| “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” — The Single Commandment of Animalism |
George Orwell’s Animal Farm is the greatest dystopian novel that I have ever read.
Originally published in 1945, within this short barnyard fable lies a powerful depiction of political tyranny that remains relevant today. Despite the story's host of talking animal characters, the gradual—and sudden—steps of political change are all too human:
- The utopian dream of an anti-human, pro-animal world
- Secret animals meetings to learn the philosophy and plan their emancipation
- The morally-justified, violent rebellion against their owners
- The 'progressive' economic revolution of 'equality'
- The philosophy of 'Animalism' codified into law
- A propaganda program to control narrative
- The creation of a secret police
- Favoritism, in-fighting, and corruption by the new rulers
- War with neighboring farms
- Economic and spiritual collapse
The Rebellion
Manor Farm, owned by the aging, often drunk Mr. Jones, is steeped in neglect. One night, under the ring of light from a lantern, the animals gather to hear the words of Old Major, a venerable white boar who has had a troubling dream. Surrounded by Clover, the stout mare, Boxer, the immensely strong horse, and an assortment of farm creatures—hens, sheep, cows, the cynical donkey Benjamin, and the vain white mare Mollie—Old Major declares, “Our lives are miserable, laborious, and short… The life of an animal is misery and slavery.” He goes on to teach them the song Beasts of England, a revolutionary anthem that unites them in hope.
And when Old Major dies soon after, two pigs—Snowball and Napoleon—systematize his vision into a doctrine called Animalism. Finally, after a series of meetings and growing sense of injustice amongst the farm animals, (Jones forgets to feed them after a night of drunkenness), the animals revolt. Jones and his wife are driven off the property, and Manor Farm becomes 'Animal Farm.'
The new age of the animals has begun.
'Equality' Codified by Law
The pigs, being the most intelligent, quickly assume leadership. They paint the Seven Commandments of Animalism on the barn wall:
At first, life improves. After throwing all objects of oppression (stirrups, whips, bridles, chains, and leashes) down the drinking well, the emancipated animals harvest the fields themselves, working harder and with new-found purpose. They even create an Animal Farm flag, all-green with a hoof and horn, a symbol of unity and labor.
Yet the buckets of fresh milk and just-picked apples begin to mysteriously vanish. It’s the first fracture in the animals' equality, but one hardly noticed and remembered...
Playing For Power
Snowball, one of the ruling pigs, dreams of progress—a windmill to generate electricity and ease labor. Napoleon, a fellow pig, agrees publicly but secretly plans otherwise. Their rivalry ends when Napoleon unleashes nine fierce dogs, ones he had stolen as puppies to raise secretly in the attic) — and the dogs chase Snowball away from Animal Farm for good.
Democracy dies faster. Sunday's political debates are abolished. Napoleon rules by decree, his words filtered through the silver-tongued Squealer, who rewrites history to fit the Party line. “Snowball was a traitor,” he insists. And the horse Boxer, ever loyal, adopts a new motto: “Napoleon is always right.”
The animals work harder than ever, but rations shrink. Still, they believe in the windmill, in progress, in the Revolution’s dream. Until the windmill collapses—and Napoleon blames Snowball again.
Originally published in 1945, within this short barnyard fable lies a powerful depiction of political tyranny that remains relevant today. Despite the story's host of talking animal characters, the gradual—and sudden—steps of political change are all too human:
- The utopian dream of an anti-human, pro-animal world
- Secret animals meetings to learn the philosophy and plan their emancipation
- The morally-justified, violent rebellion against their owners
- The 'progressive' economic revolution of 'equality'
- The philosophy of 'Animalism' codified into law
- A propaganda program to control narrative
- The creation of a secret police
- Favoritism, in-fighting, and corruption by the new rulers
- War with neighboring farms
- Economic and spiritual collapse
The Rebellion
Manor Farm, owned by the aging, often drunk Mr. Jones, is steeped in neglect. One night, under the ring of light from a lantern, the animals gather to hear the words of Old Major, a venerable white boar who has had a troubling dream. Surrounded by Clover, the stout mare, Boxer, the immensely strong horse, and an assortment of farm creatures—hens, sheep, cows, the cynical donkey Benjamin, and the vain white mare Mollie—Old Major declares, “Our lives are miserable, laborious, and short… The life of an animal is misery and slavery.” He goes on to teach them the song Beasts of England, a revolutionary anthem that unites them in hope.
And when Old Major dies soon after, two pigs—Snowball and Napoleon—systematize his vision into a doctrine called Animalism. Finally, after a series of meetings and growing sense of injustice amongst the farm animals, (Jones forgets to feed them after a night of drunkenness), the animals revolt. Jones and his wife are driven off the property, and Manor Farm becomes 'Animal Farm.'
