Farmer Jones = Czar Nicholas II
• Farmer Jones
– The irresponsible owner of the farm
– Lets his animals starve and beats
them with a whip
– Sometimes shows random kindness
• Czar Nicholas II
– Weak Russian leader during the early
1900s
– Often cruel and brutal to his subjects
– Displays isolated kindess
Characters
• Old Major
– An old boar whose speech about the
evils perpetrated by humans rouses
the animals into rebelling.
– His philosophy concerning the
tyranny of Man is named Animalism.
– He teaches the animals the song
“Beasts of England”
– Dies before revolution
• Karl Marx
– The inventor of communism
– Wants to unite the working class to
overthrow the government.
– Dies before the Russian Revolution
Animalism = Communism
• Animalism
–
–
–
–
–
Taught by Old Major
No rich, but no poor
Better life for workers
All animals are equal
Everyone owns the farm
• Communism
– Invented by Karl Marx
– All people are equal
– Government owns
everything
– People own the
government
Snowball = Leon Trotsky
• Snowball
– Boar who becomes one of the
rebellion’s most valuable leaders.
– After drawing complicated plans for
the construction of a windmill, he is
chased off of the farm forever by
Napoleon’s dogs and thereafter used
as a scapegoat for the animals’
troubles.
• Leon Trotsky
– A pure communist leader who was
influenced by the teachings of Karl
Marx.
– He wanted to improve life for people
in Russia, but was driven away by
Lenin’s KGB.
Napoleon = Joseph Stalin
• Napoleon
–
–
Boar who leads the rebellion against
Farmer Jones
After the rebellion’s success, he
systematically begins to control all aspects
of the farm until he is an undisputed
tyrant.
• Joseph Stalin
–
–
The communist dictator of the Soviet
Union from 1922-1953 who killed all who
opposed him.
He loved power and used the KGB (secret
police) to enforce his ruthless, corrupt
antics.
Squealer vs. Propaganda Dept. of
Stalin’s Government
Squealer
• Big mouth, talks a lot
• Convinces animals to
believe and follow
Napoleon
• Changes and
manipulates the
commandments
Propaganda Department
• Worked for Stalin to
support his image
• Used any lie to convince
the people to follow
Stalin
• Benefited from the fact
that education was
controlled
The Dogs vs. KGB (Secret Police)
The Dogs
• A private army that
used fear to force
animals to work
• Killed or intimidated
any opponent of
Napoleon
• Another part of
Napoleon’s strategy to
control animals
KGB (Secret Police)
• Not really police but
forced support for Stalin
• Used force, often killed
entire families for
disobedience
• Totally loyal, part of
Stalin’s power, even
over army
Moses the Raven vs. Religion
Moses the Raven
• Tells animals about
SugarCandy mountain
• Animals can go there if they
work hard
• Snowball and Major were
against him
• They thought Heaven was a
lie to make animals work
• Napoleon let him stay b/c
he taught animals to work
and not complain
Religion
• Marx said, “Opiate of the
people” – A LIE!
• Used to make people not
complain and do their work
• Religion was tolerated b/c
people would work
• Stalin knew religion would
stop violent revolutions
Mollie the Mare vs. Vain, selfish
people in Russia and world
Mollie the Mare
• Was vain – loved her
beauty and self
• Didn’t think about the
Animal Farm
• Went with anyone who
gave her what she
wanted
Vain, selfish Russian people
• Some people didn’t care
about revolution
• Only thought about
themselves
• Went to other countries
that offered more for
them
Boxer vs. Dedicated, but Tricked,
Communist Supporters
Boxer
• Strong, hard-working
horse – believes in
Animal Farm
• “Napoleon is always
right”, “I must work
harder”
• Gives his all, is betrayed
by Napoleon
Dedicated, but Tricked
Supporters
• People believed Stalin
b/c he was
“Communist”
• Many stayed loyal after
it was obvious Stalin
was a tyrant
• Betrayed by Stalin who
ignored and killed them
Benjamin vs. Skeptical people in and
outside of Russia
Benjamin
• Old, wise donkey who is
suspicious of revolution
• Thinks “nothing ever
changes” – is RIGHT!
• His suspicions are true
about Boxer and sign
changes
Skeptical people
• Weren’t sure revolution
would change anything
• Realized that a crazy
leader can call himself
“communist”
• Knew that Communism
wouldn’t work with
hungry leaders
Animal Farm Revolution
= Russian Revolution
• Animal Farm Revolution
• Russian Revolution
– Was supposed to make life
better for all, but . . .
