Animal Farm FULL TEXT - Murphy's Classes and Clubsmurphysclassesandclubs.weebly.com/.../animal_farm_full_text.pdf · Animal Farm George Orwell 1945 50 Animal Farm: A study guide -

Animal Farm

GeorgeOrwell1945

50 Animal Farm: A study guide - Student’s Book

I Mr.Jones,oftheManorFarm,hadlockedthehen-housesforthenight,butwastoodrunktoremembertoshutthepopholes.Withtheringoflightfromhislanterndancingfromsidetoside,helurchedacrosstheyard,kickedoffhisbootsatthebackdoor,drewhimselfalastglassofbeerfromthebarrelinthescullery,andmadehiswayuptobed,whereMrs.Joneswasalreadysnoring. Assoonasthelightinthebedroom

throughthefarmbuildings.WordhadgoneroundduringthedaythatoldMajor,theprizeMiddleWhiteboar,hadastrangedreamonthepreviousnightandwishedtocommunicateittotheotheranimals.IthadbeenagreedthattheyshouldallmeetinthebigbarnassoonasMr.Joneswassafelyoutoftheway.OldMajor(sohewasalwayscalled,thoughthenameunderwhichhehadbeenexhibitedwasWillingdonBeauty)wassohighlyregardedonthefarmthateveryonewasquitereadytoloseanhour’ssleepinordertohearwhathehadtosay. Atoneendofthebigbarn,onasortofraisedplatform,Majorwasalreadyensconcedonhisbedofstraw,underalanternwhichhungfromabeam.Hewastwelveyearsoldandhadlatelygrownratherstout,buthewasstillamajestic-lookingpig,withawiseandbenevolentappearanceinspiteofthefactthathistusheshadneverbeencut.Beforelongtheotheranimalsbegantoarriveandmakethemselvescomfortableaftertheirdifferentfashions.Firstcamethethreedogs,Bluebell,Jessie,andPincher,andthenthepigs,whosettleddowninthestrawimmediatelyinfrontoftheplatform.Thehensperchedthemselvesonthewindow-sills,the

cowslaydownbehindthepigsandbegantochewthecud.Thetwocart-horses,BoxerandClover,cameintogether,walkingveryslowlyandsettingdowntheirvasthairyhoofswithgreatcarelestthereshouldbesomesmallanimalconcealedinthestraw.Cloverwasastoutmotherlymareapproachingmiddlelife,whohadneverquite

wasanenormousbeast,nearlyeighteenhands

high,andasstrongasanytwoordinaryhorsesputtogether.Awhitestripedownhisnosegavehimasomewhatstupidappearance,and

hewasuniversallyrespectedforhissteadinessofcharacterandtremendouspowersofwork.AfterthehorsescameMuriel,thewhitegoat,andBenjamin,thedonkey.Benjaminwastheoldestanimalonthefarm,andtheworsttempered.Heseldomtalked,andwhenhedid,itwasusuallytomakesomecynicalremark—forinstance,hewouldsaythatGodhadgivenhimatailtokeep

thefarmheneverlaughed.Ifaskedwhy,hewouldsaythathesawnothingtolaughat.Nevertheless,withoutopenlyadmittingit,hewasdevotedtoBoxer;thetwoofthemusuallyspenttheirSundaystogetherinthesmallpaddockbeyondtheorchard,grazingsidebysideandneverspeaking. Thetwohorseshadjustlaindownwhenabroodofducklings,whichhadlosttheirmother,

wouldnotbetroddenon.Clovermadeasortofwallroundthemwithhergreatforeleg,andtheducklingsnestleddowninsideitandpromptlyfellasleep.AtthelastmomentMollie,thefoolish,prettywhitemarewhodrewMr.Jones’trap,camemincingdaintilyin,chewingatalumpofsugar.Shetookaplacenearthefrontandbegan

totheredribbonsitwasplaitedwith.Lastofallcamethecat,wholookedround,asusual,for

inbetweenBoxerandClover;thereshepurredcontentedlythroughoutMajor’sspeechwithoutlisteningtoawordofwhathewassaying. AlltheanimalswerenowpresentexceptMoses,thetameraven,whosleptonaperchbehindthebackdoor.WhenMajorsawthattheyhadallmadethemselvescomfortableandwerewaitingattentively,heclearedhisthroatandbegan: ‘Comrades,youhaveheardalreadyaboutthestrangedreamthatIhadlastnight.ButIwillcometothedreamlater.Ihavesomethingelseto