The new age of the animals has begun.
'Equality' Codified by Law
The pigs, being the most intelligent, quickly assume leadership. They paint the Seven Commandments of Animalism on the barn wall:
- 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.
At first, life improves. After throwing all objects of oppression (stirrups, whips, bridles, chains, and leashes) down the drinking well, the emancipated animals harvest the fields themselves, working harder and with new-found purpose. They even create an Animal Farm flag, all-green with a hoof and horn, a symbol of unity and labor.
Yet the buckets of fresh milk and just-picked apples begin to mysteriously vanish. It’s the first fracture in the animals' equality, but one hardly noticed and remembered...
Playing For Power
Snowball, one of the ruling pigs, dreams of progress—a windmill to generate electricity and ease labor. Napoleon, a fellow pig, agrees publicly but secretly plans otherwise. Their rivalry ends when Napoleon unleashes nine fierce dogs, ones he had stolen as puppies to raise secretly in the attic) — and the dogs chase Snowball away from Animal Farm for good.
Democracy dies faster. Sunday's political debates are abolished. Napoleon rules by decree, his words filtered through the silver-tongued Squealer, who rewrites history to fit the Party line. “Snowball was a traitor,” he insists. And the horse Boxer, ever loyal, adopts a new motto: “Napoleon is always right.”
The animals work harder than ever, but rations shrink. Still, they believe in the windmill, in progress, in the Revolution’s dream. Until the windmill collapses—and Napoleon blames Snowball again.
George Orwell photographed by his friend Vernon Richards in 1946.
Orwell Archive/University College London
Orwell Archive/University College London
Corruption and Collapse
As time passes, Napoleon and the pigs begin trading with humans, violating their own commandments. The animals grow thin, tired, and confused. When dissenters confess to imaginary crimes, they are executed in public. The farm is ruled by fear. Clover looks down the hillside one night and weeps:
“If she could have spoken her thoughts, it would have been to say that this was not what they had aimed at when they had set themselves years ago to work for the overthrow of the human race…”
When the humans attack, the animals fight valiantly but suffer terribly. Boxer, the great worker, is wounded and later collapses. Promised retirement, he is instead sold to the glue factory for whiskey money. The pigs hold a memorial and get rip-roaring drunk.
The End of the Dream
Years pass. Many animals die; others forget life before the rebellion. The windmill is rebuilt, not to generate electricity, but to grind corn for profit. The pigs learn to walk on two legs. The sheep are taught a new chant: “Four legs good, two legs better!”
The commandments on the barn are inexplicably removed and replaced by a new, single law: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
By the novel’s end, Napoleon and the pigs host the human farmers for a toast. They play cards, smoke pipes, and drink beer. The other animals peer through the window in horror as pig and man become indistinguishable. “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”
Final Thoughts
Orwell’s allegory is spare, clear, and deadly effective—his fable serves as a blueprint for understanding political corruption and how every revolution risks becoming what it overthrows. Through Animal Farm’s transformation from ideal to tyranny, Orwell reveals how humans' desire for power often destroys lives through force— by eroding principles, destroying language, bastardizing historical narratives, stealing economic opportunities—warring against reality itself. [JG]
As time passes, Napoleon and the pigs begin trading with humans, violating their own commandments. The animals grow thin, tired, and confused. When dissenters confess to imaginary crimes, they are executed in public. The farm is ruled by fear. Clover looks down the hillside one night and weeps:
“If she could have spoken her thoughts, it would have been to say that this was not what they had aimed at when they had set themselves years ago to work for the overthrow of the human race…”
When the humans attack, the animals fight valiantly but suffer terribly. Boxer, the great worker, is wounded and later collapses. Promised retirement, he is instead sold to the glue factory for whiskey money. The pigs hold a memorial and get rip-roaring drunk.
The End of the Dream
Years pass. Many animals die; others forget life before the rebellion. The windmill is rebuilt, not to generate electricity, but to grind corn for profit. The pigs learn to walk on two legs. The sheep are taught a new chant: “Four legs good, two legs better!”
The commandments on the barn are inexplicably removed and replaced by a new, single law: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
By the novel’s end, Napoleon and the pigs host the human farmers for a toast. They play cards, smoke pipes, and drink beer. The other animals peer through the window in horror as pig and man become indistinguishable. “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”
Final Thoughts
Orwell’s allegory is spare, clear, and deadly effective—his fable serves as a blueprint for understanding political corruption and how every revolution risks becoming what it overthrows. Through Animal Farm’s transformation from ideal to tyranny, Orwell reveals how humans' desire for power often destroys lives through force— by eroding principles, destroying language, bastardizing historical narratives, stealing economic opportunities—warring against reality itself. [JG]
| “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” |
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