CHAPTER 3
The third Chapter begins with the efforts of the animals being rewarded at harvestime. Despite the unsuitability of the equipment they use, they work hard and overcome every difficulty. Because of their superior knowledge, the pigs do not actually do the labour, but direct and supervise. Boxer works the hardest. He asks the cockerels to give him a 'wake-up-call' early each morning, and his answer to every problem is to work harder. The harvest turns out to be the largest that the farm has ever seen. There is no wastage and no stealing.
On Sundays, the animals do not work. After breakfast, which is an hour later than usual, there is the raising of the flag decorated by a hoof and horn and symbolizing the power of the animals. After the hoisting of the flag, the animals attend a meeting where they plan the work for the next week, debate, and resolve problems. They even vote on important issues, even though most of the animals do not understand what they are voting for.
The two leaders, Napoleon and Snowball, do understand the issues and are very vocal in their debates; however, they never agree, foreshadowing their later struggle for power and control. The meeting always ends with the singing of 'Beasts of England.' In the afternoon, there is time for leisure. The pigs have set aside the harness-room as their headquarters. Untiring Snowball keeps himself busy organizing various committees, such as the egg- production committee and the whiter wool movement; their purpose is to improve the farm and the animals' lives.
Not surprisingly, Napoleon is disinterested in Snowball's committees and even tries to undermine them; but he agrees that education is important and supports Snowball's reading and writing classes. By autumn almost all the animals are literate to some extent. When the sheep, hens and ducks (the slower animals) are unable to learn the Seven Commandments, Snowball reduces them to a single maxim that states 'four legs good, two legs bad'. When the birds object, he states that wings should be regarded as legs. The birds quietly accept his explanation. The mystery of the 'disappeared milk' is solved, for it has been seized by the pigs and mixed into their mush. Squealer justifies the action by stating that milk and apples contain substances totally necessary for a pig's diet.
CHAPTER 4
The news of what has happened on Animal Farm spreads over half the country. A flight of pigeons tells the story of the Rebellion and teaches the song, 'Beasts of England' to other animals. The neighbouring farmers talk with exaggeration about what has happened to Manor Farm, but fail to unify themselves into a cohesive group. Mr. Pilkington spends his time fishing and hunting, and Mr. Frederick is always busy with his lawsuits. Farmer Jones is seen in the taproom, complaining and grumbling to anyone who cares to listen to his tale of woe and injustice.
Early in October, a flight of pigeons announces the approach of Jones, with his gun. He has with him a troop of half a dozen men, all armed with sticks. They have come to recapture the farm. This action is not unexpected, and the animals are prepared. Snowball gives orders, and the animals are soon at their assigned posts. When the farmers are close, Snowball launches his first attack. Muriel, Benjamin, and all the sheep rush, prod, and lash out at the farmers. Pigeons and geese rush at and peck them, but it is all in vain. The animals are not strong enough, and the animals, signalled by Snowball, take flight.
The men shout in triumph and chase the animals as they leave. This is just the moment Snowball has been waiting for. As soon as they are inside the Yard, three horses, three cows, and the pigs emerge and cut them off. Snowball dashed for Jones, who fires his gun. Snowball is injured, and a sheep is killed. Snowball retaliates and hurls Jones into a pile of dung. The panic-stricken men are kicked, bitten, and trampled. All the men fled except the stable boy, who has been accidentally injured by Boxer. The vain Mollie is found hiding in the manger.
A celebration of their victory begins immediately and spontaneously. The flag is hoisted and the 'Beasts of England' is sung a number of times. The dead are given a solemn funeral, and the heroes are conferred with honours and medals. Snowball and Boxer are named 'Animal Hero first Class'; the dead sheep is named 'Animal Hero Second Class.'
After a discussion, the fight is called the Battle of Cowshed. Mr. Jones' gun is to be fired twice a year, once on October 12, the anniversary of the 'Battle of Cowshed' and once on Midsummer Day, the anniversary of the Rebellion.