Animal Farm: A study guide - Student’s Book 51

withyouformanymonthslonger,andbeforeIdie,IfeelitmydutytopassontoyousuchwisdomasIhaveacquired.Ihavehadalonglife,IhavehadmuchtimeforthoughtasIlayaloneinmystall,andIthinkImaysaythatIunderstandthenatureoflifeonthisearthaswellasanyanimalnowliving.ItisaboutthisthatIwishtospeaktoyou. ‘Now,comrades,whatisthenatureofthislifeofours?Letusfaceit:ourlivesaremiserable,laborious,andshort.Weareborn,wearegivenjustsomuchfoodaswillkeepthebreathinourbodies,andthoseofuswhoarecapableofitareforcedtoworktothelastatomofourstrength;andtheveryinstantthatourusefulnesshascometoanendweareslaughteredwithhideouscruelty.NoanimalinEnglandknowsthemeaningofhappinessorleisureafterheisayearold.NoanimalinEnglandisfree.Thelifeofananimalismiseryandslavery:thatistheplaintruth. ‘Butisthissimplypartoftheorderofnature?Isitbecausethislandofoursissopoorthatitcannotaffordadecentlifetothosewhodwelluponit?No,comrades,athousandtimesno!ThesoilofEnglandisfertile,itsclimateisgood,itiscapableofaffordingfoodinabundancetoanenormouslygreaternumberofanimalsthannowinhabitit.Thissinglefarmofourswouldsupportadozenhorses,twentycows,hundredsofsheep—andallofthemlivinginacomfortandadignitythatarenowalmostbeyondourimagining.Whythendowecontinueinthismiserablecondition?Becausenearlythewholeoftheproduceofourlabourisstolenfromusbyhumanbeings.There,comrades,istheanswertoallourproblems.Itissummedupinasingleword—Man.Manistheonlyrealenemywehave.RemoveManfromthescene,andtherootcauseofhungerandoverworkisabolishedforever. ‘Manistheonlycreaturethatconsumeswithoutproducing.Hedoesnotgivemilk,hedoesnotlayeggs,heistooweaktopulltheplough,hecannotrunfastenoughtocatchrabbits.Yetheislordofalltheanimals.Hesetsthemtowork,hegivesbacktothemthebareminimumthatwillpreventthemfromstarving,andtheresthekeepsforhimself.Ourlabourtillsthesoil,ourdungfertilisesit,andyetthereisnotoneofusthatownsmorethanhisbareskin.YoucowsthatIsee

beforeme,howmanythousandsofgallonsofmilkhaveyougivenduringthislastyear?Andwhathashappenedtothatmilkwhichshouldhavebeenbreedingupsturdycalves?Everydropofithasgonedownthethroatsofourenemies.Andyouhens,howmanyeggshaveyoulaidinthislastyear,andhowmanyofthoseeggseverhatchedintochickens?TheresthaveallgonetomarkettobringinmoneyforJonesandhismen.Andyou,Clover,wherearethosefourfoalsyoubore,whoshouldhavebeenthesupportandpleasureofyouroldage?Eachwassoldatayearold—youwillneverseeoneofthemagain.Inreturnfor

rationsandastall? ‘Andeventhemiserablelivesweleadarenotallowedtoreachtheirnaturalspan.FormyselfIdonotgrumble,forIamoneoftheluckyones.Iamtwelveyearsoldandhavehadoverfourhundredchildren.Suchisthenaturallifeofapig.Butnoanimalescapesthecruelknifeintheend.Youyoungporkerswhoaresittinginfrontofme,everyoneofyouwillscreamyourlivesoutattheblockwithinayear.Tothathorrorweallmustcome—cows,pigs,hens,sheep,everyone.Eventhehorsesandthedogshavenobetterfate.You,Boxer,theverydaythatthosegreatmusclesofyourslosetheirpower,Joneswillsellyoutotheknacker,whowillcutyourthroatandboilyoudownforthefoxhounds.Asforthedogs,whentheygrowoldandtoothless,Jonestiesabrickroundtheirnecksanddrownstheminthenearestpond. ‘Isitnotcrystalclear,then,comrades,thatalltheevilsofthislifeofoursspringfromthetyrannyofhumanbeings?OnlygetridofMan,andtheproduceofourlabourwouldbeourown.Almostovernightwecouldbecomerichandfree.Whatthenmustwedo?Why,worknightandday,bodyandsoul,fortheoverthrowofthehumanrace!Thatismymessagetoyou,comrades:Rebellion!IdonotknowwhenthatRebellionwillcome,itmightbeinaweekorinahundredyears,butIknow,assurelyasIseethisstrawbeneathmyfeet,thatsoonerorlaterjusticewillbedone.Fixyoureyesonthat,comrades,throughouttheshortremainderofyourlives!Andaboveall,pass


