SummaryandAnalysisofAnimalFarm

ChapterOne:Summary
AsthestoryopensonMr.Jones'sfarm,thefarmanimalsarepreparingtomeetafterMr.Jonesgoestosleep,
tohearthewordsthattheoldandwellrespectedpig,OldMajor,wantstosaytothem.Theanimalsgather
aroundasOldMajortellsthemthathehadadreamthepreviousnightandsensesthathewillnotlivemuch
longer.Astheanimalsprepareforhisspeech,thenarratoridentifiesseveraloftheanimalswhichwill
becomemoreimportantinthestory:thecarthorsesBoxerandClover,theolddonkeyBenjamin,andMollie
theprettymare.Beforehedies,hewantstotelltheanimalswhathehasobservedandlearnedinhistwelve
years.OldMajorgoesontosaythatanimalsinEnglandarecruellykeptinslaverybyman,whostealsthe
animals'labourandis"theonlycreaturethatconsumeswithoutproducing".Hedescribeshisvisionofan
Englandinwhichanimalsarefreeandliveincompleteharmonyandcooperation,freeofthetyrannyofman
andhisevilhabits.
OldMajortellstheanimalsthattheymustallbandtogethertofightthecommonenemy,Man,andriseupin
rebellionwhentheopportunitycomes.Heexhortsthemtoremaintruetotheiranimalways,andthenleads
theminarousingsongofrevolution,called"BeastsofEngland".TheyarestirredintoafrenzybyOld
Major'sspeechandsingthesongfiveconsecutivetimes,untilMr.Jonesstirsandfiresashotintotheairto
quietthemdown.Soonthewholefarmfallsasleep.
ChapterOne:Analysis
AnimalFarmisasatireontheRussianRevolution,andisoneofthebest20thcenturyexamplesofallegory,
anextendedformofmetaphorinwhichobjectsandpersonssymbolizefiguresthatexistoutsidethetext.As
itstitlesuggests,thesettingforthisfablelikenovelisafarm,andthebulkofthecharactersarethefarm
animalsthemselves,allofwhomsymbolizevariousrevolutionaryfiguresorpoliticalideologies.
TheopeningchapterintroducesthethemeofrevolutionthatdominatesAnimalFarm,aswellasintroduces
thefarmanimalswhoarelessnotablefortheirindividualcharactersthanforthepoliticalfigurestheywill
symbolizeinlaterchapters.OldMajoristhecentralfigureinChapterOne.Helightsthesparkofrevolution
onthefarm,andsymbolizestheidealisticrevolutionaryleaderswhoseideasservedasthecatalystfor
revolutioninRussiaandmoregeneralwithintheCommunistmovement.Hisstatementthat"thelifeofan
animalismiseryandslavery"echoesthe17thcenturyphilosopherHobbes,whofamouslydescribedhuman
lifeas"nasty,brutish,andshort".
ThefirstchaptercontainsmanyexamplesofthewhimsywhichisscatteredthroughoutAnimalFarm,most
notablyinthewayOrwelldescribesthevariousfarmanimalsinsemihumanterms.WemeetClover,the
mare"whoneverquitegotherfigurebackafterherfourthfoal,"anexampleofOrwelldrawingattentionto
thevery"animalness"ofthefarmanimalsbyjuxtaposingitwithtraditionallyhumancharacteristicsand
foibles.Orwell'swritingstylehere,asthroughoutthenovel,isplain,spare,andsimple,atechniquewhich
emphasizesthefableaspectofAnimalFarm;byusingminimalistlanguageandshort,simplesentence
structure,Orwelldrawsthereader'sattentiontotheanimals'perspective,apointofviewwhichwillleadto
greatironyastherevolutionunfolds.
ChapterTwo:Summary
Threedayslater,OldMajordiesandisburied.Hisrevolutionaryfervourliveson,andtheanimalsbeginto
fleshintherevolutionaryideologywithwhichtheywilloverthrowMr.Jones.Twoofthepigs,Snowball
andNapoleon,emergeastheleadersoftheanimals.Snowballisnaturallyvivacious,whileNapoleon"hasa
reputationforgettinghisownway".AnotherpignamedSquealeralsobecomesprominentforhispersuasive

speakingability.Thesethreepigscreateasystemoftenetsandnameit"Animalism,"andbeginimpartingit
totherestoftheanimals,oftensimplifyingandslowlyreasoningwiththelessintelligentanimalssuchas
theSheep,orthefrivolousanimals,likeMolliethewhitemare.ThecarthorsesBoxerandCloverarethe
mostresponsiveofalltheanimals,andMosesthetameravenisthemostdifficultanimalforthepigsto
persuadetojointherevolution.Mosesclaimsthatheknowsoftheexistenceofamagicalplacecalled
SugarcandyMountain,andhistalesareaconstantdistractiontotheotheranimals.
