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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 7
Summary

The human world is keenly watching the events in the Animal Farm. It appears that the problems are getting worse with each passing day. The starvation is getting critical, and the animals are struggling to find food. Afraid of the impact of this picture to the human world, Napoleon asks Mr. Whymper to convey the news to the human world that the Animal Farm is self-sufficient and is not lacking any food. When the hens learn that they would have to surrender their eggs, they stage a demonstration which lasts when Napoleon decides to ration their food portions. By this time, nine hens have lost their lives.

With time, the animals have become convinced that during the nights, Snowball sneaks into the farm and subverts their labor. As a result, Snowball has become a threat to the animals, although the danger is only valid in their imagination. Squealer informs the animals that Snowball has sold himself off to Frederick and that from the beginning; he had been working with Mr. Jones.

On a day in spring, Napoleon summons all the animals to a meeting. During this meeting, he calls upon all the animals that had appeared to go against his wish from the beginning. They include four pigs and three hens. Napoleon orders his dogs to murder the animals. During the same meeting, many other animals also confess to crimes which they believed were instigated by Snowball. Eventually, Napoleon outlaws sing the song "Beasts of England," and then he replaces it with one that the pig-poet, Minimus, has created. However, the animals do not find the song to be as meaningful as the previous song.

Analysis

Dealing with a hungry population can at times be difficult. Napoleon has failed to plan adequately for winter and famine has crawled into the farm. The potential of such information landing on the ears of the public would have damaging effects on the farm. To help solve this problem, Napoleon mounts a dramatic situation where he assumes the role of director and engages in the production; Napoleon has Mr. Whymper as his audience and Napoleon convinces him that the Animal Farm is running smoothly. Thus, he creates a false image of an efficient farm when it is evident that there is famine. Once again, Napoleon has used deception, although theatrically, to mislead the public on the accurate position of the farm.

Snowball appears to be Napoleon's excuse for all the misfortunes that befall the farm. At any time when an undesirable event happens, Napoleon blames Snowball. Funnily, the animals have accepted this position, and they have become fearful about Snowball. Napoleon's script is the same that was used by Hitler when he rose to power. As Hitler rose to power, he told those who cared to listen that the Jews in Europe were responsible for the challenges that the country was facing, thus making it essential to eliminate them. When the animals press Squealer for more answers regarding the allegations against Snowball, he says that they have discovered new ‘documents' linking Snowball to Jones.

Napoleon has escalated his level of dictatorship and has shown that he is ready to crush all kinds of dissent. He calls for the meeting of all animals and publicly executes the rebels, including four pigs. This kind of action is meant to drive fear among the other animals so that no other animal may think of trying to oppose the other animals. It is important to note that both the hens and the pigs confessed their conspiracies with the hope that they would be forgiven but Napoleon appears to have had other ideas. The new environment at the Animal Farm is now characterized by fear and death. No animal is feeling safe, and they hesitate to speak about Napoleon for fear of his wrath.

When Napoleon outlaws "Beasts of England," he shows his intention to be in total control of all the aspects of life on the farm. All the animals would now literally have to dance to a new tune, a tune influenced by Napoleon and composed by the pig-poet. The next song has the lines "Animal Farm, Animal Farm" and "Never through me shalt thou come to harm!" with this song, Napoleon intends to create a close bond among the animals in the farm and he also shows his determination to rule according to his ideals, even  if it is against the popular will of the animals. One thing that remains evident is that the situation on the farm would never remain the same since the blood of the animals has been shed by one of their own.

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