Summary of the work - Sykalo Eugen 2023

Short summary - Animal Farm by George Orwell

"Animal Farm" is a literary masterpiece written by George Orwell, a renowned British author, journalist, and political commentator. This political allegory is a story about a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy.

The tale begins with Old Major, a wise and respected pig, who delivers a powerful speech to his fellow animals urging them to rise up against their human oppressors and create a society where animals can be free from the tyranny of humans. After Old Major dies, the animals are inspired by his words and decide to rebel against their human owner, Mr. Jones.

The pigs, who are the most intelligent animals on the farm, take control of the farm and create a set of commandments that all animals must follow. These commandments, known as Animalism, promote equality and freedom for all animals. The animals work hard, and the farm becomes prosperous.

However, as time passes, the pigs begin to assert their authority and establish themselves as the ruling class. They rewrite the commandments to suit their own needs and begin to live a life of luxury while the other animals continue to work hard. The pigs justify their actions by saying that they are working in the best interests of all the animals.

One of the key turning points in the story is when Snowball, a pig who is one of the leaders of the rebellion, is chased off the farm by Napoleon, the other pig leader. Napoleon takes over as the sole leader and becomes increasingly tyrannical. He orders the construction of a luxurious palace for himself and his fellow pigs, and he begins to use violence and intimidation to maintain his power.

As the story progresses, the animals’ living conditions deteriorate, and they begin to realize that they are no better off than they were under Mr. Jones. The pigs become more and more corrupt, changing the rules to suit their own needs and using fear and intimidation to keep the other animals in line. The pigs also use propaganda to control the other animals and maintain their power.

The climax of the story occurs when the pigs hold a meeting with the neighboring farmers and announce that they are changing the name of the farm back to its original name, Manor Farm. The animals, who are watching from outside, realize that they can no longer tell the difference between the pigs and the humans. The pigs have become the very thing they had rebelled against.

The final scene of the story shows the pigs and the humans playing cards together, while the other animals look on in disbelief. The pigs have become the oppressors they had once rebelled against, and the animals have lost their freedom and equality.

"Animal Farm" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the corrupting influence of absolute authority. Through the story of the farm animals, Orwell shows how revolutions can go wrong and how those in power can become corrupted by their own ambition. The book is a powerful reminder that we must be vigilant in protecting our freedoms and that we must always question those in authority.

The novel is divided into ten chapters. The first chapter introduces the main characters and sets the stage for the rebellion. Old Major's speech is the catalyst that inspires the animals to rebel.

Chapter two describes the rebellion and the overthrow of Mr. Jones. The animals are elated at their newfound freedom and begin to work hard to make the farm prosperous.

Chapter three describes the establishment of the new order on the farm. The pigs take control, and the other animals follow their lead. The pigs create a set of commandments that all animals must follow, and they begin to work towards creating a utopian society.

Chapter four introduces the character of Moses, a raven who tells the animals about Sugarcandy Mountain, a paradise where animals go when they die. The pigs are skeptical of Moses, but they allow him to stay on the farm because they see him as a way to keep the other animals content.

Chapter five describes the growing tension between Snowball and Napoleon. Snowball is a visionary who wants to modernize the farm and make it more efficient, while Napoleon is more interested in consolidating his power.

Chapter six describes the construction of the windmill, a symbol of progress and modernization. Snowball is the driving force behind the project, but Napoleon takes credit for it.

Chapter seven describes the increasing power of Napoleon and the decline of Snowball. Napoleon uses his secret police, the dogs, to intimidate and control the other animals. Snowball is chased off the farm, and Napoleon becomes the sole leader.

Chapter eight describes the increasing corruption of the pigs. They begin to live a life of luxury, and they change the rules to suit their own needs. The other animals are forced to work harder and harder, and their living conditions deteriorate.

Chapter nine describes the increasing use of propaganda to control the other animals. The pigs use fear and intimidation to keep the other animals in line, and they rewrite history to make themselves look good.

Chapter ten describes the final scene of the novel, where the pigs and the humans play cards together. The other animals look on in disbelief, realizing that the pigs have become the very thing they had rebelled against.

In conclusion, "Animal Farm" is a timeless masterpiece that highlights the dangers of absolute power and the corrupting influence of ambition. The novel is a powerful reminder that we must always question those in authority and be vigilant in protecting our freedoms.