onthismessageofminetothosewhocomeafteryou,sothatfuturegenerationsshallcarryonthestruggleuntilitisvictorious.‘Andremember,comrades,yourresolutionmustneverfalter.Noargumentmustleadyouastray.NeverlistenwhentheytellyouthatManandtheanimalshaveacommoninterest,thattheprosperityoftheoneistheprosperityoftheothers.Itisalllies.Manservestheinterestsofnocreatureexcepthimself.Andamongusanimalslettherebeperfectunity,perfectcomradeshipinthestruggle.Allmenareenemies.Allanimalsarecomrades.’ Atthismomenttherewasatremendousuproar.WhileMajorwasspeakingfourlargeratshadcreptoutoftheirholesandweresittingontheirhindquarters,listeningtohim.Thedogshadsuddenlycaughtsightofthem,anditwasonlybyaswiftdashfortheirholesthattheratssavedtheirlives.Majorraisedhistrotterforsilence. ‘Comrades,’hesaid,‘hereisapointthatmustbesettled.Thewildcreatures,suchasratsandrabbits—aretheyourfriendsorourenemies?Letusputittothevote.Iproposethisquestiontothemeeting:Areratscomrades?’ Thevotewastakenatonce,anditwasagreedbyanoverwhelmingmajoritythatratswerecomrades.Therewereonlyfourdissentients,thethreedogsandthecat,whowasafterwardsdiscoveredtohavevotedonbothsides.Majorcontinued:‘Ihavelittlemoretosay.Imerelyrepeat,rememberalwaysyourdutyofenmitytowardsManandallhisways.Whatevergoesupontwolegsisanenemy.Whatevergoesuponfourlegs,orhaswings,isafriend.Andremember

cometoresemblehim.Evenwhenyouhaveconqueredhim,donotadopthisvices.Noanimalmusteverliveinahouse,orsleepinabed,orwearclothes,ordrinkalcohol,orsmoketobacco,ortouchmoney,orengageintrade.AllthehabitsofManareevil.And,aboveall,noanimalmustevertyranniseoverhisownkind.Weakorstrong,cleverorsimple,weareallbrothers.Noanimalmusteverkillanyotheranimal.Allanimalsareequal. ‘Andnow,comrades,Iwilltellyouaboutmydreamoflastnight.Icannotdescribethat

dreamtoyou.ItwasadreamoftheearthasitwillbewhenManhasvanished.ButitremindedmeofsomethingthatIhadlongforgotten.Manyyearsago,whenIwasalittlepig,mymotherandtheothersowsusedtosinganoldsongofwhich

Ihadknownthattuneinmyinfancy,butithadlongsincepassedoutofmymind.Lastnight,however,itcamebacktomeinmydream.Andwhatismore,thewordsofthesongalsocameback—words,Iamcertain,whichweresungbytheanimalsoflongagoandhavebeenlosttomemoryforgenerations.Iwillsingyouthatsongnow,comrades.Iamoldandmyvoiceishoarse,butwhenIhavetaughtyouthetune,youcansingitbetterforyourselves.ItiscalledBeastsofEngland.’ OldMajorclearedhisthroatandbegantosing.Ashehadsaid,hisvoicewashoarse,buthesangwellenough,anditwasastirringtune,somethingbetweenClementineandLaCucaracha.Thewordsran:


Thesingingofthissongthrewtheanimalsintothewildestexcitement.AlmostbeforeMajorhadreachedtheend,theyhadbegunsingingitforthem-selves.Eventhestupidestofthemhadalreadypickedupthetuneandafewofthewords,andasforthecleverones,suchasthepigsanddogs,theyhadtheentiresongbyheartwithinafewminutes.Andthen,afterafewpreliminarytries,thewholefarmburstoutintoBeastsofEnglandintremendousunison.Thecowslowedit,thedogswhinedit,thesheepbleatedit,thehorseswhinniedit,theducksquackedit.Theyweresodelightedwiththesongthattheysangit

havecontinuedsingingitallnightiftheyhadnotbeeninterrupted.Unfortunately,theuproarawokeMr.Jones,whosprangoutofbed,makingsurethattherewasafoxintheyard.Heseizedthegunwhichalways

chargeofnumber6shotintothedarkness.Thepelletsburiedthemselvesinthewallofthebarnandthemeetingbrokeuphurriedly.Everyone

ontotheirperches,theanimalssettleddowninthestraw,andthewholefarmwasasleepinamoment.

II ThreenightslateroldMajordiedpeacefullyinhissleep.Hisbodywasburiedatthefootoftheorchard. ThiswasearlyinMarch.Duringthenextthreemonthstherewasmuchsecretactivity.Major’sspeechhadgiventothemoreintelligentanimalsonthefarmacompletelynewoutlookonlife.TheydidnotknowwhentheRebellionpredictedbyMajorwouldtakeplace,theyhadnoreasonforthinkingthatitwouldbewithintheirownlifetime,buttheysawclearlythatitwastheirdutytoprepareforit.Theworkofteaching

andorganisingtheothersfellnaturallyuponthepigs,whoweregenerallyrecognisedasbeingthecleverestoftheanimals.Pre-eminentamongthepigsweretwoyoungboarsnamedSnowballandNapoleon,whomMr.Joneswasbreeding

lookingBerkshireboar,theonlyBerkshireonthefarm,notmuchofatalker,butwithareputationforgettinghisownway.SnowballwasamorevivaciouspigthanNapoleon,quickerinspeechandmoreinventive,butwasnotconsideredtohavethesamedepthofcharacter.Alltheothermalepigsonthefarmwereporkers.ThebestknownamongthemwasasmallfatpignamedSquealer,withveryroundcheeks,twinklingeyes,nimblemovements,andashrillvoice.Hewasabrillianttalker,andwhenhewasarguingsome

tosideandwhiskinghistailwhichwassomehowverypersuasive.TheotherssaidofSquealerthathecouldturnblackintowhite. ThesethreehadelaboratedoldMajor’steachingsintoacompletesystemofthought,towhichtheygavethenameofAnimalism.Severalnightsaweek,afterMr.Joneswasasleep,theyheldsecretmeetingsinthebarnandexpoundedtheprinciplesofAnimalismtotheothers.Atthebeginningtheymetwithmuchstupidityandapathy.SomeoftheanimalstalkedofthedutyofloyaltytoMr.Jones,whomtheyreferredtoas‘Master,’ormadeelementaryremarkssuchas‘Mr.Jonesfeedsus.Ifheweregone,weshouldstarvetodeath.’Othersaskedsuchquestionsas‘Whyshouldwecarewhathappensafterwearedead?’or‘IfthisRebellionistohappenanyway,whatdifferencedoesitmakewhetherweworkforitor

themseethatthiswascontrarytothespiritofAnimalism.Thestupidestquestionsofallwere

questionsheaskedSnowballwas:‘WilltherestillbesugaraftertheRebellion?’

meansofmakingsugaronthisfarm.Besides,youdonotneedsugar.Youwillhavealltheoatsandhayyouwant.’ ‘AndshallIstillbeallowedtowearribbonsinmymane?’askedMollie.


‘Comrade,’saidSnowball,‘thoseribbonsthatyouaresodevotedtoarethebadgeofslavery.Canyounotunderstandthatlibertyisworthmorethanribbons?’ Mollieagreed,butshedidnotsoundveryconvinced. ThepigshadanevenharderstruggletocounteracttheliesputaboutbyMoses,thetameraven.Moses,whowasMr.Jones’especialpet,wasaspyandatale-bearer,buthewasalsoaclevertalker.HeclaimedtoknowoftheexistenceofamysteriouscountrycalledSugarcandyMountain,towhichallanimalswentwhentheydied.Itwassituatedsomewhereupinthesky,alittledistancebeyondtheclouds,Mosessaid.InSugarcandyMountainitwasSundaysevendaysaweek,cloverwasinseasonalltheyearround,andlumpsugarandlinseedcakegrewonthehedges.TheanimalshatedMosesbecausehetoldtalesanddidnowork,butsomeofthembelievedinSugarcandyMountain,andthepigshadtoargueveryhardtopersuadethemthattherewasnosuchplace. Theirmostfaithfuldiscipleswerethetwocart-horses,BoxerandClover.Thesetwo