Revolutioncomesearlierthananyoneexpected,whenMr.Jonesgetssodrunkthatheisunabletogofeed
theanimals.Afteradayandahalfwithoutfood,thehungryanimalsfinallyriotandbreakintothefeeding
areathemselves,promptingMr.Jonesandhisfieldhandstocomeoutside.Theanimalsattackthemwitha
vengeance,andthemenflee,leavingManorFarmtotheanimals.Mrs.Joneswakesupduringthe
commotion,andwhenshediscoverswhathashappened,sherunsoffwithasuitcaseofclothesherself.The
animalsrejoice,walkingoverthefarmtoexaminetheirproperty,curiouslyinvestigatethefarmhouse
interior,andcelebratewithextrarationsoffood.Thenextmorning,Snowballrepaintsthesignreading
"ManorFarm"tosay"AnimalFarm,"andheandNapoleonintroducetheanimalstoTheSeven
Commandments,whichformthetenetsoftheir"Animalism":
Whatevergoesupontwolegsisanenemy.
Whatevergoesuponfourlegs,orhaswings,isafriend.
Noanimalshallwearclothes.
Noanimalshallsleepinabed.
Noanimalshalldrinkalcohol.
Noanimalshallkillanotheranimal.
Allanimalsarecreatedequal.
Thecowsbythistimeneedmilking,sothepigsmanagetomilkthem.Severaloftheanimalswantsomeof
themilkforthemselves,butNapoleondistractsthem,sayingthattheyhavemoreimportantthingstoattend
toandthathewilltakecareofit.Laterthatday,theanimalsnoticethatthemilkhaddisappeared.
ChapterTwo:Analysis
Withhisdeath,OldMajorsymbolizestheidealistic,oftenintellectualorabstractvisionthatleadstoa
revolution.Hisdeathclearsthepathforotheryoungerfigurestoseizetherevolutionaryfervourwhichis
sweepingthefarmanduseittopropelthemselvestopositionofpower.Napoleon,Snowball,andSquealer
arecleverer,sneakier,andmoreaggressivethantheotheranimals,andtheysoonrisetopowerastheleaders
oftherevolutionarymovement.
Theotheranimals'hesitancytoaccepttherevolutionaryideologyrightawayissymbolicofthepeasantsin
Russiawhowereatfirstsuspiciousoftherevolutionariesmotives.Thereservationstheyexpress,suchasthe
plaintthat"Mr.Jonesfeedsus.Ifheweregone,wewouldstarvetodeath,"symbolizethepeople's
reluctancetoabandonthesecurityoftheirfamiliarformsofgovernanceinfavourofaselfdetermined,less
securefuture.Squealer'spersuasivetacticsinconvincingtheanimalstouniteinrevolutionsymbolizethe
personable,persuasivespeakingpowersofacharismaticpoliticalleader.
TheSevenCommandmentsaresignificantfortheirresoundingcensurenotonlyofanimalinequality,but
lesspredictablyofhumanhabitsatlarge.Thefirsttwoandlasttwocommandmentsareaimedatreinforcing
theunityoftheanimalworldandestablishingsomebasicbeliefsfortheanimalstoshare.Commandments
35,whichexplicitlyforbidtheanimalstoengageinhumanactivitiessuchassleepinginbeds,wearing
clothes,ordrinkingalcohol,arefundamentallydifferent.WiththeseCommandments,theanimalsociety
attachesasignificanceandprestigetothesevestigesofhumanlifethattheymighthavenotdeveloped
otherwise.WithnotaboosagainstwearingtheJones'sclothes,forexample,onecanimagineascenario
wheretheanimalsweartheclothesbrieflyasacuriosity,withnoharmdone.Byforbiddingtheseacts,the
Revolutionaryleadersturntheitemsintosignifiersofprestigeandsocialstanding,makingthepigs'eventual
adoptionofhumanhabitsparticularlydisillusioning.

