"Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short. We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end, we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty."
Old Major also believes that after the fall of man, when the beasts of England take over, there will be leisure and prosperity, with enough food for everyone. Then Old Major teaches the animals the song "Beasts of England" and three days later, dies in his sleep. Soon after, the Rebellion happens, and Old Major's dream is realized, but I noticed that starting before the Rebellion, the pigs Napoleon and Snowball seem to be the ones in charge. I also noticed that Old Major makes all the animals promise that they will not adopt the ways of men, but after the Rebellion, it is discovered that the pigs have learned to read, which is a human action (page 9)
When it comes time to harvest and work in the fields, the pigs stand on the sides and direct the other animals, instead of working, as seen on page 11.
Also, commandment number 7 says that "All animals are equal" (found on page 9) is similar to the American words of "All men are created equal". I think that this is somehow connected to how we today do not act like all men are equal, but we are supposed to, and I think that the animals will start acting like a certain animal is better than other animals. Soon the animals have a flag, and the pigs are starting to learn blacksmithing and carpentry, which are human arts. I don't understand why the animals (especially the pigs) are starting to lean more towards the human ways, and not long after the Rebellion, too! The pigs start to teach reading and writing, and eventually shorten the seven commandments to one maxim, that being FOUR LEGS GOOD, TWO LEGS BAD. I think that the pigs shortened the commandments so that they could get away with breaking the other "less important" commandments, and the smarter animals won't notice. But what I think is ironic is that Napoleon and Snowball are the ones who created the Commandments, but they are the only ones breaking them.
Napoleon then takes the puppies from their mother, just like Jones did. He says that he was going to take it upon himself to train them (page 14).
Then the pigs take all the windfall apples and milk for themselves, cutting the food supply down, claiming that they need to stay healthy or Jones will come back to the farm. They are slowly taking all the food for themselves, like Jones did at one point.
When the men come to try and take back Animal Farm, the animals have an organized battle, like men. Then, when Boxer strikes down a man, he feels regret, which is odd, and says that he does not wish to take life, even a human one (page 17)
Then Snowball suggests that the animals build a windmill, which is almost against all the principles of Animalism, and is chased out by the puppies that Napoleon trained. The dogs wag their tails to Napoleon, as if he is their master, like the dogs used to do to Jones. Napoleon starts to become the center of everything, which I believe is completely unfair to the other animals on the farm. At this point, I think that it is unavoidable that the pigs take control and start to "rule" the other animals.
When Napoleon spreads the rumor that Snowball is coming in the night and causing mischief, he calls all the animals to him and kills anyone who is even slightly suspected of working with Snowball.
Napoleon has broken another commandment of Animalism. I believe that Napoleon wants all the animals to believe that Snowball is behind everything so that he can get away with other things, such as sleeping in beds, and changing the commandments to his specifications. Only Clover the horse and Benjamin the donkey seem to think that anything is wrong on the farm.
When Boxer even once questions Squealer, Squealer looks at him with an ugly look, one that I think could be a look of hate. And then Napoleon outlaws the singing of Beasts of England, having a new song made about him. He is no longer 'Comrade Napoleon,' he is 'Napoleon, Our Leader,' making him the most powerful animal on the farm.
The song is even inscribed on the opposite side of the barn from the Seven Commandments. Napoleon has even started trading with the humans, forcing the hens to give up their eggs as "sacrifice," and also selling some of the hay and animal feed that is needed, even though all the animals on the farm are starving except the pigs.
Soon after, the men from neighboring farms come to attack again, and they destroy the windmill that the animals worked two years on.
Then the pigs find a case of whiskey in the basement of Jones' house, and apparently drink it, for there is rowdiness, and another of the Seven Commandments is broken. Then Snowball is found on the ground with a smashed ladder by the Seven Commandments and a can of paint with brush. Benjamin realizes that the pigs are changing the commandments, but doesn't say a word.
The pigs are really changing the way the animal life is to be carried out at Animal Farm, and only Benjamin really understands what is going on. The food is very short, and rations keep getting cut, except for the pigs rations. Boxer is about retiring age, and he wants to get the windmill underway before he retires, but his hoof is paining him. Soon all the barley is reserved for the pigs, cutting food really low. But another thing that angers me is that all the animals dismiss the fact of Squealer and the ladder as Squealer just falling off, and don't question what Squealer was really doing.
About this time there occurred a strange incident which hardly anyone was able to understand. One night at about twelve o'clock there was a loud crash in the yard, and all the animals rushed out of their stalls. It was a moonlit night. At the foot of the end wall of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written, there lay a ladder broken in two pieces.
Only Benjamin has understood from the beginning what is happening, but he doesn't leave. Maybe because he knows that if other Animal Farms take root, wherever he goes he will be exposed to the same thing that is happening on his own farm.
Tragedy strikes! Boxer, when he is working on dragging stone for a new windmill, falls and can't get up. The pigs say that they will send him to a hospital managed my humans, but when the van comes, it has the name of a knacker's on it, and only Benjamin and Clover realize this, for the rest of the animals are reassured by Squealer. Then Squealer tells them that Boxer died at the hospital. I think that Squealer was part of the decision to send Boxer to the knackers, because Boxer doubted him that one time. This reminds me of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, because Black Beauty sees a hunting horse shot and carried off, and I believe that the horse was taken to the knacker's.
