Summary of “Animal Farm”, by George Orwell
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“Animal Farm” is a novella by George Orwell, published in 1945. It is an allegorical tale that uses a group of farm animals to satirize the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the early years of the Soviet Union. The story is a critique of totalitarianism and the corruption of revolutionary ideals.
Setting and Introduction: The story is set on Manor Farm, owned by the often drunk farmer Mr. Jones. The animals on the farm are overworked, underfed, and generally mistreated.
The Dream of Old Major: The tale begins with a respected boar named Old Major who has a dream about a world where animals are free from the tyranny of humans. He shares this vision with the other animals in a secret meeting. He teaches them a revolutionary song called “Beasts of England” and speaks of a rebellion where the animals will overthrow their human oppressors.
The Rebellion: Inspired by Old Major’s vision, the animals, led by the pigs, revolt against Mr. Jones. They succeed in driving him away and rename the farm “Animal Farm.” The pigs, being the most intelligent animals, take on the task of organizing and running the farm.
The Seven Commandments: The animals establish seven commandments to guide their new society:
- Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
- Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
- No animal shall wear clothes.
- No animal shall sleep in a bed.
- No animal shall drink alcohol.
- No animal shall kill any other animal.
- All animals are equal.
The Rise of the Pigs: Two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, emerge as leaders. While Snowball is enthusiastic about spreading the revolution and improving the farm’s infrastructure, Napoleon is more concerned with consolidating power. The two often disagree.
The Battle of the Cowshed: Mr. Jones and other farmers attempt to retake the farm but are repelled by the animals in what becomes known as the Battle of the Cowshed.
Snowball’s Expulsion: Differences between Snowball and Napoleon intensify. When Snowball presents his idea for building a windmill to produce electricity, Napoleon opposes it. He secretly raises a litter of puppies to be his enforcers. Using them, he chases Snowball off the farm and declares himself the supreme leader.
Changes and Corruption: With Snowball gone, Napoleon becomes increasingly authoritarian. The pigs move into the farmhouse, sleep in beds, and start trading with humans, breaking the very commandments they established. The windmill, which Napoleon initially opposed, is now presented as his idea, and the animals are put to work building it.
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The Windmill and Betrayals: The first windmill is destroyed in a storm, but Napoleon blames Snowball and makes the animals build it again. Napoleon makes deals with human farmers, particularly Mr. Frederick, who later double-crosses him. The rebuilt windmill is then destroyed in an attack by Frederick and his men. The animals manage to defend their farm but at great cost.
The Tyranny of Napoleon: Napoleon’s rule becomes increasingly brutal. He holds show trials where animals confess to fabricated crimes and are then executed. The commandments are continuously altered to justify the pigs’ actions. For instance, “No animal shall drink alcohol” becomes “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.”
The Final Transformation: Years pass, and while the farm is richer, the common animals see no benefit. The pigs start walking on two legs and carrying whips. The farm’s original ideals are lost. The Seven Commandments are replaced with a single maxim: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
Conclusion: In the end, the pigs become indistinguishable from humans. They wear clothes, walk on two legs, and make deals with their human neighbors. The other animals watch in dismay as the pigs toast their alliance with humans, realizing that their revolution has come full circle, and they are back where they started.
“Animal Farm” is a powerful critique of how power can corrupt and how revolutionary ideals can be betrayed. Through the story of the animals’ rebellion and subsequent descent into tyranny, Orwell offers a warning about the dangers of absolute power and the fragility of democratic ideals.
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