ChapterThree:Summary
TheAnimalismregimebeginsverypromisingly,withalltheanimalsworkingindustriouslytoimprovethe
farm,andenjoyingthefeelingofselfgovernanceand"animalpride"whichtheirregimeproduces.Inspired
bytheideathattheywouldenjoythefruitsoftheirownlaboursforthefirsttime,theanimalsovercomethe
challengesoffarmingwithoutmanandbringinthelargestharvestAnimalFarmhaseverproduced.Boxer
thehorsebecomesamodelofhardworkanddevotiontothecause,andadoptsthepersonalmotto,"Iwill
workharder".Thepigsdonotactuallyperformanywork,butinsteadsuperviseandcoordinatetheworkfor
therestoftheanimals.Molliethemareistheonlyanimalwhoshirkswork.Benjamin,theolddonkey,
remainsunchangedaftertherevolution,andcrypticallysaysthat"Donkeyslivealongtime."Theanimals
observeaflagraisingritualonSundays,whichisadayofrestforthem.Snowballformsanarrayof
committeesaimedatsocialimprovements,education,training,andthelike.Theeducationprogramachieves
thegreatestsuccess,withalltheanimalsachievingsomedegreeofliteracy.Afterthediscoverythatthe
stupideranimalscouldnotlearntheSevenCommandments,Snowballreducesthetenetsdowntothemaxim
"Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad,"whicheventhesheepcanmemorize,andbleatforhoursonend.Thedogs
havealitterofninepuppies,whichNapoleontakesundertheguiseofeducatingthem.Hekeepsthem
secludedintheloft,andsoontheotheranimalsforgetaboutthem.Aftertheappleharvest,thepigsannounce
thattheywillreservealltheapplesandmilkforthemselves,tofuelthestrenuouseffortsrequiredtomanage
thefarm.Theotheranimalsreluctantlyacquiesce.
ChapterThree:Analysis
InChapterThreewebegintoseethefirstunmistakablesignsthattheRevolutionwilldriftawayfromthe
commonanimals'ideals,whichweremorealignedwithOldMajor'svisionofaclasslesssociety.The
exclusionofthepigsfromthefarmlabourmarksthebeginningsofthesocialstratificationwhichwould
havebeenanathematoOldMajor.Theanimalsgoalongwiththesedevelopmentsoutoffearthatwithout
thepigs,Mr.Joneswillreturn,thoughthesefearsareimplantedbySquealer,whoearlyonrecognizesthe
valueoffearinpersuadingtheanimals.
ChapterThreealsoestablishesthedivisionbetweenSnowballandNapoleon.Snowballisclearlythe
"thinker"ofthemovement,developingtheflagraisingritualandsymbolismandcreatingtheelaborate
systemofcommittees.Tothereader,muchofSnowball'sactivityseemsbenign,andevenbenevolent,asin
theeducationeffortsandimprovementmindedgroupsliketheWhiterWoolMovementforthesheep.These
effortsestablishSnowballasthesymbolicdescendantofOldMajor'svisionofanimallife.
Napoleon,incontrast,becomessubtlymalevolentinhisinteractionswiththenewbornpuppies.Here,
Orwell'suseofperspectivetocreateironyissignificant.Thescene(asisallofAnimalFarm)isnarrated
fromtheunquestioninganimals'pointofview,andthenarratoronlyremarksthatNapoleon"kept[the
puppies]insuchseclusionthattherestofthefarmsoonforgottheirexistence".ThetoneofOrwell'sanimal
perspectiveis,asalways,noncommittalandunremarkable,butthemoreperceptivereaderisinstantly
alertedbythissuspiciousbehaviouronNapoleon'spart,andiscuedforthebolderviolationswhich
Napoleonwillcommitinsubsequentchapters.
ChapterFour:Summary
NewsoftherebellionatAnimalFarmspreadsquicklytotherestoftheanimalsinEngland,andthewordsto
"BeastsofEngland"cansoonbeheardonfarmseverywhere.EmboldenedbytheAnimalFarmrevolution,
otherpreviouslysubduedanimalsbegindisplayingsubversivebehaviourinsubtleways,suchastearing
downfencesandthrowingriders.Thisdevelopmentalarmsthelocalfarmers,whohavelistenedtoMr.
