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Geroge Orwell Cassowary Colorizations, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons |
INTRODUCTION
George Orwell’s Animal Farm, first published in 1945, is one of the most enduring political allegories of the 20th century. Subtitled “A Fairy Story,”.
The Novel uses the structure of a fable to explore themes of power, corruption, manipulation, and the cyclical nature of tyranny. Orwell’s narrative follows a group of farm animals who revolt against their human farmer in hopes of building a just, equal society—only to find themselves under the grip of a new dictatorship.
Below is a chronological, scene-by-scene breakdown of the novel, interwoven with thematic commentary and analysis to give a full picture of its meaning and significance.
SHORT SUMMARY
George Orwell’s 1945 novel, Animal Farm, stands as a powerful and enduring political allegory that critiques the corruption of socialist ideals and the rise of totalitarianism, drawing direct parallels to the events of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rule of Joseph Stalin. The narrative serves as a timeless cautionary tale concerning the dangers of unchecked power, propaganda, and the manipulation of language.
The story is initiated by an assembly of all the animals on Manor Farm, a derelict property managed by the tyrannical and neglectful farmer, Mr. Jones. The animals are inspired to rebellion by an elderly boar named Old Major, who imparts a vision of a future free from human oppression, a philosophical system he terms Animalism. Following Old Major's death, the younger pigs—specifically the intellectual Snowball and the cunning Napoleon—lead the animals in a successful revolt, driving Mr. Jones from the farm and renaming it "Animal Farm." They establish the Seven Commandments, which are painted on the barn wall, with the core tenet being “All animals are equal.”
Initially, the new society flourishes, but a power struggle soon emerges between Snowball and Napoleon. Snowball advocates for an idealistic project, the construction of a windmill, while Napoleon quietly amasses power. This conflict culminates when Napoleon uses a pack of ferocious dogs he has secretly raised to chase Snowball off the farm. With his rival eliminated, Napoleon consolidates complete control, establishing a despotic regime with the aid of his chief propagandist, Squealer. The pigs, who have declared themselves the ruling class, begin to systematically dismantle the foundational principles of Animalism for their own gain.
The remainder of the narrative documents the gradual betrayal of the revolution's ideals. The pigs begin to engage in human-like activities such as sleeping in beds and drinking alcohol, justifying their actions by subtly altering the Commandments on the barn wall. Squealer convinces the other animals that their memories are flawed and that these changes have always been in place.
The hardworking and blindly loyal horse, Boxer, serves as a poignant symbol of the exploited working class, whose mottoes, “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right,” lead to his ultimate demise. When Boxer collapses from exhaustion, Napoleon sells him to a horse slaughterer, cynically using the money to purchase whisky.
The novel concludes with the pigs having completely adopted the traits of their former human oppressors. They walk on two legs, wear clothes, and engage in trade with neighboring farms. The Seven Commandments are replaced by a single, chilling edict: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” The final, devastating scene depicts the animals gazing into the farmhouse window, unable to distinguish between the faces of the pigs and the humans, signifying the complete corruption of the revolutionary vision and the cyclical nature of oppression.
ANALYTICAL SUMMARY
Chapter 1: Old Major’s Speech—The Dream of Revolution
The novel begins at Manor Farm, owned by the negligent and often drunk farmer Mr. Jones. The animals are gathered secretly in the barn after hearing that Old Major, a highly respected boar, has had a prophetic dream.
In his speech, Old Major inspires the animals to recognize their oppression:
“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs… yet he is lord of all the animals.”
He urges them to revolt against human tyranny and introduces the principle of Animalism, which rests on solidarity and equality. He teaches them the revolutionary song Beasts of England, which becomes their anthem.
Thematic Analysis:
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This opening scene introduces the utopian ideals of revolution, rooted in equality and fairness.
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Old Major’s rhetoric mirrors Marxist theory and Leninist calls to action.
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The dream reflects the hopeful beginnings of all revolutions, filled with promise but vulnerable to distortion.
Chapter 2: The Death of Old Major and the Rebellion
Old Major dies just days later, but his ideas live on. Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer—three pigs who are considered the most intelligent animals—begin teaching the others the principles of Animalism.
The animals rise in rebellion sooner than expected. When Mr. Jones forgets to feed them, they break into the storehouse. Jones and his men try to regain control, but the animals drive them out of the farm.
The farm is renamed “Animal Farm,” and the Seven Commandments of Animalism are painted on the barn wall. Among them is the famous maxim:
“All animals are equal.”
Thematic Analysis:
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This scene represents the Russian Revolution of 1917, where the oppressed rose against the monarchy.
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The commandments symbolize the founding principles of socialism and communism.
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Already, however, the pigs’ intellectual authority sets them apart, foreshadowing inequality.
Chapter 3: Early Unity and Literacy Campaigns
The animals work together joyfully to harvest the fields. The pigs, using their intelligence, take supervisory roles rather than physical labor. Snowball launches a literacy campaign, teaching the animals to read and write.
However, the less intelligent animals can only remember simplified slogans. The sheep, for instance, adopt:
“Four legs good, two legs bad.”
Thematic Analysis:
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Education and literacy are portrayed as keys to freedom, but also as tools that can be manipulated.
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The simplification of ideology into slogans reflects propaganda’s ability to oversimplify complex political ideas.