CHAPTER 5
Chapter 5 opens with Mollie being taken to task by Clover for her misbehaviour. Unable to take the criticism, she disappears and is never seen by the animals again. The remaining animals then get down to business. It is decided that the Pigs should decide the farm policies, which will be ratified by a majority vote. All might have gone well if Snowball and Napoleon could have agreed; instead, they dispute every point and develop their own followings. Snowball's brilliant speeches win him the majority of support, and his followers shout "four legs good, two legs bad" at crucial moments in his speeches. Snowball very eruditely talks about field drains, silage, and laboursaving devices. Napoleon has no such plans, but claims, "Snowball's schemes would come to nothing". The biggest bone of contention between them, however, is the windmill.
After a survey, Snowball declares that a windmill would help supply the farm with electric power, which, in turn, could run fantastic machines like chaff- cutters. As always, he is interested in improving the welfare of all the animals. Within a few weeks Snowball works out the plans for the windmill. All the animals come to have a look at them except Napoleon, who slyly urinates on Snowball's masterpiece. The farm becomes divided over the subject of the windmill. Although Snowball agrees there are difficulties with it, he believes they could all be overcome within a year. Napoleon, on the other hand, tries to divert attention from the windmill question, by stressing the need for food production. He warns that if they waste time on the windmill, everyone may starve.
The animals listen to both leaders and find themselves in agreement with the one who is speaking at the moment. Snowball wants the issue of the Windmill to be put to a vote, and Napoleon calls the idea nonsense. Snowball, with his usual expression, is about to sway the vote in his favour when Napoleon calls his nine enormous dogs into the barn. They attack Snowball and chase him out, never to be seen again. Napoleon mounts the platform and announces that the Sunday meetings will come to an end, except for the saluting of the flag and the singing of "Beasts of England." He also explains that a special committee will be formed to convey decisions to the masses. From this point forward in the book, Napoleon becomes the undisputed leader of the animals. Every Sunday morning, he gives his orders, and the masses file past the 'Skill of Major' respectfully.
On the third Sunday following Snowball's expulsion, the animals are amazed to hear Napoleon's announcement of his plan to build a Windmill. At the news, Squealer, who is Napoleon's loyal propagandist, calms the masses with his persuasive talks, and the three dogs who happen to be with him silence every question with their menacing growls.
CHAPTER 6
This chapter shows how Napoleon rules the farm. At first the animals are happy, thinking that they are doing everything for their own good. They work hard, putting in sixty-hour weeks throughout the spring and summer. In August Napoleon announces that there must be voluntary work on Sunday afternoons, and the absent ones will receive half rations. In spite of the intense labour, harvest is less successful than that of the previous year. The Windmill also presents unexpected difficulties, but they are resolved under the superintendence of the pigs and the noble efforts of Boxer, who lives by the slogans of "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right".
Napoleon announces a new policy of engaging in trade with the neighbouring farms, not for commercial purposes, but for obtaining urgent supplies. The animals have always lived by the commandment of not human contact, and now they feel uneasy about the violation of the commandment. Four pigs timidly raise their voices in protest, but the fierce growling of Napoleon’s dog’s silences them. The leader then says that the animals need not contact humans because he himself has taken the responsibility of doing so. Napoleon ends his speech with 'Long Live Animal Farm'. After the singing of the 'Beasts of England', the animals disperse and begin to grumble about Napoleon's new policy. As usual, Squealer, the propagandist, assures the animals that the resolution against engaging in trade had never been official.
Every Monday, Mr. Whymper, a sly-looking man, visits the farm. He is the first contact with the outside world, but there are rumours that Napoleon is about to enter a definite business agreement either with Mr. Pilkington or with Mr. Frederick. Napoleon and his pigs also take up residence in the farmhouse, stating that they need a quiet place to do their thinking work. They also claim that a leader needs the dignity of a house. Another of the seven commandments is broken since they stated, "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets".
