Overview of Animal Farm

In Animal Farm the animals (which represent workers) rebel against Mr Jones and his ways, because it was the last wishes of a dying pig. Mr Jones, the original owner of the farm forgot to feed them and always treated them like badly.

In Animal Farm, the animals rebel against Mr Jones because the ‘Old Major’ told them to as a last request before he passed away. He had the idea of a perfect society in which animals would rule and everyone would have equal opportunities. As Mr Jones never treated them correctly or had any respect fop the animals. Old Major had a dream that he and the others should rebel and stand up for what they believed. Old Major came up with a speech and suggested that the animals should break free and eat their fill when they felt like I, and not when it suited Mr Jones. The idea’s of the rebellion were simple, no hidden agenda’s, just to break free and live in an environment without humans and with out Mr Jones. To do this and keep order seven commandments were wrote to abide by:

1: Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.

2: Whatever goes upon for 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 any other animal.

7: All animals are equal. 

When the animals rebelled they felt like they could cope with anything, go against any odds and climb any mountain no matter how high, Morale was very high.

The windmill is something that marks that the rebellion is going wrong, as it starts to crumble. The animals don’t do anything about it because they are too scared and don’t realize what power they have when put together.

Boxer is one if the most important characters in animal Farm. He represents the working class of the community and their true ability. Strong, loyal and never stops until his work is finished. He is and honest, loyal and kind animal who will follow Napoleon without question.

All the other animals look to him and admire him for his strength and determination in everything he does. His famous saying ‘ I will work harder ‘ always taking precious minutes off his sleep to get more work done. I think that if boxer stood up to Napoleon’s evil ways. Other animals would follow. He may not have leadership qualities but he is an idle to other animals and every course of action he takes has an effect on the other animal’s behaviour. Boxer is never rewarded for his loyalty to Napoleon.

Benjamin is an old donkey who realizes that the rebellion is going wrong from the beginning but doesn’t seem to do anything about it until Boxer has been killed and taken to the glue factory. I think he was waiting for boxer to stand up to Napoleon, but unfortunately he never, he just work harder and harder. Benjamin is a quiet, intelligent donkey who is a very good reader. He is he only one on Animal Farm who understands that the changes Napoleon make are for the worse.

At the end of ‘Animal Farm’ the pigs are standing upright and wearing clothing, this is the main sign of communism truing to Capitalism, Stalin going against what he originally thought. This is a great example of what the novel is about, communism gone corrupt. The farm was originally called Manor Farm and is renamed that again at the end of the novel.

Manor Farm – Animal Farm – Manor Farm.

Capitalism – Communism – Capitalism.

I believe that the farm was better off with Mr Jones because he fed them, even though he didn’t feed them enough he still provided them with food on a regular basis, and would not prove to be their undoing. The rebellion did not work because Napoleon became corrupt and started to resemble a human. He disobeyed all seven commandments and did what was in his best interest, not the farms.