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Animal Farm
George Orwell
Contributed by Sharon Fleming
Content
Overview
Context
Characters
Motifs
Themes
Symbols
Plot Summary
Chapter Summaries
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
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Chapter 3
Summary

While it is evident that the animals have had challenges with the farming tools which had been designed to be used by humans, the level of cooperation among the animals to finish the harvest in time is plausible. The animals have taken less time to do the harvest than it took Jones and his men to do the same. During the harvest, Boxer emerges as a strong animal, and he has won the admiration from many other animals. The pigs, on the other hand, do not get directly involved in the harvesting. They choose a less tedious job of acting as supervisors to the other worker animals. During Sundays, all the animals gather to provide an audience to Napoleon and Snowball as they debate on the numerous issues with which they disagree. When Snowball forms some committees to assist in finding the most suitable solutions to the problems, there is no much success. However, Snowball has achieved immense success in providing literacy education to the animals. Most of the animals can read and write thanks to the effort of Snowball. On the other side, Napoleon has taken away the pups of Jessie and Bluebell away from their mothers for the purposes that he describes to be educational.

The animals have come to learn that every day, the milk from cows as well as windfallen apples provided to the pigs for their eating. When the animals seek answers to this practice, Squealer provides an underwhelming response that the pigs need the milk and the apples since they provide the nutrients that would allow the pigs to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

Analysis

The success of the harvest, while serving as an indication of the triumph over the rule by the animals, indicates the widening gap between the practices of the animals and the ideals upon which the rebellion was built. One of the ideals was that all the animals were to be equal. However, the fact that the pigs are standing behind the horses while barking orders signals the return of master-servant relationship.

In his explanation of reasons for the provision of milk and apples to be used by the pigs, Squealer demonstrates tremendous skills as well as the ability to jump from one side to another. He is attempting to justify the greed and indicate that it is a show of sacrifice from the animals. He creates non-existent scientific theories that the apples and the milk are very good for the pigs. Besides, Squealer portrays the pigs as servants who put the interests of all other animals ahead of their interests. He cleverly lies that, "It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples."

In the line, "Surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones back?" the Squealer is attempting to convince the animals to accept the present leadership. It is the first time that the animals are being reminded of the reign of Jones. Perhaps, the memory of the reign of Jones would allow the animals to appreciate the efforts of the pigs-led administration. The actions of the pigs indicate that the farm is slowly going back to the problematic and unwanted levels of oppression that they witnessed under Jones.

The creation of the flag of the seven commandments, as well as the reservation of the house as a monument, is a demonstration of the desire by the animals to cement their solidarity as well as making sure that they do not lose sight of their objectives. However, Snowball fails with his committees as a result of his desire to change the nature of the animals. The "Wild Comrade's Re-education Committee" is intended for making sure that all the animals change their animal. It was a mission that was bound to fail.

On the other side, Napoleon does not believe in the formation of the committee. He believes in action, and that is why he takes youths and introduces them to education. His seizure of the puppies is an indication that he wants to train them to attack his opponents. The attack dogs are critical in terrorizing the farm in later chapters.

The third chapter also advances some characters in the novel. Boxer appears to the readers as a dedicated animal although he is less intelligence that all the other animals. He is slow to learn and cannot learn more than four letters at a time. He has developed a motto that, "I will work harder." His gullibility lands him in the control of the pigs. On the other side, Mollie appears to be a selfish animal that is only capable of acting when he has something to gain. His thirst for material gifts allows Napoleon to misuse him.

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