Jones'staleofwoeattheRedLiontavernwherehenowspendsmostofhistime.Alarmedbythe
developmentsatAnimalFarmandthethreatofrevolutionspreading,thetownsmenbandtogetherwithMr.
Jonesandattempttoreclaimhisfarm.Theanimalssuccessfullydefendit,ledbythestrategyandbraveryof

Snowball.AyoungfarmhandisthrowntothegroundbyBoxer,andatfirstitappearsthathehasbeen
killed,buthegainsconsciousnessafewmomentslaterandrunsoff.Atthefirstgunshot,Molliethemare
runsintothebarninterrorandburiesherheadinthehay.SnowballandBoxeraregivenmedalsfortheir
courageousfighting.
ChapterFour:Analysis
OneofthemostnotablefeaturesofthischapteristheconspicuousabsenceofNapoleon.Thisistheonly
postrevolutionchapterinthebookinwhichNapoleonisnotmentionedevenasingletime.Incontrastwith
Snowball'sdisplayofintelligenceandbravery,Napoleon'sabsencecanonlymeanthathewasnota
participantinthefighting,whichsupportsthegrowingbodyofevidenceinthereader'smindthatNapoleon's
fidelitytotherevolutionarycauseisquestionable.
Throughoutthebattlescenes,Snowballisrepeatedlyshownleadingthechargeagainstthemenand
organizingthebattleplan,afterthenarratorcasuallymentionsthathehasbeenstudyingacopyofJulius
Caesar'sbattleplans,whichhefoundinthebarn.Thesignificanceofthisunderstatedfactisnotlostonthe
reader,anditcontributestothegrowingidentificationofSnowballwithscholarshipandintellectualism.By
bestowingamedalonSnowball,theanimalsunwittinglyraisetheNapoleon/Snowballtensiontoaclimax,
resultinginanideologicalfaceoffwhichsoonpromptsNapoleontotakedrasticmeasures.
ChapterFouralsooffersthereaderafirsttellinglookatthereactionofthetownspeopletotherevolutionon
AnimalFarm.Theirreactions,whichrangefromdisbelieftofeartoselfinterest,representtheattitudesof
modernstatestorevolutioninanothercountry.Thissymbolismbecomesevenclearerwhenthetownsmen
beginspreadingrumoursofnaturalperversionatAnimalFarm,intheformofcannibalism,torture,and
immoralsexualpractices.TheremarksrevealthedegreetowhichAnimalFarmthreatenstheotherfarmers,
andformaparodyofthepropagandathatstatessooftenemployasweaponsagainsteachother'sregimes.
ChapterFive:Summary
UnhappywiththenewworkloadatAnimalFarm,Mollierunsawaytoworkpullingadogcartforamanwho
feedshersugarlumps,andsheisneverspokenofagain.Whenwintercomes,Snowballbeginstalkingofa
plantobuildawindmilltobringelectricitytothefarm.Snowballhasspentmuchofhissparetimereading
Mr.Jones'soldbooksonfarmingtechniques,andheenvisionsanAnimalFarmwhereincreased
productivitywillresultinlessworkandmorecomfortablelifestylesforalltheanimals.Napoleon,whoby
thistimesdisagreeswithSnowballaboutalmosteverything,isbitterlyopposed,andtheanimalsbecome
dividedintotwocampsofsupporters.NapoleonandSnowballalsodisagreeaboutthebestcourseofdefence
forthefarm,withSnowballadvocatingthespreadoftherevolutionaryspirittoneighbouringfarms,while
Napoleonfeelstheanimalsshouldprocureweaponsanddevelopamilitaryforce.Theanimalsaresetto
vote,andafterSnowball'simpassionedspeech,Napoleonwhistlesforninelargedogs(thepuppiesthathe
hastrained),andtheyattackSnowballanddrivehimoffthefarm.Napoleonbecomesthesingleleaderofthe
animals,abolishestheirweeklydebatesandmeetings,andannouncesthattheywillgothroughwiththe
windmillschemeafterall.Theanimalsareinitiallydismayedbythesedevelopments,butSquealer
eventuallysmoothesthingsover.
