“All animals are equal…more equal than others” — exploring Animal Farm
A satirical allegory about revolution, power, and the corruption of ideals. This fan page gathers summaries, characters, themes, and memorable lines — spoiler-light and classroom-friendly.
Overview
Animal Farm (1945) is George Orwell’s short novella that retells a political revolution through the animals of Manor Farm. After overthrowing their human owner, the animals build a new society based on equality. Over time, the pigs — led by Napoleon — centralize power, rewrite rules, and betray the rebellion’s founding principles.
Key Characters
- Napoleon — a pig who seizes leadership; rules through fear and manipulation.
- Snowball — an idealistic pig; visionary for the windmill and education projects.
- Squealer — the propaganda expert; justifies the pigs’ privileges with spun logic.
- Boxer — a loyal cart-horse whose mottos are “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right.”
- Clover — a compassionate mare who senses betrayals but lacks the power to stop them.
- Benjamin — a cynical donkey; understands everything, says little.
- Mollie — a vain mare; prefers ribbons and sugar to politics.
- Mr. Jones — the negligent human owner of the farm.
Themes & Ideas
- The cycle of power: Revolutions may replace rulers; unchecked power repeats oppression.
- Language as control: Slogans, songs, and statistics twist memory and shape reality.
- Education and agency: Literacy divides leaders from followers; knowledge empowers resistance.
- Corruption of ideals: The Seven Commandments are gradually edited to justify privilege.
- Work, loyalty, and exploitation: Boxer’s fate exposes the cost of blind trust.
Story Timeline (spoiler-light)
- Old Major’s dream: Animals imagine a free, equal farm.
- Rebellion: Mr. Jones is overthrown; the farm is renamed Animal Farm.
- Early reforms: Commandments, committees, and common work.
- Rivalry: Napoleon and Snowball split over the windmill plans.
- Consolidation: Napoleon takes control; Squealer rewrites the past.
- Hard winters: The windmill becomes both project and propaganda.
- Final turn: Commandments altered; pigs and humans become indistinguishable.
Memorable Quotes
- “Four legs good, two legs bad.”
- “I will work harder.”
- “Beasts of England.”
Fun Facts
- Published in 1945, the novella helped cement Orwell’s reputation as a sharp political satirist.
- Though set on an English farm, events mirror the arc of certain 20th‑century revolutions.
- Its simple style makes it popular for classroom study and political debate alike.
Further Reading
To dig deeper, look for reputable editions of Animal Farm, biographies of George Orwell, and essays on political allegory. Library guides and university literature departments often host excellent primers.
Pigs are the bad guys
Better a pig than a facist