The defection by Mollie to the Pilkington-owned farm is one of the greatest acts of greed and betrayal recorded in the novel. Pilkington offers ribbon and sugar to Mollie for her to join his farm. In chapter 2, Snowball unequivocally condemns the pursuit of personal material gain while abandoning the greater good of all the animals on the farm. All the animals are embarrassed by the decision by Mollie to quit the quest Animalism. However, the reports from the pigeons indicate that Mollie appears to be enjoying her new life better than all the other animals that had remained on the farm. While this course of action may be condemned as a show of betrayal, Mollie is much comfortable than her previous position, and that raises serious ethical concerns about her actions. In the long run, it may be considered that Mollie made a good decision when she jumped ship and joined the Pilkington.

In the beginning, the pigs were merely supervisors over the other animals in the far. Presently, though, the pigs have increased their influence, and they are in charge of all the major decision-making processes in the farm. While the decisions or policies would still have to be ratified by the other animals, Orwell suggests that the pigs are continuing to grow their influence on the farm. The onset of ‘bitterly hard weather' of winter also signals the onset of ‘bitterly hard' debates pitting Napoleon and Snowball on different sides. The engagement between the two leaders hardly qualifies to be called a debate. While Snowball uses logic to convince the animals to adopt his position, Napoleon uses what Squealer later refers to as ‘tactics.' Additionally, Napoleon has the habit of filling the hall with his unwitting supporters to shout down Snowball during his address. By releasing his dogs to attack Snowball towards the end of the chapter, Napoleon demonstrates that it is violence rather than oratory skills that will win him places in among the people.

In the debate about the windmill, a mill is a form of technology and an indication of progress in the Animal Farm. It will lead to self-sufficiency which is line with the interests if the principles of Animalism. However, Napoleon is not ready to support the idea since it is being promoted by his chief rival. It is a demonstration of the manner in which bad politics at times becomes an enemy of progress in the society. Instead of supporting the idea, Napoleon advances a mundane argument that "if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death." By endorsing the idea, the people would be validating the position of Snowball as a leader among them, and that is a situation that Napoleon would not accept.

It is notable that Benjamin is skeptical of the ideas that are being advanced by both of the pigs. He is acutely wary of the schemes that are being devised by Snowball while at the same time demonstrating distrust towards the ideas of Napoleon, especially with regards to piling of arms. Benjamin believes that "Windmill or no windmill, life will go on as it always had gone on — that is, badly."  While the statement may appear cynical, or even backward, it is the truth. In spite of the scheme, planning g and policies and strategies that the animals are putting in place, the situation may only remain the same.

Napoleon has become exceedingly powerful by use of force or threat of violence. He ‘wins' the debate concerning the windmill by driving Snowball out of the farm. Now that no other challenger is remaining, Napoleon's position is only likely to get stronger. He has decided that no one is now going to question his orders and he puts the debates to an end. His dogs would now come handy in helping to crush any form of dissent. Napoleon becomes drunk with power and assumes a god-like figure where all people would approach him with trembling. Besides, Napoleon uses Squealer as a powerful propaganda machine who uses his oratory skills to defend even the most heinous crimes of Napoleon.