ChapterFive:Analysis
InChapterFive,thestrifebetweenNapoleonandSnowballreachesitsclimax.Thetwopigsrepresenttwo
divisionsofapostrevolutionarygovernment,one(symbolizedbySnowball)themoreintellectual,
visionary,andidealistic,andtheother(representedbyNapoleon)moreeconomicallymindedand
authoritarian.Withtheappearanceoftheyoungpuppies,nowtrainedintokillerattackdogsbyNapoleon,
theanimalsgivetheirfirststrongsenseofNapoleon'sideologicalbetrayal;thedogsweretheresourcesof
thefarm,andNapoleonseizedthemandthenturnedthemagainstthefarmanimalsthemselves.

Squealer'srolebecomesmorecentraltothepoliticaldevelopmentofthefarminthesescenesaswell.His
persuasiveabilitiesarenowusedexclusivelytopacifytheanimalsaftereachofNapoleon'sdisturbing
proclamations.Inthissense,Squealerfunctionsasthecharismaticandeloquentmouthpieceofthe
increasinglytyrannicalgovernmentthatNapoleonquicklyputsinplace.
ThereactionsofMolliethemareandBoxerthecarthorsecanbecontrastedinChapterFive.Mollieis
unable(orunwilling)tostandthestrainofthenewAnimalFarmworkload,andherloveofluxuriessuchas
sugarlumpsandribbonsinclinehermoretowardcontactwithhumansanyway.Herflightcanbeseenasa
portrayaloftheflightofpamperednoblesafterarevolution.Boxer,ontheotherhand,respondsto
Napoleon'sincreasingcontrolbygivinghimselfanewmantra,"Napoleonisalwaysright."HereOrwell
satirizestheblind,unthinkingdevotionofthemassestowardthepoliticalfiguretheyoriginallysupported,
despitetheleader'sdevolutionintotyranny.
ChapterSix:Summary
Theanimalsbeginworkinglikeslavestocompletetheharvestandbuildthewindmill.Napoleonannounces
thattheanimalswillnowperform"voluntary"workonSundays.Thoughtheworkisofficiallycalled
voluntary,anyanimalwhodoesnotparticipatewillhavetheirfoodrationscutinhalf.Tofinancethe
completionofthewindmill,NapoleonannouncesthatAnimalFarmwillbegintradingwiththemenwhorun
nearbyfarms.TheanimalsthinktheyrememberOldMajorspeakingagainstevilhumanhabitssuchastrade.
Squealerconvincestheanimalsthattheyareonlyimaginingit.ThesightofNapoleononfourlegs
conductingbusinesswiththefarm'stradeagentMr.Whymper,whostandsupright,makestheanimalsso
proudthattheyignoretheirmisgivings.Thepigsthenmoveintothefarmhouse,andSquealeragain
convincesthatanimalsthattheyareonlyimaginingtheearlierrulesagainstsleepinginbeds.Someofthe
animalsgotochecktheFourthCommandment,anddiscoverthatitactuallyreads"Noanimalshallsleepin
abedwithsheets".RatherthanrealizingthattheCommandmenthasbeenaltered,theanimalsacceptthat
theymusthaveforgottentheendingbefore.Thewindmillisdestroyedinastorm,andNapoleonblamesit
onSnowball,andplacesarewardonhishead.
ChapterSix:Analysis
Napoleon'sreintroductionoftradetoAnimalFarmishisfirststeptowardsthereappearanceofhuman
customs.Notsurprisingly,thepigs'movetothefarmhousefollowsshortlythereafter.Napoleonhereproves
himselfwillingtodirectlyviolatetheSevenCommandmentswhichhadgovernedtheanimalssincethe
revolution.Hisattempttohidetheillegalityofthismovebyliterallychangingthewordingofthe
commandmentsisquitetelling,symbolizingatyrant'sdisregardfortruthandethicalconsiderations.
ThespecificrewordingoftheFourthCommandmentisalsosignificant.Napoleondoesnotremoveanyof
thecommandmentorsubstituteanewoneforit,butratheraddsaphrasetoittomakeitmorespecific;an
injunctionagainstsleepinginbedsbecomesaninjunctionagainstsleepinginbedswithsheets.This
narrowingoforiginallybroaderideasisthekeytoNapoleon'sslowtransformationofthefarm.Hetakesthe
revolution'soriginalgeneralideasandlanguageandalters,appends,andincorporatesthemintohisown
reign,sothattheyarebarelyrecognizabletotheiroriginalform.
