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The tale commences with a gathering of all the animals on Manor Farm, summoned by Old Major, a distinguished white boar. The farm animals that we are introduced to include Benjamin, a cynical donkey; Boxer and Clover, two diligent horses with limited intelligence; Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer, three astute pigs; and Jessie and Blue Bell, two canines.
Major commences the discussion by articulating his vision of a world in which animals coexist independently of humans. Commencing with the acknowledgment of his limited time remaining, the individual proceeds to recount a dream wherein he perceives humanity as the fundamental cause of all the predicaments faced by animals. He advocates for all animals to engage in a rebellion against humanity and emphasizes the importance of transmitting their aspirations for freedom to future generations.
Ultimately, the animals unite and melodiously perform a composition titled "Beasts of England", which exalts the virtues of a world devoid of human presence. The animals vocalize it thrice before retiring for the night.
Following Major's death, the animals clandestinely initiate preparations for a rebellion against the farm's owner, Jones, and the farmhands. The uprising commences following an incident in which the farm laborers exhibited negligence and subjected the animals to starvation for a duration of two days.
The bovines forcefully topple the entrance of the barn, inciting a state of frenzy among all the creatures. Upon Jones' attempt to flog the animals, they pursue and expel every human from the farm, thus inciting the rebellion. Following a day of intense excitement, normalcy is restored. The pigs assume leadership and the farm is subsequently dubbed Animal Farm.
Seven commandments are displayed on the side of the barn, accompanied with the phrase, "Four legs good, two legs bad". Notwithstanding this final decree, the pigs assert their authority as the masterminds behind the entire endeavor, thus persuading the other animals that they require particular treatment. For instance, they fail to assist the other animals during the yearly hay harvest and monopolize all the apples and milk for their own benefit. Squealer, the dominant swine, persuades the remaining animals that it is in their best interest.
There were disruptions and difficulties on the farm. Snowball alerts all the animals that Mr. Jones and his men will imminently return in an attempt to regain control of the farm. He organizes a "rally" to incite and provoke everyone. Upon the return of Jones and his comrades, the animals effortlessly expel them from the premises. Snowball sustains a small injury while bravely charging into battle and bestows upon himself the prestigious accolade of Animal Hero, First Class.
Another instance of chaos can be observed in the ongoing conflict between the two dominant pigs. Snowball and Napoleon have a constant conflict; they have differing opinions on various matters, including ration distribution and the appropriate age for retirement. Snowball suggests the concept of constructing a windmill on the property, but, Napoleon harbors a dislike for the notion. He commands his ferocious, enraged canines (formerly Blue Bell and Jessie's offspring, who were covertly taught to serve as Napoleon's personal assassins) to pursue Snowball and expel him from the premises.
Napoleon ultimately opts to construct the windmill and terminates the regular gatherings he has been conducting since the uprising. When other animals get disturbed by this, Squealer successfully persuades everyone that Napoleon terminated the meetings for their own benefit. He portrays Napoleon as a heroic figure.
The conditions on the farm are progressively worsening. With the exception of the pigs, all animals toil as slaves. Napoleon initiates trading with adjacent farms as the pigs relocate to the farmhouse. The animals are perplexed by the pigs' violation of trade regulations and their usage of a bed for sleeping. Once again, Squealer persuades the animals that this inequity is beneficial for them.
The windmill, which was still under construction, is toppled by a strong gust of wind, and Snowball is held responsible for the incident. Squealer asserts that Snowball had been collaborating with Jones since the inception.
Napoleon orchestrates a public exhibition of extreme brutality by convening a gathering with all the animals and commanding his dogs to violently tear the throats of individuals whom he suspects of remaining loyal to Snowball. Every individual is deeply upset, and Boxer is particularly troubled. Previously, there was a widespread belief that the sixth commandment prohibited the slaughter of all animals. However, with closer examination, it is now understood that the commandment actually states "no killing without justification."
At a certain juncture in the narrative, the pigs partake in a festivity wherein they adorn themselves with garments and indulge in the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The humans demolish the remaining windmill due to their aversion towards the prospect of Animal Farm's triumph, resulting in Boxer sustaining injuries during the conflict. During the harsh winter season, the pigs are consuming additional food supplies, resulting in widespread hunger among the population. Boxer's physical prowess has significantly declined, and the pigs have announced their decision to transfer him to a medical facility for rehabilitation. Boxer is transported to a glue factory by the carriage that arrives for him. The pigs utilize the funds generated from Boxer's labor to purchase alcohol.
Historical context : The last chapters of this story have numerous unpleasant revelations for the reader.
Animal Farm symbolizes the events and ideals of the Russian Revolution that took place in 1917. Old Major symbolizes Karl Marx, Snowball symbolizes Leon Trotsky, Napoleon symbolizes Josef Stalin, Squealer symbolizes propaganda, and Boxer represents the entirety of the Russian laborers and workers.
Old Major's vision of equality serves as a representation of Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto. Both speeches address the issue of laborers and workers being the ones responsible for producing all the products, while the leaders of the organization unjustly appropriate everything for themselves. In the context of Animal Farm, the animals serve as the laborers while Mr. Jones and humans in general hold the position of the organization's leader.
The animals' insurrection bears resemblance to the ousting of Russia's Tsar, Nicholas II. Both uprisings occurred spontaneously and were relatively effortless to accomplish. The ousting of Nicholas occurred after he used armed forces to suppress a group of demonstrators. The troops exhibited empathy towards the common populace and subsequently betrayed Nicholas.
The depiction of Napoleon assuming control over the animals and intensifying their labor is a metaphorical representation of Stalin's implementation of a "Five Year Plan." Both of these strategies exacerbated famine, and both Stalin and Napoleon employed deceptive tactics to create the illusion of prosperity to the outside world.
The death of Boxer does not symbolize any one event in the Russian Revolution, but rather serves as a representation of the revolution as a whole. Boxer was the ideal worker: he toiled tirelessly, displayed unwavering loyalty, and never questioned the ethical principles of the pigs. Instead of receiving recognition for his long period of employment, he was dispatched to be transformed into adhesive substance. This exemplifies how Stalin and his comrades violated the fundamental tenets of communism that they had established, rendering them equally reprehensible as Nicholas. Contrary to expectations of societal progress, everything remains unchanged.
Squealer embodies the use of propaganda throughout the revolution. When the animals are skeptical of the pigs' motives, Squealer adeptly manipulates the narrative to portray the pigs' activities in a favorable manner, so justifying them. Propaganda was disseminated during the revolution to alleviate the concerns of the laborers.
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