Animal Farm

Following the departure of a drunken Mr. Jones to bed, the animals of Manor Farm gather in the big barn to hear a speech by Old Major, a highly respected prize Middle White boar. Major describes the miserable, laborious, and short lives of animals, arguing that the root cause of their suffering is the tyranny of Man, who consumes without producing. He calls for a future Rebellion to overthrow the human race and establish a society where animals are free and equal. Major outlines strict rules to prevent animals from adopting human vices and introduces a stirring anthem, 'Beasts of England,' which unites the animals in a vision of a golden future. The meeting ends abruptly when the noise awakens Mr. Jones, who fires a shotgun into the darkness, scattering the animals back to their sleeping places.

Following the death of Old Major, the pigs—specifically Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer—organize the other animals by developing Major's teachings into a formal system called Animalism. While some animals show apathy or are misled by Moses the raven's tales of Sugarcandy Mountain, others like Boxer and Clover become devoted followers. The Rebellion occurs spontaneously when Mr. Jones, suffering from alcoholism and neglect, fails to feed the animals for days. The animals drive Jones and his men off the property, renaming Manor Farm to Animal Farm and destroying symbols of human oppression. The pigs establish the Seven Commandments as an unalterable law to ensure equality and freedom. However, the chapter ends with a subtle hint of corruption: Napoleon takes control of the cows' milk, which disappears by the end of the first day of the harvest.

Following the Rebellion, the animals successfully complete their first harvest, achieving a greater yield in less time than under Mr. Jones. The animals experience a period of initial happiness and productivity, with Boxer emerging as the most dedicated worker. However, a social hierarchy begins to form; the pigs assume leadership roles, directing the others without performing physical labor themselves. Snowball attempts to organize the farm through various committees and literacy classes, though many of these projects fail. To simplify the Seven Commandments for the less intelligent animals, Snowball creates the maxim 'Four legs good, two legs bad.' Meanwhile, Napoleon shows no interest in Snowball's committees, instead isolating nine puppies for his own private education. The chapter concludes with the pigs claiming exclusive rights to the milk and windfall apples. Squealer justifies this privilege by arguing that pigs are 'brainworkers' and that their health is essential to prevent the return of Mr. Jones, a threat the other animals fear above all else.

News of the rebellion on Animal Farm spreads throughout the county via pigeons, inspiring unrest among animals on neighboring farms. The human farmers, specifically Mr. Jones, Mr. Pilkington of Foxwood, and Mr. Frederick of Pinchfield, attempt to discredit the rebellion by spreading rumors of chaos and cruelty on the farm. However, the song 'Beasts of England' becomes a symbol of resistance across the region. In October, Jones and a group of men from the neighboring farms attempt to recapture the farm by force. Snowball, having studied Julius Caesar's campaigns, organizes a strategic defense. Through a series of maneuvers and a final ambush in the cowshed, the animals decisively defeat the humans. Boxer accidentally knocks a stable-lad unconscious, leading to a conflict between Boxer's remorse and Snowball's ruthless military pragmatism. The victory is commemorated as the 'Battle of the Cowshed,' with military decorations awarded to Snowball and Boxer, and the establishment of anniversary celebrations.

Chapter 5 marks a pivotal shift in Animal Farm from a democratic collective to a totalitarian regime. The chapter begins with Mollie's betrayal and eventual flight from the farm, as she prefers the luxuries of human companionship over the hardships of Animalism. Meanwhile, a power struggle intensifies between Snowball and Napoleon. Snowball envisions a windmill to provide electricity and reduce labor, while Napoleon opposes it, arguing for a focus on food production. This ideological divide splits the animals into two factions. During a final vote on the windmill, Napoleon uses a pack of nine fierce dogs—puppies he had secretly raised—to violently expel Snowball from the farm. Following the coup, Napoleon abolishes the Sunday-morning Meetings and establishes a private committee of pigs to make all decisions. Squealer manipulates the other animals into accepting this new order through fear and propaganda, eventually claiming that the windmill was Napoleon's idea all along and that Snowball had stolen the plans. The chapter concludes with the animals submitting to Napoleon's absolute authority.