themselves,buthavingonceacceptedthepigsastheirteachers,theyabsorbedeverythingthattheyweretold,andpasseditontotheotheranimalsbysimplearguments.Theywereunfailingintheirattendanceatthesecretmeetingsinthebarn,andledthesingingofBeastsofEngland,withwhichthemeetingsalwaysended. Now,asitturnedout,theRebellionwasachievedmuchearlierandmoreeasilythananyonehadexpected.InpastyearsMr.Jones,althoughahardmaster,hadbeenacapablefarmer,butoflatehehadfallenonevildays.Hehadbecomemuchdisheartenedafterlosingmoneyinalawsuit,andhadtakentodrinkingmorethanwasgoodforhim.ForwholedaysatatimehewouldloungeinhisWindsorchairinthekitchen,readingthenewspapers,drinking,andoccasionallyfeedingMosesoncrustsofbreadsoakedinbeer.Hismenwereidleanddishonest,

animalswereunderfed.

Junecameandthehaywasalmostreadyforcutting.OnMidsummer’sEve,whichwasaSaturday,Mr.JoneswentintoWillingdonandgotsodrunkattheRedLionthathedidnotcomebacktillmiddayonSunday.Themenhadmilkedthecowsintheearlymorningandthenhadgoneoutrabbiting,withoutbotheringtofeedtheanimals.WhenMr.Jonesgotbackheimmediatelywenttosleeponthedrawing-roomsofawiththeNewsoftheWorldoverhisface,sothatwheneveningcame,theanimalswerestillunfed.Atlasttheycouldstanditnolonger.Oneofthecowsbrokeinthedoorofthestore-shedwithherhornandalltheanimalsbegantohelpthemselvesfromthebins.ItwasjustthenthatMr.Joneswokeup.Thenextmomentheandhisfourmenwereinthestore-shedwithwhipsintheirhands,lashingoutinalldirections.Thiswasmorethanthehungryanimalscouldbear.Withoneaccord,thoughnothingofthekindhadbeenplannedbeforehand,

Jonesandhismensuddenlyfoundthemselvesbeingbuttedandkickedfromallsides.Thesituationwasquiteoutoftheircontrol.Theyhadneverseenanimalsbehavelikethisbefore,andthissuddenuprisingofcreatureswhomtheywereusedtothrashingandmaltreatingjustastheychose,frightenedthemalmostoutoftheirwits.Afteronlyamomentortwotheygaveuptryingtodefendthemselvesandtooktotheirheels.A

downthecart-trackthatledtothemainroad,withtheanimalspursuingthemintriumph. Mrs.Joneslookedoutofthebedroom

afewpossessionsintoacarpetbag,andslippedoutofthefarmbyanotherway.Mosessprangoff

MeanwhiletheanimalshadchasedJonesandhis

barredgatebehindthem.Andso,almostbeforetheyknewwhatwashappening,theRebellionhadbeensuccessfullycarriedthrough:Joneswasexpelled,andtheManorFarmwastheirs.

couldhardlybelieveintheirgoodfortune.Their

boundariesofthefarm,asthoughtomakequite


surethatnohumanbeingwashidinganywhereuponit;thentheyracedbacktothefarmbuildingstowipeoutthelasttracesofJones’hatedreign.Theharness-roomattheendofthestableswasbrokenopen;thebits,thenose-rings,thedog-chains,thecruelkniveswithwhichMr.Joneshadbeenusedtocastratethepigsandlambs,were

blinkers,thedegradingnosebags,werethrownon

Sowerethewhips.Alltheanimalscaperedwith

withwhichthehorses’manesandtailshadusuallybeendecoratedonmarketdays. ‘Ribbons,’hesaid,‘shouldbeconsideredasclothes,whicharethemarkofahumanbeing.Allanimalsshouldgonaked.’ WhenBoxerheardthishefetchedthesmallstrawhatwhichheworeinsummertokeep

