Plot Overview of Animal Farm
This page delves into the plot of George Orwell's "Animal Farm," providing a detailed summary of the story's key events and developments.
The narrative begins with Old Major, an elderly boar, calling a meeting of all the animals on the farm. He shares his vision of a world where animals are free from human oppression, declaring, "All men are enemies, all animals are comrades." This pivotal moment sets the stage for the rebellion to come.
Quote: "All men are enemies, all animals are comrades."
Shortly after Old Major's death, the animals, led by the pigs Snowball and Napoleon, seize an opportunity to overthrow their human owner, Mr. Jones. They successfully drive him off the farm and rename it "Animal Farm."
The pigs, being the most intelligent animals, take charge of organizing the new society. They develop a system of thought called Animalism, distilling it into Seven Commandments that all animals must follow. These commandments emphasize equality among animals and opposition to human behaviors.
Highlight: The Seven Commandments serve as the foundation of the animals' new society, but their gradual alteration becomes a key element in the story's critique of political corruption.
As the animals begin to work together to run the farm, they initially experience success and fairness. However, tensions soon arise between Snowball and Napoleon, particularly over the idea of building a windmill. This conflict represents the power struggle that often occurs in revolutionary movements.
The plot takes a dark turn when Napoleon, using a pack of fierce dogs he has secretly raised, violently expels Snowball from the farm. This event marks a significant shift in the power dynamics, with Napoleon consolidating his control and beginning to rewrite history to suit his narrative.
Example: Napoleon claims that the windmill was his idea all along, despite having initially opposed it, demonstrating how totalitarian regimes often manipulate historical facts.
As time progresses, the pigs, led by Napoleon, gradually increase their control over the other animals. They begin to adopt human-like behaviors and alter the Seven Commandments to justify their actions. The other animals, despite their growing unease, are manipulated through propaganda and threats of Mr. Jones's return.
Vocabulary: Propaganda - Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
This page sets up the central conflict of the novel: the corruption of revolutionary ideals and the gradual transformation of the pigs into the very oppressors they once fought against.