In Chapter 6, the animals of Animal Farm endure a year of grueling labor, working sixty-hour weeks and voluntary Sundays to build the windmill. Despite the hardship, they remain motivated by the belief that they are working for themselves rather than humans. The construction presents technical challenges, which are overcome through the immense strength of Boxer and a gravity-based method of breaking stone. As the farm faces shortages of materials it cannot produce, Napoleon breaks the original resolutions against trade and money, appointing Mr. Whymper as an intermediary to deal with neighboring farms. Squealer manipulates the animals' memories to justify this shift and the pigs' subsequent move into the farmhouse and use of beds, altering the Fourth Commandment to include 'with sheets.' By autumn, the windmill is half-complete, but a violent November storm destroys the structure. Napoleon immediately scapegoats Snowball for the disaster, pronouncing a death sentence upon him and ordering the animals to begin rebuilding immediately.

During a harsh winter, the animals of Animal Farm struggle with food shortages and the rebuilding of the windmill. Napoleon consolidates his power through deception and terror, using Squealer to rewrite the history of the Battle of the Cowshed to frame Snowball as a traitor and Jones's agent. This period is marked by a reign of terror, including the starvation of rebellious hens and a series of brutal public executions of animals who confess to conspiring with Snowball, leaving the farm shaken and disillusioned. Following these purges, Napoleon abolishes the revolutionary song 'Beasts of England,' claiming the Rebellion is complete. It is replaced by a new, inferior anthem composed by Minimus, signaling a shift from revolutionary hope to state-mandated loyalty and the total suppression of dissent.

In Chapter 8, Napoleon further consolidates his power through a cult of personality and the strategic manipulation of the Seven Commandments. After the animals complete the rebuilding of the windmill, Napoleon engages in deceptive trade negotiations, pretending to deal with Pilkington while actually selling timber to Frederick. This betrayal results in Frederick paying with forged banknotes and launching a violent attack on the farm, during which he uses blasting powder to destroy the windmill. Although the animals drive the humans away, they are left devastated; however, Squealer frames the event as a great victory. Following the battle, Napoleon awards himself the Order of the Green Banner and discovers whisky in the farmhouse. After a severe hangover—which Squealer portrays as a near-death experience—Napoleon briefly bans alcohol before secretly brewing his own barley. The chapter concludes with the clandestine alteration of the Fifth Commandment to allow drinking alcohol 'to excess'.

In Chapter 9, the animals of Animal Farm face food shortages and harsh winters, while Napoleon further consolidates his power by declaring the farm a Republic and electing himself President. The pigs establish a distinct class hierarchy, granting themselves privileges such as beer rations, green ribbons, and the right-of-way on paths. Despite his failing health, Boxer continues to labor on the windmill until he collapses. Although Benjamin discovers that the van taking Boxer away belongs to a horse slaughterer, Squealer successfully manipulates the other animals into believing Boxer died peacefully in a hospital after receiving expensive care paid for by Napoleon. Napoleon uses Boxer's death as a propaganda tool, urging the animals to adopt Boxer's maxims of hard work and loyalty. The chapter concludes with the pigs holding a decadent banquet featuring whisky, highlighting the hypocrisy of the leadership.

Years have passed since the Rebellion, and the original ideals of Animalism have been almost entirely forgotten by the newer generations of animals. While the farm has become more prosperous and technologically advanced, this wealth benefits only the pigs and dogs, while the other animals continue to live in hardship and hunger. Napoleon and the pigs have fully transitioned into the roles of the humans they once overthrew, eventually walking on two legs, wearing clothes, and carrying whips. The Seven Commandments are replaced by a single paradox: "ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS." The chapter culminates in a dinner party where Napoleon and neighboring human farmers toast to the prosperity of the farm, which Napoleon renames 'The Manor Farm.' As the animals watch from outside, they realize that the pigs have become indistinguishable from the humans, completing the cycle of tyranny.