The first sign of problems was when a pig had just milked the cows, and the animals went to harvest their crop. `When they came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared, ` (page 9). As the pigs weren’t harvesting the crop they must’ve been responsible for the missing milk. Another example of this was when the apples had ripened and the pigs took them all, but of course there was a reason. `You do not imagine that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? (Page 22). Squealer successfully made out that mental work was far more difficult than physical.
When there was a power struggle between Snowball and Napoleon over the Windmill, Napoleon used power in the form of dogs to overthrow Snowball, leading to his expulsion from the farm. Using the dogs much to his advantage Napoleon continued to gain power, and protection. `An escort of dogs, who closely surrounded him growled if anyone came too close. ` (Page 47)
Having gained control over the farm, the pigs began to use their power by making all animals other than pigs and dogs work like slaves. They then proved how much power they had with the accusations, false confessions and public executions. The pigs would blackmail the animals into working more. ` Any animal refusing to volunteer for extra work had his rations cut in half, `
Without Squealer it would’ve been much more difficult for the pigs to maintain the power they had. Squealer would always justify anything suspicious, even when the pigs gave themselves extra privileges. When the pigs began sleeping in beds, Squealer changed the 4th commandment from `No animal shall sleep in a bed` to `No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets` (Page 42). When the pigs began drinking alcohol, the 5th commandment was changed to ` No animal shall drink alcohol to excess. ` Contrary to Old Majors laws of Animalism the pigs traded with humans. The hen’s eggs were sold to provide such luxuries as jam for the pigs.
The animals stupidity allowed Squealer to re-write history. He does this often, but particularly when he accused Snowball of treachery at the Battle of Cowshed. ` It is all written down in the documents we have found. ` (Page 50) On this occasion he uses the fact that they can’t read well to invent random things such as Snowballs `secret documents`.
The pigs are greatly assisted by Boxer’s motto ` Napoleon is always right. ` Boxer is greatly respected amongst the animals because of his devotion to the farm. The pigs really show that they are in control of the farm, when they sell Boxer to the knackers. From the money they made, they buy a crate of whisky on which they get drunk. The pigs use their extreme intelligence and power to corrupt the ideas of animalism. Throughout the book the animals were particularly gullible and dim-witted. If they were cleverer they could’ve prevented the pigs from seizing power.