withtherest. InaverylittlewhiletheanimalshaddestroyedeverythingthatremindedthemofMr.Jones.Napoleonthenledthembacktothestore-shedandservedoutadoublerationofcorntoeverybody,withtwobiscuitsforeachdog.ThentheysangBeastsofEnglandfromendtoendseventimesrunning,andafterthattheysettleddownforthenightandsleptastheyhadneversleptbefore. Buttheywokeatdawnasusual,andsuddenlyrememberingthegloriousthingthathadhappened,theyallracedoutintothepasturetogether.Alittlewaydownthepasturetherewasaknollthatcommandedaviewofmostofthefarm.Theanimalsrushedtothetopofitandgazedroundthemintheclearmorninglight.Yes,itwastheirs—everythingthattheycouldseewastheirs!Intheecstasyofthatthoughttheygambolledroundandround,theyhurledthemselvesintotheairingreatleapsofexcitement.Theyrolledinthedew,theycroppedmouthfulsofthesweetsummergrass,theykickedupclodsoftheblackearthandsnuffeditsrichscent.Thentheymadeatourofinspectionofthewholefarmandsurveyedwithspeechless

orchard,thepool,thespinney.Itwasasthough

theyhadneverseenthesethingsbefore,andevennowtheycouldhardlybelievethatitwasalltheirown.

andhaltedinsilenceoutsidethedoorofthefarmhouse.Thatwastheirstoo,buttheywerefrightenedtogoinside.Afteramoment,however,SnowballandNapoleonbuttedthedooropenwiththeirshouldersandtheanimalsenteredin

ofdisturbinganything.Theytiptoedfromroomtoroom,afraidtospeakaboveawhisperandgazingwithakindofaweattheunbelievableluxury,atthebedswiththeirfeathermattresses,thelooking-glasses,thehorsehairsofa,theBrusselscarpet,thelithographofQueenVictoriaoverthedrawing-roommantelpiece.TheywerelustcomingdownthestairswhenMolliewasdiscoveredtobemissing.Goingback,theothersfoundthatshehadremainedbehindinthebestbedroom.ShehadtakenapieceofblueribbonfromMrs.Jones’dressing-table,andwasholdingitagainsthershoulderandadmiringherselfintheglassinaveryfoolishmanner.Theothersreproachedhersharply,andtheywentoutside.Somehamshanginginthekitchenweretakenoutforburial,andthebarrelofbeerinthescullerywasstoveinwithakickfromBoxer’shoof,—otherwisenothinginthehousewastouched.Aunanimousresolutionwaspassedonthespotthatthefarmhouseshouldbepreservedasamuseum.Allwereagreedthatnoanimalmusteverlivethere. Theanimalshadtheirbreakfast,andthenSnowballandNapoleoncalledthemtogetheragain. ‘Comrades,’saidSnowball,‘itishalf-pastsixandwehavealongdaybeforeus.Todaywebeginthehayharvest.Butthereisanothermatter

ThepigsnowrevealedthatduringthepastthreemonthstheyhadtaughtthemselvestoreadandwritefromanoldspellingbookwhichhadbelongedtoMr.Jones’childrenandwhichhadbeenthrownontherubbishheap.Napoleonsentforpotsofblackandwhitepaintandled

ontothemainroad.ThenSnowball(foritwas


Snowballwhowasbestatwriting)tookabrushbetweenthetwoknucklesofhistrotter,paintedoutMANORFARMfromthetopbarofthegateandinitsplacepaintedANIMALFARM.Thiswastobethenameofthefarmfromnowonwards.Afterthistheywentbacktothefarmbuildings,whereSnowballandNapoleonsentforaladderwhichtheycausedtobesetagainsttheendwallofthebigbarn.TheyexplainedthatbytheirstudiesofthepastthreemonthsthepigshadsucceededinreducingtheprinciplesofAnimalismtoSevenCommandments.TheseSevenCommandmentswouldnowbeinscribedonthewall;theywouldformanunalterablelawbywhichalltheanimalsonAnimalFarmmustliveforeverafter.With

balancehimselfonaladder)Snowballclimbedupandsettowork,withSquealerafewrungsbelowhimholdingthepaint-pot.TheCommandmentswerewrittenonthetarredwallingreatwhitelettersthatcouldbereadthirtyyardsaway.Theyranthus:

friend.

