Animal Farm is a classic allegorical novel by George Orwell, first published in 1945. The novel tells the story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner and create their own society, only to have it degenerate into a brutal dictatorship. Despite its simplistic style and setting, the novel serves as a powerful commentary on the dangers of totalitarianism and the corrupting influence of power.
The story begins with the overthrow of Mr. Jones, the human owner of Manor Farm, by the clever pig Napoleon and the eloquent pig Snowball. The animals, inspired by the ideals of animalism, a philosophy espoused by the old boar Old Major, create a new society in which all animals are equal and there is no exploitation or oppression.
However, as the novel progresses, it becomes clear that Napoleon and Snowball have very different ideas about how the new society should be run. While Snowball is an idealist who wants to create a utopian society based on the principles of animalism, Napoleon is a more pragmatic and power-hungry pig who is more interested in consolidating his own power and increasing his own wealth.
As the two pigs vie for control of the farm, the other animals are caught in the middle, with many of them falling victim to Napoleon's propaganda and manipulation. Eventually, Snowball is driven off the farm, and Napoleon becomes the undisputed leader of Animal Farm.
Under Napoleon's rule, the farm quickly degenerates into a totalitarian state, with the pigs becoming more and more tyrannical and oppressive towards the other animals. The once-idealistic society of Animal Farm becomes a harsh and unforgiving place, with the animals living in constant fear of punishment and repression.
In the end, the animals are left with a society that is no better than the one they had before, and they are left to wonder what went wrong. The novel serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blindly following leaders and the corrupting influence of power.
Despite its simple and straightforward style, Animal Farm is a deeply thought-provoking and powerful novel that has continued to resonate with readers for decades. Its timeless themes and powerful commentary on the dangers of totalitarianism make it a must-read for anyone interested in politics, society, and the human condition.
(PDF) ANIMAL FARM BY GEORGE ORWELL
Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices. Napoleon ended his speech with his usual cry of "Long live Animal Farm! This single farm of ours would support a dozen horses, twenty cows, hundreds of sheep—and all of them living in a comfort and a dignity that are now almost beyond our imagining. Throughout the year the animals worked even harder than they had worked in the previous year. I will sing you that song now, comrades. Snowball has sold himself to Frederick of Pinchfield Farm, who is even now plotting to attack us and take our farm away from us! Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! Nobody shirked—or almost nobody.
Animal Farm by George Orwell. Search eText, Read Online, Study, Discuss.
Sometimes the older ones among them racked their dim memories and tried to determine whether in the early days of the Rebellion, when Jones's expulsion was still recent, things had been better or worse than now. Hitherto the animals had had little or no contact with Whymper on his weekly visits: now, however, a few selected animals, mostly sheep, were instructed to remark casually in his hearing that rations had been increased. Did we not give him 'Animal Hero, First Class,' immediately afterwards? Going back, the others found that she had remained behind in the best bedroom. It was soon noticed that when there was work to be done the cat could never be found. But Squealer counselled them to avoid rash actions and trust in Comrade Napoleon's strategy. The rats, which had been troublesome that winter, were also said to be in league with Snowball.
Animal Farm Themes and Analysis
FOUR LEGS GOOD, TWO LEGS BAD, was inscribed on the end wall of the barn, above the Seven Commandments and in bigger letters. But suddenly the dogs sitting round Napoleon let out deep, menacing growls, and the pigs fell silent and sat down again. When they had finished their confession, the dogs promptly tore their throats out, and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess. That is my message to you, comrades: Rebellion! It had become usual to give Napoleon the credit for every successful achievement and every stroke of good fortune. To rebuild the windmill, with walls twice as thick as before, and to finish it by the appointed date, together with the regular work of the farm, was a tremendous labour. But I believe that at the Battle of the Cowshed he was a good comrade. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed round them in the clear morning light.
Animal Farm: A Fairy Story by George Orwell (Chapter 1)
Discipline, comrades, iron discipline! The cows lowed it, the dogs whined it, the sheep bleated it, the horses whinnied it, the ducks quacked it. She had taken to flight as soon as the gun went off. When he did emerge, it was in a ceremonial manner, with an escort of six dogs who closely surrounded him and growled if anyone came too near. Jones got back he immediately went to sleep on the drawing-room sofa with the News of the World over his face, so that when evening came, the animals were still unfed. At last, feeling this to be in some way a substitute for the words she was unable to find, she began to sing Beasts of England. Napoleon produced no schemes of his own, but said quietly that Snowball's would come to nothing, and seemed to be biding his time. It was used for milling corn, and brought in a handsome money profit.
