Animal Farm

Animal Farm is a short political fable by George Orwell based on Joseph Stalin's betrayal of the Russian Revolution. Orwell wrote it because he wished to destroy what he called the "Soviet myth". Like Nineteen Eighty-Four, the story is one of the most famous political allegories in the world. It is about a group of animals who rebel against the humans from the farm they live on and run it themselves with hopes of being equal, free, and happy. In the end, however, the new rule becomes a cruel tyranny of its own led by the pigs. Written during World War II and published in 1945, it was not well received at first, but is widely accepted as a classic today.

Plot summary

The animals of the Manor Farm live in cruel condition of exploitation under the sway of Mr. Jones, a bad and always drunken man. One day the Old Major, an old pig, convened a meeting of all the animals and told them about a dream that he had the previous night. He had dreamed about an old song that incited to rebellion against the human beings. Everyone was very excited and about three months later they revolted against Mr. Jones and they took possession of the farm. The rebellion was led by the pigs that were the most intelligent animals of the farm. The purpose of the revolution was to create a fair society made only by animals based on seven commandments that could be summed up with the maxim: “Four legs good, two legs bad”. In a short time among the pigs there was tension because Snowball, an inventive and vivacious pig, wanted to build a windmill but Napoleon, a big and fierce-looking pig, was skeptical. So the animals formed two parties. In the meantime Mr. Jones wanted to regain the farm but the animals succeeded in the battle and Mr. Jones was forced to run away. One day Napoleon arrived in the farm with nine big and ferocious dogs that incited against Snowball that ran away bleeding. From that day Napoleon was the real dictator of the farm, if someone was not agreed with him, he was eaten up by his dogs and if something did not work, like the building of the windmill, it was all Snowball’s fault. Napoleon had pity on nobody, when Boxer, the strongest horse in the farm, lost his power because of the old age, he unexpectedly led him to slaughter. Now Napoleon and the pigs were like Mr. Jones, they exploited the other animals, they took advantage of the foolishness of some animals and they came into contact with human beings for business although they established it was forbidden. In the end they became like human beings, they started to walk on their hind legs and they changed the old maxim with a new one: “Four legs good, two legs better”. Nothing was changed and the rebellion had been useless.

Inspiration

Orwell, who was a socialist, wrote in the introduction of the 1947 Ukranian translation of Animal Farm that he got the idea from seeing a young boy whipping a large cart horse. He explained, "It struck me that if only such animals became aware of (knew) their strength we should have no power over them, and that men exploit (badly use) animals in much the same way as the rich exploit the proletariat (poor)".

Characters in the book

There are many characters in the book who are based on real people. They are grouped into pigs, horses, humans and other animals.

Pigs

• Old Major He is a positive image and the inspiration of the rest of the book.
• Napoleon He is the pig who becomes the leader of animal farm. He cements his power through fear.
• Snowball He is the pig who fights Napoleon for control after the rebellion. He easily wins the loyalty of most of the animals.
• Squealer He serves as a public speaker. He twists and abuses language to excuse and justify Napoleon's actions.
• Minimus He is a poet, who writes a song about Napoleon.

Horses

• Boxer
• Clover
• Mollie, the Mare

Humans

• Mr.Jones, the farmer of Manor Farm (which was later changed to Animal Farm)
• Mrs.Jones, the farmer of Manor Farm's wife (which was later changed to Animal Farm)
• Mr. Pilkington, the farmer of Foxwood
• Mr. Frederick, the farmer of Pinchfield

Other animals

• Benjamin, the donkey
• Moses, the tame raven
• The Cat
• Murial,the goat
• The Cows
• The dogs, Bluebell, Jessie and Pincher

Animalism

Animalism is a system of beliefs shared by the farm animals of Manor Farm. The purpose is to ensure the farm animals behave like actual animals and not follow the footsteps of humans beings. Therefore, any human behavior is considered contrary to the spirit of Animalism.

Beasts of England

In the story, this song was sung by animals of England once upon a time. It is named "Beasts of England", with a stirring tune, a cross between Clementine and Cucuracha. This song became popular among the animals of England after Old Major recited it to the farm animals of Manor Farm. It serves as the 1st national anthem of Animal Farm.

Original beliefs

These are the original commandments laid down by the pigs.

Maxim

"Four legs good, two legs bad."

The Seven Commandments

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.

Other websites

English Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Animal Farm

• "Animal Farm by George Orwell". http://www.george-orwell.org/Animal_Farm/index.html. Retrieved 2008-05-22.