• Life was worse at the end.
• The leaders became the same
as, or worse than the other
farmers (humans) they rebelled
against.
– Was supposed to fix the
problems created by the
Czar, but . . .
• Life was even worse after the
revolution.
• Stalin made the Czar look
like a nice guy.
More Characters
Pilkington
Jones' neighbor, he finds a way to profit from
Animal Farm by forming an alliance with the
pigs.
Muriel
A goat who believes in the rebellion, she
watches as Animal Farm slips away from its
founding principles.
The Sheep
Not tremendously clever, the sheep remind
themselves of the principles of animalism by
chanting "four legs good, two legs bad."
Characters and Their Historical Correlation
•
•
•
•
•
Muriel: Goat, helps convey the rules/7 commandments
Mr. Jones: Manor Farm, Tsar Nicholas II
Mr. Frederick: Pinchfield Farm, Hitler/Nazi Germany
Mr. Pilkington: Foxwood Farm, Capitalist England/U.S.A.
Mr. Whymper: Human Solicitor, ties humans and animals
together
• Jessie and Bluebell/Pups: Dogs, Stalin’s brute force-rep. of
Hitler’s brainwashed society
• Minimus: Poet Pig, Manipulator of History (Songs)
Chapter 1 (Summary)
• Drunken Mr. Jones to bed/animals meet in the barn
• Major Wishes to pass his wisdom
– Talks about miserable lives and manipulation/born as slaves
• Could live in luxury given the resources
• Use the products of their labors
• Dream from the Previous Night
– Live free and happy
– Animals vs. humans (2 legged walking ‘creatures’)
– Once they take the humans they can’t acquire their traits
• Ex: live in a house, sleep in beds, drink, smoke, $, clothes, trade
(p. 31)
– “Beasts of England” ---an animal Utopia
• Mr. Jones fires a shotgun and stops the commotion
Chapter 1
(Analysis)
• “Beasts of England”- the animals will finally be free from man’s
domination—enjoy the fruits of their labors
• The song words lead to a ‘false reality’
– (Reality vs. a Dream Utopia)
• Major’s simple belief is that ‘Man’ is the only reason for their evil (makes
it easy for anyone non human to buy in to the situation
– Idea touches on class struggle, surplus value, and domination
– Idea is sincere, but it’s only a fantasy—just like . . .
– Major states: “All animals are equal”
• Lenin dies just as Major-leaving his work unfinished
• Ch. 1=Historic to period before and during WWI
– Ends with great unrest!
Chapter 2 (Summary)
•
•
•
•
•
Napoleon/Snowball description (35)
The Rebellion-Animals take farm and preserve the house
Animalism
Moses-Sugar Candy Mountain
7 Commandments:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
2 legs is the enemy
4 legs or wings is a friend
No clothes
No bed
No alcohol
Not kill any other animal
All animals are equal
Chapter 2 (Analysis)
• Russian Revolution Becomes very clear
– Manor Farm- Part feudal, Part capitalist = Russia
• Major represents Marx’s philosophy of communism, and Lenin
who enacted it = Animalism
– Animals=working class (esp. Boxer and Clover)
•
•
•
•
•
Pigs = intelligentsia (organized and controlled the Rev.)
Squealer = Propaganda
Moses = Russian Orthodox Church
Mollie = Bourgeoisie (Luxuries)
Russia began with noble ideas including moral dignity and
equality-quickly gone on Animal Farm
• Orwell’s description of pre-rebellion misery-social inequality
and mistreatment of workers
Chapter 3 (Summary)
• “4 legs good, 2 legs bad” • Pigs take charge/superiority– take the milk
– Raise the pups
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A lot of work is done- BOXER “I will/must work harder”
Flag with hoof and horn (Russian Flag)
Snowball and Napoleon fight
Pigs take human ways
Socialists goals became meaningless tools used for control
4 legs/2 legs—what about wings?