Itwasveryneatlywritten,andexceptthat‘friend’waswritten‘freind’andoneofthe‘S’’wasthewrongwayround,thespellingwascorrectallthewaythrough.Snowballreaditaloudfor

incompleteagreement,andtheclevereronesatoncebegantolearntheCommandmentsbyheart. ‘Now,comrades,’criedSnowball,throwing

makeitapointofhonourtogetintheharvestmorequicklythanJonesandhismencoulddo.’ Butatthismomentthethreecows,whohadseemeduneasyforsometimepast,setupaloudlowing.Theyhadnotbeenmilkedfortwenty-fourhours,andtheirudderswerealmostbursting.

Afteralittlethought,thepigssentforbucketsandmilkedthecowsfairlysuccessfully,theirtrottersbeingwelladaptedtothistask.Soontherewere

manyoftheanimalslookedwithconsiderableinterest. ‘Whatisgoingtohappentoallthatmilk?’saidsomeone. ‘Jonesusedsometimestomixsomeofitinourmash,’saidoneofthehens. ‘Nevermindthemilk,comrades!’criedNapoleon,placinghimselfinfrontofthebuckets.‘Thatwillbeattendedto.Theharvestismoreimportant.ComradeSnowballwillleadtheway.Ishallfollowinafewminutes.Forward,comrades!Thehayiswaiting.’ Sotheanimalstroopeddowntothe

backintheeveningitwasnoticedthatthemilkhaddisappeared.

III Howtheytoiledandsweatedtogetthehayin!Buttheireffortswererewarded,fortheharvestwasanevenbiggersuccessthantheyhadhoped. Sometimestheworkwashard;theimplementshadbeendesignedforhumanbeingsandnotforanimals,anditwasagreatdrawbackthatnoanimalwasabletouseanytoolthatinvolvedstandingonhishindlegs.Butthepigsweresocleverthattheycouldthinkof

understoodthebusinessofmowingandrakingfarbetterthanJonesandhismenhadeverdone.Thepigsdidnotactuallywork,butdirectedandsupervisedtheothers.Withtheirsuperiorknowledgeitwasnaturalthattheyshouldassumetheleadership.BoxerandCloverwouldharnessthemselvestothecutterorthehorse-rake(nobitsorreinswereneededinthesedays,ofcourse)

withapigwalkingbehindandcallingout‘Geeup,comrade!’or‘Whoaback,comrade!’asthecasemightbe.Andeveryanimaldowntothehumblestworkedatturningthehayandgatheringit.Even


theducksandhenstoiledtoandfroalldayinthesun,carryingtinywispsofhayintheirbeaks.In

timethanithadusuallytakenJonesandhismen.Moreover,itwasthebiggestharvestthatthefarmhadeverseen.Therewasnowastagewhatever;thehensandduckswiththeirsharpeyeshadgathereduptheverylaststalk.Andnotananimalonthefarmhadstolensomuchasamouthful. Allthroughthatsummertheworkofthefarmwentlikeclockwork.Theanimalswerehappyastheyhadneverconceiveditpossibletobe.Everymouthfuloffoodwasanacutepositivepleasure,nowthatitwastrulytheirownfood,producedbythemselvesandforthemselves,notdoledouttothembyagrudgingmaster.Withtheworthlessparasiticalhumanbeingsgone,therewasmoreforeveryonetoeat.Therewasmoreleisuretoo,inexperiencedthoughtheanimals

instance,laterintheyear,whentheyharvestedthecorn,theyhadtotreaditoutintheancientstyleandblowawaythechaffwiththeirbreath,sincethefarmpossessednothreshingmachine—butthepigswiththeirclevernessandBoxerwithhistremendousmusclesalwayspulledthemthrough.Boxerwastheadmirationofeverybody.HehadbeenahardworkereveninJones’time,butnowheseemedmorelikethreehorsesthanone;thereweredayswhentheentireworkofthefarmseemedtorestonhismightyshoulders.Frommorningtonighthewaspushingandpulling,alwaysatthespotwheretheworkwashardest.Hehadmadeanarrangementwithoneofthecockerelstocallhiminthemorningshalfanhourearlierthananyoneelse,andwouldputinsomevolunteerlabouratwhateverseemedtobemostneeded,beforetheregularday’sworkbegan.Hisanswertoeveryproblem,everysetback,was‘Iwillworkharder!’—whichhehadadoptedashispersonalmotto. Buteveryoneworkedaccordingtohiscapacity.Thehensandducks,forinstance,saved