In autumn the animals are tired but pleased, for the windmill is half-built. Only the sceptical Benjamin refuses to admire the work. In November, progress is stopped by the weather, but Napoleon forces the animals to continue building the windmill through the rain and cold. When a violent storm rocks the farm buildings and the trees and knocks the windmill down, Napoleon blames the poor weather on Snowball. He offers a reward and a title to anyone who captures him alive, for he wants to teach the pig a lesson.
CHAPTER 7
This chapter begins in the bitter winter with the animals trying their best to rebuild the windmill, but the cold and their hunger dampen their spirits. It is only Boxer's never-failing cry of "I will work harder" that inspires them to continue. January brings a true food shortage, and they often have nothing to eat but chaff. Napoleon hides the bitter reality that exists on the farm. He instructs the sheep to talk about an increase in rations when Mr. Whymper is in hearing distance. He orders empty bins to be filled to the brim with sand and then covered at the top with grain, in order to deceive Mr.Whymper, who would then report to the outside world about 'no shortage' on Animal Farm. As the situation worsens, Napoleon hardly makes an appearance. The weekly work orders for the animals are now given through the pigs. Squealer's announcement that the hens should surrender their eggs, at least 400 per week, brings forth a terrible outcry, but the hens must obey.
The dogs see to it that Napoleon's orders are carried out, for the eggs need to be sold in order to survive until spring. Snowball continues to serve as Napoleon's scapegoat and is blamed for everything that goes wrong on the farm. Napoleon goes so far as to claim that Snowball "was in league with Jones and was his secret agent". It is difficult for the animals to accept this explanation, and even Boxer questions it. Squealer, of course, quiets them with propaganda. One day Napoleon calls a meeting and emerges wearing medals, which he has awarded to himself. He arrives; escorted by his nine guard dogs. After surveying the crowd of animals, he gives a high-pitched whimper, and the dogs attack the crowd.
They try unsuccessfully to attack Boxer, who holds one of them under his hoof. After the tumult, the dogs appear before Napoleon with the four pigs that had earlier raised their voices against his policies. Napoleon then orders the four pigs to confess that they had been contriving with Snowball to destroy the Windmill and that they had entered into a truce with him to hand over Animal Farm to Mr. Frederick. When Napoleon demands further confessions about Snowball, the hens say that he appeared in their dreams and prompt them to disobey. As a result, Napoleon orders the hens to be slaughtered.
The goose confesses to having stolen and eaten six ears of corn during last year's harvest at Snowballs' urging; he is murdered. The sheep confess to urinating in the drinking pool and murdering an old ram and blame their actions on Snowball; they are all killed instantly. By the end of the denial, there is a pile of bodies lying before Napoleon's feet. His reign of terror has truly begun. Frightened and shattered, the animals start singing 'Beasts of England'. This anthem, which seems to inspire the animals, is soon forbidden by Napoleon. It is replaced by Minimus's new song, which is bland and patriotic.
CHAPTER 8
In this chapter, the lives of the animals worsen. They receive just enough food to make them work, and Napoleon takes advantage of them at every turn. But Farmer Frederick also takes advantage of Napoleon. When he decides to sell timber on the advice of Whymper, Frederick agrees to pay a sum of 12 pounds. Frederick wants to pay by check, but Napoleon insists on cash payment in five-pound notes. Frederick pays up and carts away the timber. Three days later, Napoleon learns that the notes are forged. He pronounces a death sentence upon Frederick and wants to boil him alive.
Expressing his fear of attack from the humans, Napoleon tells the animals to be prepared for an attack. The offensive comes while they are at breakfast. Fifteen men with half a dozen guns open fire on the farm. Napoleon and Boxer try their best to inspire the animals, but they find it difficult to retaliate. Many of them are wounded and run back to the farm buildings.
The enemies capture the farm and the windmill, which Frederick blasts with a dynamo. On seeing their windmill destroyed, the animals are incited to retaliate with a vengeance. In the battle, two geese are killed, and many cows and sheep are injured. Napoleon is wounded in the tail. Finally, the fierce dogs force the men to take flight, but not until the animals have paid a heavy price. In spite of the losses, Napoleon orders that the animals rejoice in their victory. The flag is raised and praises are paid. Napoleon makes a speech and names the fight the 'Battle of Windmill'.