Dog Army
Manipulation by Squealer-(p52 or last page of Chapter 3)
Chapter 3 (Analysis)
• Boxer’s (People’s) blind faith in the system
• Imbalance of knowledge and literacy
– Pigs/Stalin-sole guardians of Animal Farm/Russian principals
• 7 Commandments
– Antihuman directive (no clothes), moral values (no kill other animal),
utopian ideas (all animals equal)
• 4 legs good/2 legs bad=not part of the above ideals
– Propaganda was used to ignore their own unhappiness/shift focus
• Squealer = Propaganda to control the people
• Satire – “Good of the State” –emphasizes Russia’s own
downfall-pokes fun
Chapter 4 (Summary)
• The Short Version
– Battle of Cowshed
– Medals: Animal Hero First Class
• Snowball and Boxer
Chapter 4 (Analysis)
•
•
•
•
Allusion: Julius Caesar (Snowball studying JC’s campaigns)
Russian Interwar Period
Trotsky: In order for Communism to work, it has to be global
Domino Effect = Non communists become communist
– Pres. Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson used this to justify
military involvement in Turkey, Greece, and Vietnam
• Rumors spread of Russia
• People fight but don’t understand what their fighting for
– Their own oppression = Irony
• Orwell was (perhaps) denouncing Comm. & non-Comm.
– Mr. Jones = Irresponsible/Neglect
– Mr. P = Doesn’t do anything
Chapter 5 (Summary)
• Mollie decides to change sides
• Napoleon/Snowball argue a lot
– Each campaign for supporters
•
•
•
•
Windmill plans completed – debate over the project
Snowball is attacked and ousted
Napoleon takes power (Pig Power)
Boxer adds to his ‘catch phrase’ “I will work harder”
– “Napoleon is always right”
Chapter 5 (Analysis)
• Napoleon rises as did Stalin
– Snowball/Trotsky is banished
• Stalin has his own secret police (intelligentsia) = Dogs
• 3rd World Country (p64)- Build technology/electricity
– Stalin first balked at it, then adopted it as his own idea
• Orwell was part of a Trotskyist group in the late 1930’s during the
Spanish Civil War
– Could be why Snowball is looked at in a positive manner
• Importance of technological advances in Russia is essential
– Much effort was put into the overall change
– As previously mention-Stalin shunned it at 1st, then took it as his own
Chapter 6 (Summary)
•
•
•
•
Work weeks were now 60hr/wk and work on Sundays
Food rations were cut
Animals eager to take more work b/c it’s for their own benefit
Mr. Whimper-Human solicitor introduced
– Used to obtain outside goods needed (iron, nails, paraffin oil)
• Pigs now live and sleep in farm house
• Commandments changed
– No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets
• Storm destructs windmill
– Supposed work of Snowball
• Snowball is given a death sentence
Chapter 6 (Analysis)
• Government Oppression (not just in Russia)
– Overworked working class
– Government justified luxuries
– Propaganda is used to cover up mistakes
• Governments tend to blame others for their own deficiencies
and wrong doings to keep their own standing
– Ex: Communist Russia vs. Trotskyism
– Ex: U.S.A. vs. Communism
• By shifting the blame it is easy to manipulate
• Orwell’s idea: Tyranny is Cyclical
– More Power = More Corrupt = Become what is was in 1st place
• Pigs evolve into grotesque human beings-increased resemblance of humans
Chapter 7 (Summary)
• Harsh winter w/ food shortage – Animals are misled
• Humans don’t believe Snowball ruined wall-rebuilt at 3’ thick
• Egg shortage- increased export/morally wrong
– Hens rebel and 9 die
• Snowball’s supposed visits to farm- Everything blamed on him
–
–
–
–
‘Tied’ to Pinchfield (associate of Mr. Jones)
Battle of Cowshed bravery taken away and used against him
Napoleon’s battle bravery is hyped up
Squealer’s persuasion makes them believe
• Napoleon stages a purge and takes more power
– Pigs are forced to falsely confess to conspiracy w/ Snowball
• They are said to be ‘Trotskyists’ and immediately killed
• Boxer stands up for the animals-Napoleon immediately stops Boxer
• Egg rebellion confession- 3 more hens killed
Chapter 7 (Summary Cont.)