Chapter 4: The Battle of the Cowshed
Mr. Jones, determined to reclaim his farm, returns with other men. The animals, led by Snowball, defend themselves in what becomes known as the Battle of the Cowshed.
Snowball emerges as a brave leader, wounded in the process. Jones and his men are defeated, solidifying the animals’ control over the farm.
Thematic Analysis:
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The battle represents the Civil War following the Russian Revolution.
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Snowball’s courage and tactics align him with Leon Trotsky, while Napoleon lurks in the background, already scheming.
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The animals’ unity is genuine but fragile, built on loyalty and shared struggle.
Chapter 5: The Struggle Between Snowball and Napoleon
Snowball and Napoleon increasingly clash over the farm’s direction. Snowball proposes building a windmill to generate electricity and ease labor. Napoleon, however, opposes it—until he later claims the idea as his own.
At a critical meeting, Snowball is chased off the farm by Napoleon’s trained dogs. From this moment, Napoleon becomes the unchallenged leader.
Thematic Analysis:
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Snowball’s expulsion mirrors Trotsky’s exile.
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Napoleon’s use of dogs represents the rise of secret police and military enforcement under Stalin.
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The shift from democratic debate to dictatorship highlights how revolutions devolve into authoritarianism.
Chapter 6: Exploitation Under the New Regime
The animals work harder than ever to build the windmill, even as Napoleon demands longer hours. Strikingly, he begins trading with humans, a direct violation of Animalist principles.
To justify contradictions, Squealer rewrites the commandments. For example, when the pigs start sleeping in beds, the rule is subtly altered to:
“No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.”
Thematic Analysis:
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The pigs’ manipulation of language illustrates propaganda and historical revisionism.
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The exploitation of labor reflects how revolutionary ideals often collapse into oppression by new elites.
Chapter 7: Scapegoating and the Purges
When the windmill collapses during a storm, Napoleon blames Snowball, turning him into a scapegoat for every misfortune.
Napoleon stages public confessions and executions, forcing animals to admit to treachery before being slaughtered by the dogs. The animals are horrified but powerless.
Thematic Analysis:
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This chapter parallels Stalin’s Great Purge of the 1930s.
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The atmosphere of fear demonstrates how dictatorships maintain control through terror and paranoia.
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The scapegoating of Snowball represents how regimes invent enemies to justify repression.
Chapter 8: Cult of Personality
Napoleon increasingly adopts the trappings of a ruler. He is given titles like “Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon.” Squealer spreads propaganda, insisting Napoleon is always right.
When Frederick, a neighboring farmer, tricks Napoleon with counterfeit money, the animals suffer another devastating attack in the Battle of the Windmill. The rebuilt windmill is destroyed once again.
Thematic Analysis:
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Napoleon’s glorification mirrors Stalin’s cult of personality.
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The betrayal by Frederick reflects Hitler’s betrayal of Stalin with the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.
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The destruction of the windmill illustrates the futility of exploited labor under corrupt leadership.
Chapter 9: Decline and Suffering
Life on Animal Farm worsens. Rations are cut, while the pigs live in luxury. Boxer, the loyal and hardworking horse, suffers a severe injury.
Despite his devotion—his maxims are “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right”—Boxer is betrayed. Instead of being sent to a veterinarian, he is sold to a glue factory.
Thematic Analysis:
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Boxer represents the working class, loyal but exploited until death.
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His betrayal symbolizes how totalitarian regimes discard even their most faithful supporters once they are no longer useful.
Chapter 10: The Betrayal of the Revolution
Years pass. Few of the original animals remain. The Seven Commandments have been erased, replaced with a single chilling maxim:
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
The pigs walk on two legs, carry whips, and resemble humans entirely. They even form alliances with neighboring farmers, betraying the revolution’s ideals completely.
The novel closes with the animals looking through the farmhouse window, unable to tell pigs and humans apart:
“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”
Thematic Analysis:
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The ending confirms the cyclical nature of tyranny: one oppressive system is merely replaced by another.
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Orwell’s warning is that revolutions without accountability inevitably lead to corruption.
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The blurred distinction between pigs and men symbolizes the complete betrayal of revolutionary ideals.
Key Themes of Animal Farm
1. Power and Corruption
The novel illustrates the famous dictum: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Napoleon’s rise from revolutionary leader to dictator demonstrates how revolutions can betray themselves.
2. Propaganda and Control of Language
Through Squealer’s manipulations and the revision of commandments, Orwell shows how language can be weaponized to control thought.
3. Class Struggle
The pigs represent an elite ruling class, while animals like Boxer symbolize the working class. Orwell critiques the exploitation of workers under both capitalism and communism.
4. Betrayal of Ideals
The journey from “All animals are equal” to “some animals are more equal than others” captures the central irony of the novel: the very revolution meant to establish justice only creates new forms of oppression.
5. Cyclical Tyranny
Orwell emphasizes that without vigilance, revolutions repeat the mistakes of the past. The animals’ inability to distinguish pigs from men at the end confirms this cycle.
Conclusion
George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a timeless cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power, propaganda, and the betrayal of revolutionary ideals. By presenting history as a fable, Orwell ensures the message is universal and enduring.
From Old Major’s hopeful vision to the chilling final scene, the novel traces the trajectory of revolutions that begin with dreams of equality but end with tyranny. As Orwell demonstrates, when principles are sacrificed for power, freedom is lost—and the oppressed remain oppressed, simply under new masters.
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