summary
The
story takes place on a farm somewhere in England. The story is told by an
all-knowing narrator in the third person. The action of this novel starts when
the oldest pig on the farm, Old Major, calls all animals to a secret meeting.
He tells them about his dream of a revolution against the cruel Mr Jones. Three
days later Major dies, but the speech gives the more intelligent animals a new
outlook on life. The pigs, who are considered the most intelligent animals,
instruct the other ones. Together with another pig called Squealer, who is a
very good speaker, they work out the theory of "Animalism".
The
rebellion starts some months later, when Mr Jones comes home drunk one night
and forgets to feed the animals. They break out of the barns and run to the
house, where the food is stored. When Mr Jones sees this he takes out his
shotgun, but it is too late for him; all the animals fall over him and drive
him off the farm. The animals destroy all whips, nose rings, reins, and all
other instruments that have been used to suppress them. The pigs make up the
seven commandments, and they write them above the door of the big barn.
They run thus:
They run thus:
1.
Whatever
goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2.
Whatever
goes upon four legs, or has wings is a friend.
3.
No
animal shall wear clothes.
4.
No
animal shall sleep in a bed.
5.
No
animal shall drink alcohol.
6.
No
animal shall kill another animal.
7.
All
animals are equal.
Napoleon accuses
Snowball of destroying the mill, and he promises a reward to the animal that
gets Snowball. The rebuilding of the mill takes two years. Again Jones attacks
the farm, and although the animals defend it, the windmill is once again
destroyed. The pigs decide to rebuild the mill again, and they cut down the
food rations to a minimum.
Three years later,
the mill is finally completed. During this time Napoleon deepens the relations
with the neighbouring farm, and one day Napoleon even invites the owners of
this farm for an inspection. They sit inside the farmhouse and celebrate the
efficiency of his farm, where the animals work very hard with a minimum of
food. During this celebration, all the other animals meet at the window of the
farm, and when they look inside they can't distinguish between man and animal.
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