ByblamingthewindmilldestructiononSnowball,Napoleonavoidstherealizationamongtheanimalsthat
anything,includingstorms,isoutofhiscontrol.TheSnowballlieunitestheanimalsagainstacommon
enemy,justastheoriginalrevolutionhadboundthemtogetheragainstMan.Ironically,though,thetrue
leaderofthatrevolutionistwistedintotheircommonenemyunderNapoleon'spropaganda.
ChapterSeven:Summary
Ahardwintercomes,andtheanimalsfacenearstarvation.Tohidethefoodshortagefromtheoutside
world,NapoleonfillsthegrainbinswithsandtofoolMr.Whymper.Healsoplantsseveralanimalsat
strategiclocationsduringMr.Whymper'svisitssothathecanhearthemmaking"casual"(andfalse)

remarksaboutfoodsurplusesandincreasedrations.Napoleonannouncestheplantosellapileoftimberto
oneoftwoneighbouringfarmers,Mr.FrederickorMr.Pilkington.AtNapoleon'sbidding,Squealer
announcesthatthehenswillhavetogiveuptheireggstobesoldformoneytobuygrain.Thehensrefuseat
first,butNapoleoncutsofftheirfoodrationsuntiltheyrelent,afternineofthemhavediedfromstarvation.
Allsortsofactsofmischiefandvandalismbegintosurface,whichareimmediatelyattributedtoSnowball.
Soonafter,Napoleonannouncesthatanattemptedrebellionhasbeendiscovered,andhasseveralofthefarm
animalsexecuted.Theremaininganimalsreactwithfearandhorror,andhuddlearoundCloverthemarefor
comfort.SheremindsthemofOldMajor'sgloriousspeechandleadsthemallin"BeastsofEngland,"which
promptsNapoleontoforbidthesingingofthesongandreplaceitwiththesong"AnimalFarm,Animal
Farm,neverthroughmeshallthoucometoharm".
ChapterSeven:Analysis
Napoleon'sdecisiontohidethefoodshortagefromtheoutsideworldismeanttosatirizetheactionsoften
takenbytotalitarianregimeswhichexperienceinternalcrises.Reachingouttothecapitalist/democratic
powersforhelpwouldindicatetheinferiorityofauthoritariangovernments,andinsteadmanyleaders
choosetosacrificetheircitizens'welfaretosaveface.Napoleon'scoverup,aswellashispersonalgluttony,
reflectthecrueltyofhisreign.
ThepropagandathatSquealerbeginsspreadingconcerningSnowballaimstocompletelyseverallremaining
tieswiththeoriginalrevolution.BysayingthatSnowballwasatraitorfromthebeginning?thathewas
nevertrulyconcernedwiththeanimals'welfareandwasfoolingthemallalong?Napoleonattemptsto
discredittheentireearlyhistoryoftherevolution.Byconvincingtheanimalstogoalongwiththistoughest
ideologicalshift,SquealerandNapoleonpavethewayfortheirfuturechanges.
Thisideologicaldepartureisfurthersymbolizedbythedecisiontoabolishthesingingof"Beastsof
England."Whentheanimals'traditionalanthemisreplacedbyatunepraisingAnimalFarmastheideal
society,theanimalsneverquiteembracethenewsonginthesameway.Thisreluctancetoacceptthenew
song,especiallywhencomparedwiththeanimals'relativeeaseatacceptingnewlaws,workschedules,and
ideologies,isatellingcommentaryontheenduringpowerofculture,andthedifficultiesfacedbyregimes
thatattempttosubvertasociety'slowlevelculturaltraditions.
ChapterEight:Summary
Theanimalsdiscoverthataftertheexecutions,anothercommandmentisdifferentfromhowthey
rememberedit;theSixthCommandmentnowreads"Noanimalshallkillanotheranimalwithoutcause".
Napoleonhasalongpoempraisinghisleadershippaintedonthesideofthebarn,anditisannouncedthat
thegunwillbefiredeachyearonhisbirthday.AllordersaredeliveredthroughSquealer,withNapoleon
livinginnearseclusioninthefarmhouseandrarelyappearingonthefarminperson.Whenhedoesmake
publicappearances,itisonlywhileaccompaniedbyaretinueofdogsandotherservants.Napoleon
announcesthesaleofthepileoftimbertoFrederick,aneighbouringfarmerwhoseactsofcrueltytowardhis
animalsarelegendary.Afterthetransaction,itisrevealedtheFrederickpaidwithforgedbanknotes.