After years, there are only the pigs, Clover, and Benjamin left who remember the Rebellion and Jones, though barely (page 49). Soon Squealer takes all the sheep to an abandoned and overgrown area of the farm, and the sheep stay there for a week. When they come back, Squealer is walking on his hind legs, and all the pigs can walk on their hind legs. Napoleon carries a whip, and the sheep have a new maxim. 'Four legs good, two legs better!' Then Clover leads Benjamin over to the wall with the Seven Commandments, which is only one commandment now, and reads
ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS
This is now what the pigs practice daily, coming out to the fields where the other animals are working, they all carry whips, and they subscribe to newspapers and magazines. They also want to install a telephone in the farmhouse. None of the animals think it is strange when the pigs raid Jones' wardrobe and wear his clothes around the farm, except Benjamin and Clover. Then Napoleon invites neighboring farms to come and inspect the farm, and all the farms are impressed, but the animals working do not know to be more afraid of the pigs or of the humans (page 52). Then the pigs invite the farmers in to drink a toast and play cards, but no one notices the animals gathered at the windows looking in. Then Napoleon reveals that Animal Farm was to be called Manor Farm again, and that the flag has been made back into a blank green flag. He tells the farmers that he will keep all the animals under his strict control, like slaves, as Jones once did. He also agrees to live peacefully with the other farms around Animal Farm. When the animals try to pick out the pigs from the humans, though, no one can tell which is which, meaning that the pigs have become like humans, completely against what Old Major wanted when he first told all the animals on Manor Farm about Beasts of England and his thoughts on the Rebellion. I really do not like this ending, and I think that it is very sad. You could kind of tell that this was what would happen to Animal Farm from the beginning of the book. This type of ending seems familiar, but I can't remember what this ending is like.
>bookhouse4
When it comes time to harvest and work in the fields, the pigs stand on the sides and direct the other animals, instead of working, as seen on page 11.
The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership. Boxer and Clover would harness themselves to the cutter or the horse-rake (no bits or reins were needed in these days, of course) and tramp steadily round and round the field with a pig walking behind and calling out 'Gee up, comrade!' or 'Woah back, comrade!' as the case might be.
Also, commandment number 7 says that "All animals are equal" (found on page 9) is similar to the American words of "All men are created equal". I think that this is somehow connected to how we today do not act like all men are equal, but we are supposed to, and I think that the animals will start acting like a certain animal is better than other animals. Soon the animals have a flag, and the pigs are starting to learn blacksmithing and carpentry, which are human arts. I don't understand why the animals (especially the pigs) are starting to lean more towards the human ways, and not long after the Rebellion, too! The pigs start to teach reading and writing, and eventually shorten the seven commandments to one maxim, that being FOUR LEGS GOOD, TWO LEGS BAD. I think that the pigs shortened the commandments so that they could get away with breaking the other "less important" commandments, and the smarter animals won't notice. But what I think is ironic is that Napoleon and Snowball are the ones who created the Commandments, but they are the only ones breaking them.
After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim, namely: 'Four legs good, two legs bad.' This, he said, contained the essential principle of Animalism. Whoever had thoroughly grasped it would be safe from human influences.
Napoleon then takes the puppies from their mother, just like Jones did. He says that he was going to take it upon himself to train them (page 14).
It happened that Jessie and Bluebell had both whelped soon after the hay harvest, giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. As soon as they were weaned, Napoleon took them away from their mothers, saying that he would make himself responsible for their education. He took them up into a loft which could only be reached by a ladder from the harness-room, and there kept them in such seclusion that the rest of the farm soon forgot their existence.
Then the pigs take all the windfall apples and milk for themselves, cutting the food supply down, claiming that they need to stay healthy or Jones will come back to the farm. They are slowly taking all the food for themselves, like Jones did at one point.
When the men come to try and take back Animal Farm, the animals have an organized battle, like men. Then, when Boxer strikes down a man, he feels regret, which is odd, and says that he does not wish to take life, even a human one (page 17)
"I have no wish to take life, not even human life," repeated Boxer, and his eyes were filled with tears.
Then Snowball suggests that the animals build a windmill, which is almost against all the principles of Animalism, and is chased out by the puppies that Napoleon trained. The dogs wag their tails to Napoleon, as if he is their master, like the dogs used to do to Jones. Napoleon starts to become the center of everything, which I believe is completely unfair to the other animals on the farm. At this point, I think that it is unavoidable that the pigs take control and start to "rule" the other animals.
When Napoleon spreads the rumor that Snowball is coming in the night and causing mischief, he calls all the animals to him and kills anyone who is even slightly suspected of working with Snowball.
These scenes of terror and slaughter were not what they had looked forward to on that night when Old Major first stirred them to rebellion.
Napoleon has broken another commandment of Animalism. I believe that Napoleon wants all the animals to believe that Snowball is behind everything so that he can get away with other things, such as sleeping in beds, and changing the commandments to his specifications. Only Clover the horse and Benjamin the donkey seem to think that anything is wrong on the farm.
