CONTEXT

This story is set in Manor Farm later to be renamed Animal Farm.

The most respected animal at Manor Farm is the prize boar called Old Major.  He is concerned at the neglect and cruelty he and the fellow animals suffer at the hands of Farmer Jones and his men. Just prior to his death, he tells the other animals of his dream for a new life for them all, but this can only take place if the animals rebel against Farmer Jones.

This opportunity arises shortly after Old Major’s death when the animals drive the drunken farmer and his men from the farm and they call their new home Animal Farm.

Immediately, the pigs assume control over the administration of the farm and they draw up the Seven Commandments, which is the basis of the new system known as Animalism and is founded on Old Major’s ideas.

From the start, there is a battle for power over the animals by two young boars named Napoleon and Snowball.

When Jones tries to recapture the farm, Napoleon and Snowball unite, but after the Battle of the Cowshed, the two young boars are in conflict once again.

Using trained dogs, which Napoleon has reared from puppies, he eventually wins the power struggle and Snowball is chased from the farm.  Napoleon adopts many of Snowball’s ideas, including the windmill project.

Initially, the new animal society is successful, but soon the animals’ living conditions worsen due to the increasing appetites of the inefficient pigs and dogs.  Slowly the Seven Commandments are transformed in order to support the pigs’ actions.

Whenever things go wrong in the community, Napoleon blames Snowball and threatens the animals with the return of Farmer Jones if they do not continue working hard for Animal Farm.  Using threats and the odd execution, Napoleon maintains order.

Unknown to the rest of the animals, he negotiates with neighboring human farmers regarding the sale of produce.

Despite further attempts by the humans to retake the farm, the animals continue their control and eventually the windmill is completed. However, it is only the pigs that benefit from the prosperity obtained by the farm and their behavior towards the rest of the animals becomes more human-like.  They start walking on their hind legs and carrying whips.

The story ends with the working animals observing Napoleon through the farmhouse windows entertaining his human neighbors. 

It is now impossible to distinguish pigs from men.