NapoleonpronouncesadeathsentenceontoFrederick.Shortlythereafter,thefarmisagainattackedby
neighbouringfarmers,ledbyFrederickhimself.NapoleonappealstoPilkingtontohelpthecauseofAnimal
Farm,butPilkington'sinterestinthefarmwereonlyeconomic,andsincehedidnotgetthepileoftimber,
herefusestohelp,sendingNapoleonthemessage"Servesyouright".Theanimalsfinallyrepelthefarmers,
butonlywithgreatdifficulty,withBoxersustainingasevereinjurytohishoofandthewindmillbeing
destroyedinanexplosion.Napoleoncelebratesthevictorybydrinkinglotsofwhisky,anddespitehis
vicioushangover,theFifthCommandmentsoonreads"Noanimalshalldrinkalcoholinexcess".
ChapterEight:Analysis

InlightofNapoleon'sincreasingdistancefromtherestoftheanimals,thepoemcomposedinhishonourby
theofficialpoetMinimusisfraughtwithirony.Napoleonisdescribedasthe"Ducklings'Friend,"the
"FriendoftheFatherless"whowatchesoverall.Napoleon'sactualisolationfromtheanimalsmakesthese
praisesironicallyemptyatbest.
AnotherimportantaspectofNapoleon'spublicpersonaisrevealedbyhisactionsafterthefarmers'last
attack.Heinsistsonfiringtheguntocelebratetheanimals'victory,eventhoughtheircollectivemoodcan
begatheredfromBoxer'sbitterquestion,"Whatvictory?".WhydoesNapoleoninsistondeclaringtheattack
avictoryfortheanimals?Thankstothelionizedpersonahehasbuiltupforthemasses,the
acknowledgmentofanykindoffailurewouldrepresentacompletecontradictiontohispublicimage.His
perceivedperfectionhasbeenbuiltuptosuchanextentthathecannolongeraffordanythinglessthan
completesuccess.
AfterNapoleonhasSquealerchangetheFifthAmendmenttoallowtheconsumptionofalcohol,Murielthe
goatnoticesthat"theirwasyetanotherofthemwhichtheanimalshadrememberedwrong".Againand
again,thediscrepanciesbetweenwhattheanimalsrememberaslawandwhatNapoleonandSquealer
declareisexplainedbytheanimals"rememberingwrong".Thequestionofthereliabilityofmemoryisone
ofthemajorthemesofAnimalFarm,andrepresentstheeffectivenessofofficialpropagandaaterasingand
callingintoquestionthecollectivememoriesofentirenations.
ChapterNine:Summary
Moreandmore,theanimalsbegintothinkaboutthegenerousretirementplansthathadbeenpartofthe
ideologyoftheearlyRevolution.Lifeishardfortheanimals,andrationscontinuetobereduced,exceptfor
thepigs,whoareallowedtoweargreenribbonsonSundays,drinkbeerdaily,andactuallyseemtobe
gainingweight.Tokeeptheanimalsfromcomplainingabouttheobviousdiscrepancies,Squealer
continuallyreadstheanimalsreportswhichdetailhowmuchbetterofftheyarenowthenbeforethe
Revolution.AnimalFarmisdeclaredaRepublicandmustelectaPresident.Napoleonistheonlycandidate
andiselectedunanimously.Mosestheravenreturnsafteranabsenceofseveralyears,stilltalkingaboutthe
mysticalSugarcandyMountain.BoxerfallsillandNapoleonpromisestosendhimtoahospital,butthe
animalsreadthesignofthetruckasheishauledawayanddiscoverthatheisbeingtakentothebutcher's.
Squealereventuallyconvincestheanimalsthattheyaremistaken.
ChapterNine:Analysis
Napoleon'ssuddenannouncementthatthefarmistobecomeaRepublicisasocialcommentaryonthe
mannerinwhichmanytotalitarianregimesestablishpuppetdemocracies.Theanimalsgothroughthe
motionsofvoting,butwithonlyNapoleonrunningintheelection,thereisnotruechoicetobemade.The
resultisafarcicalparodyofdemocracythatsetsupachillingcontrasttotheopendecisionmakingprocess
ofthefarm'searlyRevolutionarydays.