CHAPTER 9
Chapter 9 opens with Boxer's heel, which was bitten by the dogs, taking a long time to heal. In spite of the injury, he refuses to take even one day off from the work of rebuilding the windmill. He wants to see it completed before his retirement. When the rules were originally formulated, different animals had different ages for retirement, and a liberal pension had been decided upon for all. To date, no animal has retired on pension. In the autumn four sows give birth to 31 young pigs. Since Napoleon is the only boar, he is the father to all of them and passes some special rules to admit the young pigs. Other animals must build a school for them so they can be educated and stand aside when the pigs pass; the pigs are also to wear green ribbons on their tails on Sundays and brew beer for their own enjoyment. Winter is cold, food is even scarcer, and rations are reduced for all the animals except the pigs and the dogs. Squealer, trying to soften the news of less food, uses the word readjustment instead of reduction. His statistics and public speaking skills still make everyone believe him.
Rations are further reduced in February, but the pigs, as usual, are excluded from the reduction. In fact, rumour has it that every pig is to receive a ration of a pint of beer daily. Napoleon is to receive a full half a gallon, served to him in the Crown Derby soup tureen. Squealer convinces the masses that the pigs need more food and special treatment because of the important work that they do. In an attempt to encourage the masses, there are more songs, speeches, and processions. There is also a weekly Special Demonstration to celebrate the struggles and triumphs of Animal Farm. Banners, slogans, and recital of poems composed to honour Napoleon honour are part of the pageant. The animals enjoy these celebrations, where they are reminded of the fact that they themselves are the masters, not living under the two legged. In April, Animal Farm is declared a Republic and must elect a President.
The only candidate is Napoleon. As President, he still continues to offend Snowball and points out that his wounding Snowball and sending him away has saved the farm for the animals. He does allow Moses, the raven, to return to the farm. When he talks about Sugar candy Mountain and an afterlife, it diverts the attention of the animals away from the cruelty of their life and Napoleon. Boxer works harder until he falls one day and is unable to get up. Everyone runs to his help, but the system takes control. In the middle of the day, a van takes him away to be killed and made into glue. The animals cry out in horror, but their cries go unheard. When Squealer later announces Boxer's death in a sad tone, he rationalizes why he was taken in the Knacker's van and promises that he died in comfort and dignity. Napoleon sincerely pays homage to Boxer and asks others to follow his work ethics. The chapter ends with the arrival of a wooden crate at the farmhouse.
CHAPTER 10
Years have passed. No one remembers the old days before the rebellion except Clover, Benjamin, Moses, and a number of pigs. Napoleon has become totally humanlike in his behaviour. He and his ruling class of pigs now walk upright on their hand legs, dress in clothing, carry whips, read newspapers and magazines, and talk on the telephone. All of the original Commandments have been forgotten; only one remains that states that all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others, meaning the pigs. The common animals say nothing; they have given up the habit of criticizing, complaining, or protesting long ago.
The farm is now better organized, more prosperous, and enlarged. The windmill, though not used for electricity, has brought in a profit. The common animals, however, do not share in the prosperity. They live a life of difficulty and deprivation. They are hungry, sleep on straw, labour long hours, and are troubled by cold in winter and flies in summer. But they are still convinced that they are "free" since animals rather than humans run the farm. Because of the constant party line, they do not realize that their plight is the same under Napoleon that it was under Farmer Jones. Only Benjamin realizes that "nothing has changed for better or worse." One day, while weeding turnips, the animals hear singing. Napoleon is in the farmhouse celebrating with human beings. He then announces that he has made peace with his human neighbours. Although still called Animal Farm, it is really Manor Farm all over again. The animal tyranny has collapsed into human corruption, and at the end of the novel, pig and man is identical. The circle is complete.
