animal farm

• The theme of inequality is depicted in "Animal Farm," as the pigs establish themselves as the ruling class and exploit the labor of the other animals.
• Mr. Jones, the owner of Manor Farm, was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes of the hen-houses
• Old Major, a highly regarded Middle White boar, had a strange dream and wanted to share it with the other animals
• Old Major addressed the animals in the big barn, expressing his views on the miserable, laborious, and short lives they lead under human tyranny
• He emphasized that the root cause of their suffering is Man, who consumes without producing and steals the fruits of their labor
• Old Major called for rebellion against humans, stating that animals must work towards overthrowing the human race to achieve freedom and prosperity
• He taught the animals a song called "Beasts of England," envisioning a future where animals live in freedom and abundance without human oppression
• The animals were excited by the song and sang it in unison, but the commotion woke up Mr. Jones, who fired a shot, dispersing the meeting
• Old Major died peacefully in his sleep and was buried at the foot of the orchard in early March
• Major's speech gave the more intelligent animals a new outlook on life, leading them to prepare for a Rebellion
• The pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, were recognized as the cleverest animals and took on the task of teaching and organizing the others
• Snowball was more vivacious and inventive, while Napoleon was larger and known for getting his own way
• Squealer, a small fat pig, was a brilliant talker and could persuade others effectively
• The pigs, along with Boxer and Clover, the two cart-horses, elaborated Major's teachings into a system called Animalism
• Moses, the tame raven, spread lies about a place called Sugarcandy Mountain, but the pigs had to persuade the animals that it didn't exist
• The Rebellion against Mr. Jones was achieved earlier and more easily than expected, leading to the animals taking over the farm
• The animals destroyed all reminders of Mr. Jones, preserved the farmhouse as a museum, and established the Seven Commandments of Animalism
• The Seven Commandments:

  • 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 pigs taught themselves to read and write, changed the farm's name to Animal Farm, and inscribed the Seven Commandments on the wall as an unalterable law
• The animals then milked the cows and prepared for the hay harvest, aiming to work harder and more efficiently than Mr. Jones and his men
• The animals on the farm worked hard to get the hay in, and their efforts were rewarded with a successful harvest
• The pigs were clever and directed and supervised the other animals in their work
• Boxer and Clover harnessed themselves to the cutter or horse-rake and worked tirelessly, with a pig directing them
• The animals finished the harvest in two days less time than it usually took Jones and his men, and it was the biggest harvest the farm had ever seen
• All animals on the farm worked together to turn the hay and gather it, with even the ducks and hens carrying tiny wisps of hay in their beaks
• The animals were happy and enjoyed every mouthful of food, now that it was truly their own food produced by themselves
• With the humans gone, there was more food for everyone to eat and more leisure time, despite facing some difficulties
• The pigs studied various arts in the evenings and organized Animal Committees for different tasks, but these projects were mostly a failure
• The reading and writing classes were a great success, with almost every animal on the farm becoming literate by autumn
• Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could be reduced to the maxim: "Four legs good, two legs bad," which the animals learned by heart
• The pigs took the milk and windfall apples for themselves, explaining that it was necessary for their health and well-being, and to prevent Jones from coming back
• The news of the Rebellion on Animal Farm spread across the county, and Snowball and Napoleon sent pigeons to neighboring farms to tell the story and teach them the tune of Beasts of England
• Mr. Jones spent his time complaining in the Red Lion at Willingdon about being turned out of his property by the animals, while other farmers secretly wondered if they could benefit from his misfortune
• The owners of the farms adjoining Animal Farm were on permanently bad terms, with one named Foxwood being a large, neglected, old-fashioned farm overgrown by woodland
• Two farms adjoined Animal Farm: Foxwood and Pinchfield
• Foxwood:

  • Large, neglected, old-fashioned farm
  • Overgrown by woodland
  • Pastures worn out
  • Hedges in a disgraceful condition
  • Owner: Mr. Pilkington, an easy-going gentleman farmer who spent most of his time fishing or hunting
• Pinchfield:

  • Smaller and better kept
  • Owner: Mr. Frederick, a tough, shrewd man involved in lawsuits and driving hard bargains
• Foxwood and Pinchfield disliked each other and found it difficult to come to any agreement
• Foxwood and Pinchfield were frightened by the rebellion on Animal Farm and tried to prevent their own animals from learning too much about it
• Initially, Foxwood and Pinchfield pretended to laugh at the idea of animals managing a farm for themselves, spreading false rumors about the animals on Animal Farm fighting among themselves and starving