When Boxer even once questions Squealer, Squealer looks at him with an ugly look, one that I think could be a look of hate. And then Napoleon outlaws the singing of Beasts of England, having a new song made about him. He is no longer 'Comrade Napoleon,' he is 'Napoleon, Our Leader,' making him the most powerful animal on the farm.
Friend of fatherless! Fountain of happiness! Lord of the swill-bucket! Oh how my soul is on Fire when I gaze at thy Calm and commanding eye, Like the sun in the sky, Comrade Napoleon! Thou are the giver of All that thy creatures love, Full belly twice a day, clean straw to roll upon; Every beast great or small Sleeps at peace within his stall, Thou watchest over all, Comrade Napoleon! Had I a sucking-pig, Ere he had grown as big Even as a pint bottle or a rolling-pin, He should have learned to be, Faithful and true to thee, Yes, his first squeak should be "Comrade Napoleon!"
The song is even inscribed on the opposite side of the barn from the Seven Commandments. Napoleon has even started trading with the humans, forcing the hens to give up their eggs as "sacrifice," and also selling some of the hay and animal feed that is needed, even though all the animals on the farm are starving except the pigs.
Soon after, the men from neighboring farms come to attack again, and they destroy the windmill that the animals worked two years on.
Then the pigs find a case of whiskey in the basement of Jones' house, and apparently drink it, for there is rowdiness, and another of the Seven Commandments is broken. Then Snowball is found on the ground with a smashed ladder by the Seven Commandments and a can of paint with brush. Benjamin realizes that the pigs are changing the commandments, but doesn't say a word.
But a few days later Muriel, reading over the Seven Commandments to herself, noticed that there was yet another of them which the animals had remembered wrong. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was 'No animal shall drink alcohol,' but there were two words that they had forgotten. Actually the Commandment said 'No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.
The pigs are really changing the way the animal life is to be carried out at Animal Farm, and only Benjamin really understands what is going on. The food is very short, and rations keep getting cut, except for the pigs rations. Boxer is about retiring age, and he wants to get the windmill underway before he retires, but his hoof is paining him. Soon all the barley is reserved for the pigs, cutting food really low. But another thing that angers me is that all the animals dismiss the fact of Squealer and the ladder as Squealer just falling off, and don't question what Squealer was really doing.
About this time there occurred a strange incident which hardly anyone was able to understand. One night at about twelve o'clock there was a loud crash in the yard, and all the animals rushed out of their stalls. It was a moonlit night. At the foot of the end wall of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written, there lay a ladder broken in two pieces.
Only Benjamin has understood from the beginning what is happening, but he doesn't leave. Maybe because he knows that if other Animal Farms take root, wherever he goes he will be exposed to the same thing that is happening on his own farm.
Tragedy strikes! Boxer, when he is working on dragging stone for a new windmill, falls and can't get up. The pigs say that they will send him to a hospital managed my humans, but when the van comes, it has the name of a knacker's on it, and only Benjamin and Clover realize this, for the rest of the animals are reassured by Squealer. Then Squealer tells them that Boxer died at the hospital. I think that Squealer was part of the decision to send Boxer to the knackers, because Boxer doubted him that one time. This reminds me of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, because Black Beauty sees a hunting horse shot and carried off, and I believe that the horse was taken to the knacker's.
After years, there are only the pigs, Clover, and Benjamin left who remember the Rebellion and Jones, though barely (page 49). Soon Squealer takes all the sheep to an abandoned and overgrown area of the farm, and the sheep stay there for a week. When they come back, Squealer is walking on his hind legs, and all the pigs can walk on their hind legs. Napoleon carries a whip, and the sheep have a new maxim. 'Four legs good, two legs better!' Then Clover leads Benjamin over to the wall with the Seven Commandments, which is only one commandment now, and reads
ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS
This is now what the pigs practice daily, coming out to the fields where the other animals are working, they all carry whips, and they subscribe to newspapers and magazines. They also want to install a telephone in the farmhouse. None of the animals think it is strange when the pigs raid Jones' wardrobe and wear his clothes around the farm, except Benjamin and Clover. Then Napoleon invites neighboring farms to come and inspect the farm, and all the farms are impressed, but the animals working do not know to be more afraid of the pigs or of the humans (page 52). Then the pigs invite the farmers in to drink a toast and play cards, but no one notices the animals gathered at the windows looking in. Then Napoleon reveals that Animal Farm was to be called Manor Farm again, and that the flag has been made back into a blank green flag. He tells the farmers that he will keep all the animals under his strict control, like slaves, as Jones once did. He also agrees to live peacefully with the other farms around Animal Farm. When the animals try to pick out the pigs from the humans, though, no one can tell which is which, meaning that the pigs have become like humans, completely against what Old Major wanted when he first told all the animals on Manor Farm about Beasts of England and his thoughts on the Rebellion. I really do not like this ending, and I think that it is very sad. You could kind of tell that this was what would happen to Animal Farm from the beginning of the book. This type of ending seems familiar, but I can't remember what this ending is like.
>bookhouse4
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