However, after the defeat of his dogs at the hands of Boxer, Napoleon realised that eliminating such a powerful creature would take trickery. So he bided his time and waited for the opportunity to eliminate Boxer. This opportunity arrived when Boxer was injured in the process of slogging to rebuild the windmill. Boxer’s injury had not occurred overnight though. Boxer had injured his hoof in the Battle of the Windmill. It had not been fully healed when he threw himself back into the cruel labour of rebuilding the windmill. This only aggravated the injury. Boxer was also growing old and slipping out of his prime. Yet he still pushed himself to achieve even larger amounts of work than he had done when he was in his prime. Hence it can be said that Boxer’s death was in a way his own undoing. If he had allowed his wound sufficient time to heal and allow his failing body to cope with a reduced workload, perhaps he would not have given Napoleon the opportunity to eliminate him.
The unfortunate injury to Boxer came one evening when he was once again slogging away to rebuild the windmill. Two pigeons had brought the news of Boxer’s injury to the other animals, who upon reaching the knoll, found Boxer incapacitated. It was then that Boxer related to the animals how he had no regrets retiring because of his injury. He remained so positive even when he was evidently in great pain that it is heartbreaking when he was killed. The pigs were immediately informed of the incident by the other animals while Clover and Benjamin remained with Boxer. Squealer soon appeared at the scene, full of pretentious sympathy and concern. He hypocritically claimed that Napoleon was extremely distressed by the incident. In truth, Napoleon was probably applauding the fact that such an opportunity had presented itself to him without him lifting a finger. Napoleon immediately took advantage of the situation by claiming that Boxer would be treated in a veterinary hospital in Willingdon. In actuality, he was arranging for Boxer to be slaughtered at the knacker’s. Boxer, blissfully unaware of his fate, managed to struggle to his feet and return to his stall. The animals were not entirely supportive of leaving their loyal comrade in the hands of humans. However, Squealer managed to convince the animals that Boxer could be restored to health more effectively in the hospital rather than on the farm.
For the next few days Boxer rested in his stall and took regular doses of a pink medicine, which was administered to him by Clover. Though Clover and Benjamin were both very concerned for Boxer they were only able to be with him after working hours. Perhaps this can be viewed as further proof that the pigs did not really care about the animals’ welfare. Compassionate leaders would have allowed Clover and Benjamin to take leave from their work to take care of Boxer. In fact it was during the working hours, a few days later, that the van from Willingdon arrived to take Boxer away. The animals were all busy at work when they suddenly saw Benjamin galloping at full speed towards them. It was a surprise to the animals to see Benjamin so excited. He told them that the van had arrived to take Boxer away. Not understanding what Benjamin was truly saying the animals rushed to the van, which was driven by a sly-looking man and drawn by a pair of ignorant horses, and bade Boxer goodbye in good cheer.
Benjamin, exasperated, frantically chided them for missing the obvious: that Boxer was being taken to the knackers’. When the truth finally dawned upon the animals, they tried desperately to save Boxer from his fate by crying out to him. Boxer who by then realized what was going on, was powerless to help himself. He kicked futilely at the doors of the van but his strength had diminished so greatly through the years that he could not smash the van apart like what he once could have done. The animals appealed to the horses drawing the van, however the brutes were too ignorant to understand, and the animals could do nothing but watch the van drive off, taking their loyal comrade with it.
Three days later, it was made known to the animals that Boxer had died in the hospital in Willingdon. Squealer claimed that he had been present at Boxer’s deathbed. He made use of Boxer’s death to promote Boxer’s motto of “Napoleon is always right.” Squealer also concocted a convincing explanation to explain the words on the van, which indicated that Boxer was being to a horse-slaughterer. This erased any doubts that the animals still held concerning the death of their comrade. According to Squealer, Napoleon had spared no expense to give Boxer the best treatment a horse could receive. In truth, Napoleon had most likely profited by selling Boxer to the knacker. And contrary to the good treatment that Boxer was supposed to have received, we can imagine him being brutally slaughtered. The animals, however, were glad to hear that at least their comrade’s final hours were happy.
Napoleon made a brief oration in honour of Boxer shortly after. In it he once again made use of Boxer’s two maxims to encourage the animals to work harder and be more subservient. During the memorial banquet days later, the pigs got their hands on some more whiskey and indulged in drunken debauchery. This shows how “distressed” they really were over Boxer’s death. In all likelihood, the whiskey was bought with the money gotten from the sale of Boxer to the horse-slaughterer.
Boxer’s tragic end is laced with many ironies. His fixation with work and unquestioning loyalty to Napoleon were his own entire undoing. He had aspired to master the alphabet upon retirement; yet if he had channelled his focus on learning the alphabet much earlier, he would not have unknowing boarded the van with the words “Horse Slaughterer” clearly spelling his doom. He trusted his killers; and his killers profiteered from his demise – he was as useful to them in life as well as in death.
The irony Benjamin’s outburst is all the more pronounced, for if he had made his voice heard earlier, he would have gained more credibility. Instead, his nonchalance to other farm happenings made it easy for Squealer to negate his arguments and hence, the animals bought Squealer’s story – hook, line and sinker. However, true to his apathetic nature, Benjamin did not try to convince the animals any further. Breaking his reticence failed to save his one true friend and as a result he became even more morose and taciturn than ever before.
