Animal Farm depicts a revolution in progress. Old Major gives the animals a new perspective on their situation under Mr. Jones, which leads them to envision a better future free of human exploitation. The revolution in Animal Farm, like all popular revolutions, arises out of a hope for a better future.
At the time of the revolution, all of the animals on Mr. Jones ’s farm, even the pigs, are committed to the idea of universal equality—but these high ideals that fueled the revolution in the first place gradually give way to individual and class-based self-interest.
Because of their intelligence, the pigs are placed in charge of educating the animals about Animalism, the name they give to the philosophy expounded by Major in Chapter 1. Among the pigs, Snowball and Napoleon are the most important to the revolution.
At the time of the revolution, even the pigs are excited by and committed to the idea of universal animal equality. So what undermines the animal’s revolution and transforms it into a totalitarian nightmare? Animal Farm shows how the high ideals that fuel revolutions gradually give way to individual and class self-interest.
Chapter 2Summary and Analysis Chapter 2. After the death of old Major, the animals spend their days secretly planning the rebellion, although they are unsure when it will occur.
old pig highly regarded by the other animals. He began the whole idea of the revolution.
In Animal Farm Chapter 6, the animals continue to work like slaves but are content in the knowledge that their sacrifice is for the benefit of the farm and themselves. Their new freedoms, however, are gradually being eroded by Napoleon. He introduces 'voluntary' work on Sunday afternoon.
Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer develop Old Major's idea that animals have a right to freedom and equality into “a complete system of thought” (Chapter 2) which they call Animalism. The central beliefs of Animalism are expressed in the Seven Commandments, painted on the wall of the big barn.
Jones is the Russian Czar. Old Major stands for either Karl Marx or Vladimir Lenin, and the pig named Snowball represents the intellectual revolutionary Leon Trotsky. Napoleon stands for Stalin, while the dogs are his secret police. The horse Boxer stands in for the proletariat, or working class.
The animals agree that the farmhouse is to be preserved as a museum and that no animal may ever live there.
The animals cower as Mr. Frederick's men plant dynamite at the base of the windmill and blow the whole structure up. Enraged, the animals attack the men, driving them away, but at a heavy cost: several of the animals are killed, and Boxer sustains a serious injury.
Summary and Analysis Chapter 7 Napoleon uses Mr. Whymper to spread news of Animal Farm's sufficiency to the human world. After learning that they must surrender their eggs, the hens stage a demonstration that only ends when they can no longer live without the rations that Napoleon had denied them.
In Chapter 5 of Animal Farm, Mollie runs away after being pet and taking sugar from a neighbor. Snowball and Napoleon debate, with Snowball supporting a windmill and Napoleon supporting food production. Napoleon uses his trained dogs to run Snowball off the farm, and he takes over as dictator.
The animals vaguely recall this practice being against Old Major's commandments. Squealer assures the animals that Napoleon, as beloved leader, deserves the honor of living in the house. The pigs also need quiet and nourishment to lead and ensure success of the farm.
The work of teaching and organizing falls to the pigs, the cleverest of the animals, and especially to two pigs named Napoleon and Snowball.
How did animals who were not on Animal Farm view the rebellion at Animal Farm? the animals feel encouraged and hopeful when they receive the news about animal farm. How did the humans view the rebellion at Animal Farm?
Among the pigs, Snowball and Napoleon are the most important to the revolution. Despite Mollie 's concern with ribbons and Moses ' tales of a place called Sugarcandy Mountain, the pigs are successful in conveying the principles of Animalism to the others.
Because of their intelligence, the pigs are placed in charge of educating the animals about Animalism, the name they give to the philosophy expounded by Major in Chapter 1. Among the pigs, Snowball and Napoleon are the most important to the revolution. Despite Mollie 's concern with ribbons and Moses ' tales of a place called Sugarcandy Mountain, the pigs are successful in conveying the principles of Animalism to the others.
Mollie's concern over sugar and ribbons is offensive to Snowball because he (as a proponent of Animalism) urges his fellow beasts to sacrifice their luxuries. To him, Mollie is a shallow materialist, concerned only with her own image and comforts.
With the passing of a year, all of the animals (save Benjamin) have wholly swallowed Napoleon's propaganda: Despite their working like "slaves," the animals believe that "everything they did was for the benefit of themselves" and "not for a pack of idle, thieving human beings." When Napoleon orders that animals will need to work on Sundays, he calls the work "strictly voluntary" yet adds that any animal who does not volunteer will have his rations reduced. Thus, Napoleon is able to foster a sense of unity (where animals "volunteer") using the threat of hunger. This transformation of obvious dictatorial practices (forced labor) into seemingly benevolent social programs (volunteering) is another of Napoleon's methods for keeping the animals working and docile.
When Napoleon orders that animals will need to work on Sundays, he calls the work "strictly voluntary" yet adds that any animal who does not volunteer will have his rations reduced. Thus, Napoleon is able to foster a sense of unity (where animals "volunteer") using the threat of hunger.
Napoleon tells the animals that Snowball is responsible for its ruin and offers a reward to any animal who kills Snowball or brings him back alive. Napoleon then declares that they will begin rebuilding the windmill that very morning.