understandable, especially when they created the famous principle, “*All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others*.”

### Tyranny

In Animal Farm, Orwell used tyranny due to the consequences of abusing one's leadership. The animals have attempted to build a democracy to improve their lifestyles but end up going awry due to the pigs' tyrannical actions. Napoleon depicts tyranny like his inspiration, Joseph Stalin, whose corrupt dictatorship in Soviet Russia caused millions to starve and live in poverty; those who opposed Stalin were arrested and executed. Napoleon ruled Animal Farm with an iron fist. With his tyrannical behaviour, he did some heinous actions such as training innocent puppies into vicious guard dogs, selling his loyal cart house to a glue maker and thriving in his lavish lifestyle.

In contrast, the rest of the animals lived the opposite. Old Major had convinced Napoleon not to pursue tyranny but mainly to handle his dictatorship to make his dream come true. Napoleon does not listen to the guidelines, and to make matters worse, he subsequently becomes a lot like Mr. Jones, who mistreats and neglects his comrades. In addition, the naïve, gullible animals were responsible for causing the tyranny. They could not understand the basics of creating a utopia where all animals are meant to be equal, such as attempting to be more literate and living without humans.

## Symbols

### Animal Farm

Initially called Manor Farm, it was later renamed Animal Farm before being changed back to its original name at the novella's end. Symbolizes the communism of the Soviet Union, as well as a human society run by animals, whether capitalist, socialist, fascist or communist.

### Names

A majority of the characters’ names symbolize different historical figures and events from history, primarily the Soviet Union. Mr. Jones symbolizes the Russian Tsar and the falling aristocracy in Russia; his name is one of the most common English surnames, meaning he represents any human. Old Major symbolizes revolutionaries Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin; Major’s name is also used for the highest-ranking officials in the army. Napoleon symbolizes Soviet leader Joseph Stalin; his name is based on the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, a powerful ruler. Snowball symbolizes revolutionary Leon Trotsky; his name, associated with winter fun, could also represent fragility and safety.

### The Barn

The Barn, where the Seven Commandments are displayed (as well as the pigs' revisions of their Farm), symbolizes the consciousness of the working-class animals and the animals' vision of building their society.

### The Windmill

A structure the animals spent gruelling hours constructing, the windmill symbolizes the industry of the Soviet Union. The pigs manipulate the animals into building the windmill by promising food and warmth. Instead, Boxer and the animals experience back-breaking labour while the pigs profit from the construction and thrive in their lifestyle.

## Foreshadowing

* During his speech, Old Major tells the animals, "*You young porkers who are sitting in front of me, everyone one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year.*" Instead of being killed at Mr. Jones' butcher "block," it foreshadows Napoleon executing the animals at his execution "block."
* Napoleon's dogs attack Boxer but survive. Foreshadows Napoleon's decision to not only have Boxer sold to a glue factory and potentially killed but also the fate of the other aging animals as Napoleon betrays his former comrades by tricking them into believing they will retire peacefully.
* Mollie, the mare, questions if she could thrive in her old lifestyle during the rebellion, such as eating sugar and wearing ribbons, and isn't convinced when Snowball says ribbons are the badge of slavery. Foreshadows her disappearing from Animal Farm and living a new life on a different farm.
* After Animal Farm, the cows' milk disappears, and the text hints that Napoleon drank most of it. Foreshadows his ruthless betrayal on the farm.

## Adaptations

A propaganda animated film was released in 1954, directed by John Halas and Joy Batchelor, and features Maurice Denham, who provides the voice for all the characters.

A film adaptation was released in 1999. Directed by John Stephenson, it features Patrick Stewart as Napoleon, Julia Ormond as Jessie, Paul Scofeld as Boxer and Kelsey Grammar as Snowball.