ThelanguageoftheregimebeginstoplayanimportantroleinChapterNineaswell.Squealerisalwaysthe
bearerofbadnewsfortheanimals,andwhenhecomestotellthemofyetanotherrationreduction,Orwell
writes"Squealeralwaysspokeofitasa'readjustment,'neverasa'reduction'".Thisasideplaysuptheuses
oflanguagetoenforceanddistortpublicperception.
MomentslikeBoxer'sremovaltothehorsebutcherarewhenAnimalFarm'sironicpointofviewbecome
mostcrucial.TheanimalsslowlygraspthatBoxerisbeingsoldforglue,butSquealeriseasilyabletopacify
themwithasloppylie.Thereader,however,isnotsoeasilytricked,andthisdiscrepancybetweenwhatthe
animalsandthenarratingvoicebelievetobetrueandwhatthereaderknowscreatesabittersenseofirony.
ChapterTen:Summary

Yearspass,andmanyoftheolderanimals,whorememberlifebeforetheRevolution,dieoff.Onlycynical
Benjaminremainsjustashealwayswas.Theanimalpopulationhasincreased,butnotasmuchaswould
havebeenpredictedattheRevolution'sbeginning.Talkofretirementfortheanimalsstops,andthepigs,
whohavebecomethelargestgroupofanimalsbyfar,formabureaucraticclassinthegovernment.As
Napoleonages,Squealerassumesapositionofincreasingpower,andlearnstowalkupright.Heteachesthe
sheeptochangetheirchantto"Fourlegsgood,twolegsbetter,"andtheSevenCommandmentsarereplaced
withasinglecommandment:"Allanimalsarecreatedequal,butsomeanimalsaremoreequalthanothers".
Theanimalsareonceagainuneasybythenewpoliticaldevelopments,buttheycomfortthemselveswiththe
knowledgethatatleasttheyhavenohumanmaster.Squealerbeginstoseekouttheapprovalofthe
neighbouringfarmersforhisefficiencyandorderatAnimalFarm.Thepigsinviteagroupoftownsmento
dinnertoinspecttheefficiencyofAnimalFarm,andthemencongratulatethepigsontheirachievements,
notingthattheanimalsatAnimalFarmdidmoreworkandrequiredlessfoodthananyfarminthecounty.
Napoleonreferstothefarmanimalsas"thelowerclasses"andannouncesthatAnimalFarmwilltakeback
itsoriginalnameofTheManorFarm.Astheanimalwatchthedinnerproceedingsthroughthewindow,they
realizewithhorrorthattheycannolongertellthepigs'facesfromthehumanones.
ChapterTen:Analysis
Theagingoftheanimalswiththepassageoftimeremovesmuchofthegrumblingsandcovertdissentthat
theregimefacedearlyoninitsexistence.Thistransformationreturnstotheearlierthemeofthereliabilityof
memory.WithallculturaltraditionsfromtheRevolution(suchasthesong"BeastsofEngland")now
eliminated,andtheoldercitizensslowlydyingout,theAnimalFarmsocietyisbecomingincreasinglyharsh,
bleak,andignorantofthegreatclaimstherevolutionariesoncemade.
Theriseofthebureaucracyoffersacommentaryonthenatureoftotalitariangovernmentswhichfavourone
classoverthecommoncitizens.Facedwithapigpopulationgrowingmuchmorerapidlythantherestofthe
animals,Squealerisforcedtoinventsemisecretandunnecessary"work"forthemtoperform.Heexplains
totheotheranimalsaboutthepigs'outputs,which"werelargesheetsofpaperthathadtobecoveredclosely
withwriting,andassoonastheyweresocovered,theyhadtobeburntinthefurnace."
Thefinal,climacticscene,wheretheanimalsfinallyseetheparallelsbetweenthepigsandthehumans,is
bothchillingandpoignant.Theanimalsarehonestlynotassmartasthepigs,soitiswithearnestand
gulliblefaiththattheyhavewithstoodthedestructionoftheirrevolutionaryidealsandtheadventofthe
totalitarianregime.Themomentwheretheyvividlyrecognizethepigsforthehumanminded,andtherefore
hopelesslycorrupted,rulersthattheyare,isamomentofdisillusionment,andultimatelyhorror.
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