Animal Farm: Napoleon’s Absolute Power and the Betrayal of Ideals
Chapter 8: Napoleon’s Ascent and Shifting Truths
Napoleon receives a new, more majestic name: “Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon.” A few days after the bloody executions, the animals discover that the commandment reading “No animal shall kill any other animal” now reads: “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.” As with previous revisions, the animals attribute the apparent change to their faulty memories, believing they must have forgotten the final two words.
Throughout the year, the animals work even harder to rebuild the windmill. Despite often suffering from hunger and cold, Squealer continuously reads from a list of statistics, proving that conditions remain far superior to anything the animals knew under Mr. Jones and that they only continue to improve.
A pile of timber, left over from Mr. Jones’s days, lies unused on the farm. Napoleon engages in complicated negotiations for its sale to either Mr. Frederick or Mr. Pilkington. When negotiations favor Mr. Frederick, the pigs teach the animals to hate Mr. Pilkington. Conversely, when Mr. Pilkington appears ready to buy the timber, the pigs teach the animals to hate Mr. Frederick with equal ferocity.
Chapter 9: Scarcity, Republic, and Historical Revision
The rebuilding of the windmill continues amidst growing scarcity. Food becomes ever more scarce, and all animals receive reduced rations, except for the pigs and the dogs.
In April, the government declares Animal Farm a republic, and Napoleon becomes president in a unanimous vote, being the sole candidate. On the same day, the leadership reveals new discoveries about Snowball’s complicity with Jones at the Battle of the Cowshed. It now appears that Snowball actually fought openly on Jones’s side and cried “Long live Humanity!” at the outset of the fight.
Commandment Revisions:
- The Fifth Commandment, “No animal shall kill any other animal,” was changed to “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.”
- The Sixth Commandment, “No animal shall drink alcohol,” was changed to “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.”
Chapter 10: The Final Transformation of Animal Farm
Years pass. Many animals age and die, and few recall the days before the Rebellion. The animals complete a new windmill, which is used not for generating electricity but for milling corn, a far more profitable endeavor. The farm seems to have grown richer, but only the numerous pigs and dogs live comfortable lives. Squealer explains that the pigs and dogs perform very important work.
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
Napoleon openly begins smoking a pipe, and the other pigs subscribe to human magazines, listen to the radio, and begin to install a telephone. They also start wearing human clothes salvaged from Mr. Jones’s wardrobe.
Boxer’s Tragic End
The animals learned of Boxer’s tragic fate when they bade him farewell, noticing with horror that the van carrying him was marked “Horse Slaughterer” or “Knacker.” Squealer, however, quickly intervened, assuring them that Boxer was merely being sent to a hospital for treatment. This deceptive explanation temporarily relieved the other animals, masking the grim truth of their loyal comrade’s betrayal.
The pigs and farmers return to their amiable card game, and the other animals creep away from the window. Soon, the sounds of a quarrel draw them back to listen. Napoleon and Pilkington have played the ace of spades simultaneously, and each accuses the other of cheating. The animals, watching through the window, realize with a start that, as they look around the room of the farmhouse, they can no longer distinguish which of the cardplayers are pigs and which are human beings.