• Boxer’s explanation of problem at hand
– The fault is our own = WORK HARDER
• Clover wonders how farm could have gotten like it is
– Animals not smart enough to figure it out
• Squealer: “No more beasts of England”
– Song only applies to the rebellion-no need for rebellion now
• New song with no inspiration
– “Animal Farm. . .”- Glorifies the situation
Chapter 7 (Analysis)
• Stalin’s 5 year plan for agriculture resulted in starvation of
millions
– Industrial production was also down
• Violent tactics of oppressive governments
– Massive class divisions in egalitarian/true communist society
• Stalin also had ‘show trials’ (trials w/ preset outcome)
– Forced people to admit Trotskyism
– People tortured until admission then executed
• Stalin kept a common enemy- Trotsky
– Create fear for people-no one challenged his rule
• Manipulated statistics- illusion that all is good/better
• Fear installed b/c people believe propaganda
• An indestructible dictatorship formed-far from communism
Chapter 8 (Summary)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
No kill commandment is changed to “. . . w/out cause”
Animals work harder to rebuild windmill
Very cold winter with famine
Napoleon takes title of “Leader”
Minimus writes a poem on barn praising Napoleon
Controversy between Frederick and Pilkington w/ firewood
Windmill is finished-Mr. F. and men blow it up
– Several animals are killed/Boxer is injured
• Pigs get drunk
• Squealer caught w/ paint brush (changing commandments)
– Animals not smart enough to figure it out
• Alcohol Commandment Changed to “. . . In excess”
Chapter 8 (Analysis)
• Overall idea of manipulated rules and govt. to benefit the
politically and militaristic powers
• Minimus’s Poem: great irony/satire of patriotic rhetoric
– Creates a misdirection (propaganda) for the public
• Pilkington vs. Frederick Incident
– Russia/Stalin’s back and forth nature of siding with Germany and then
the Allies at the outset of WWII
– @ last moment, Stalin signs a non-aggression pact with Hitler
– Hitler (Frederick) betrays his word and invades Western Russia killing
25 million Russians and destroying much of the infrastructure built up
during the Russian Revolution
– This is known as the Battle of Stalingrad
Chapter 9 (Summary)
• Start to rebuild the Windmill
• Boxer grows weak
• Food Shortage Evident (but not for Pigs and Dogs)
– They say it’s still better than Mr. Jones’s era
• Napoleon has 31 piglets w/ 4 sows-builds a schoolhouse
• Spontaneous demonstrations promoting animal farm
• Animal farm declared a Republic- Napoleon named Pres.
• Snowball has rumored to say “Long live humanity” during the battle of
cowshed
• Sugar Candy Mountain stories started again by Moses
• Boxer fails and collapses
– Arranged for ambulance (Glue Factory)
– Boxer announced as incurable and had died (False info)
Chapter 9 (Analysis)
• Blatant downfall of Animal Farm/Russia
• Boxer’s death is ironic
– He worked for the good of all, but is sold for the good of a few
– Boxer is sold for alcohol
– His death breaks a lot of commandments
• Death in a Glue Factory increases the dramatic power of
Orwell’s words
• Russian administration exhausted its worker resources and
then discarded them
• Return of Moses means shift of focus of working class
– Stalin brought back the Russian Orthodox Church after WWII
• Spontaneous Demonstrations= Ironic b/c they weren’t
spontaneous, they were all planned out for propaganda
Chapter 10 (Summary)
• Many years have now passed (Dead: Muriel, Pincher, Bluebell, Jessie, Mr.
Jones, . . .)
• Windmill is now used for corn = more $
• Pigs and dogs are still in luxury
• Other animals still accept the goals of the original Rebellion
– This is a world free of humans with equality for animals
• Squealer is now walking on his hind legs only
– Sheep adopt the maxim: “4 legs good, 2 legs better”
• Only 1 commandment is left!
– “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”
– Napoleon smokes pipe, others read, use radio/phone, wear clothes
• Napoleon and Pilkington toast each other- No more Comrade
• Name changed back to Manor Farm
• Card Game-Ace of Spades played at the same time (Nap/Pilk)
• No longer distinguish the card players from the humans/pigs
Chapter 10 (Analysis)
• Totalitarian Communism (controlled by the state/dictator)
– No socialism or utopia at all
• Napoleon B. (France) used to be thought of as great during his
conquest until he crowned himself emperor of France
– Instead of abolishing aristocracy, he formed it around himself
•
•
•
•
•
Hope is help until the end-provides dramatic contrast
Original ideas by Major/Marx = Dream/Philosophy
Very shocking language- evolution of events
Cooperation of Russia and the West during WWII is evident
Quarrel over what both desire but can’t have is evident
– WORLD DOMINATION
• Banquet shows coop w/ Eng./U.S.A./Russia during WWII
• Stalin dies in 1953