thestraygrains.Nobodystole,nobodygrumbledoverhisrations,thequarrellingandbitingandjealousywhichhadbeennormalfeaturesoflifeintheolddayshadalmostdisappeared.Nobody

shirked—oralmostnobody.Mollie,itwastrue,wasnotgoodatgettingupinthemornings,andhadawayofleavingworkearlyonthegroundthattherewasastoneinherhoof.Andthebehaviourofthecatwassomewhatpeculiar.Itwassoonnoticedthatwhentherewasworktobedonethecatcouldneverbefound.Shewouldvanishforhoursonend,andthenreappearatmeal-times,orintheeveningafterworkwasover,asthoughnothinghadhappened.Butshealwaysmadesuchexcellentexcuses,andpurredsoaffectionately,thatitwasimpossiblenottobelieveinhergoodintentions.OldBenjamin,thedonkey,seemedquiteunchangedsincetheRebellion.HedidhisworkinthesameslowobstinatewayashehaddoneitinJones’time,nevershirkingandnevervolunteeringforworkeither.AbouttheRebellionanditsresultshewouldexpressnoopinion.WhenaskedwhetherhewasnothappiernowthatJoneswasgone,hewouldsayonly‘Donkeyslivealongtime.Noneofyouhaseverseenadeaddonkey,’andtheothershadtobecontentwiththiscrypticanswer. OnSundaystherewasnowork.Breakfastwasanhourlaterthanusual,andafterbreakfasttherewasaceremonywhichwasobservedeveryweekwithoutfail.Firstcamethehoistingofthe

anoldgreentableclothofMrs.Jones’andhadpaintedonitahoofandahorninwhite.This

thefutureRepublicoftheAnimalswhichwould

animalstroopedintothebigbarnforageneralassemblywhichwasknownastheMeeting.Heretheworkofthecomingweekwasplannedoutandresolutionswereputforwardanddebated.Itwasalwaysthepigswhoputforwardtheresolutions.Theotheranimalsunderstoodhowtovote,butcouldneverthinkofanyresolutionsoftheirown.SnowballandNapoleonwerebyfarthemostactiveinthedebates.Butitwasnoticedthatthesetwowereneverinagreement:whateversuggestioneitherofthemmade,theothercould


becountedontoopposeit.Evenwhenitwasresolved—athingnoonecouldobjecttoinitself—tosetasidethesmallpaddockbehindtheorchardasahomeofrestforanimalswhowerepastwork,therewasastormydebateoverthecorrectretiringageforeachclassofanimal.TheMeetingalwaysendedwiththesingingofBeastsofEngland,andtheafternoonwasgivenuptorecreation. Thepigshadsetasidetheharness-roomasaheadquartersforthemselves.Here,intheevenings,theystudiedblacksmithing,carpentering,andothernecessaryartsfrombookswhichtheyhadbroughtoutofthefarmhouse.SnowballalsobusiedhimselfwithorganisingtheotheranimalsintowhathecalledAnimalCommittees.Hewasindefatigableatthis.HeformedtheEggProductionCommitteeforthehens,theCleanTailsLeagueforthecows,theWildComrades’Re-educationCommittee(theobjectofthiswastotametheratsandrabbits),theWhiterWoolMovementforthesheep,andvariousothers,besidesinstitutingclassesinreadingandwriting.Onthewhole,theseprojectswereafailure.Theattempttotamethewildcreatures,forinstance,brokedownalmostimmediately.Theycontinuedtobehaveverymuchasbefore,andwhentreatedwithgenerosity,simplytookadvantageofit.ThecatjoinedtheRe-educationCommitteeandwasveryactiveinitforsomedays.Shewasseenonedaysittingonaroofandtalkingtosomesparrowswhowerejustoutofherreach.Shewastellingthemthatallanimalswerenowcomradesandthatanysparrowwhochosecouldcomeandperchonherpaw;butthesparrowskepttheirdistance. Thereadingandwritingclasses,however,wereagreatsuccess.Bytheautumnalmosteveryanimalonthefarmwasliterateinsomedegree. Asforthepigs,theycouldalreadyreadandwriteperfectly.Thedogslearnedtoreadfairlywell,butwerenotinterestedinreadinganythingexcepttheSevenCommandments.Muriel,thegoat,couldreadsomewhatbetterthanthedogs,andsometimesusedtoreadtotheothersintheeveningsfromscrapsofnewspaperwhichshefoundontherubbishheap.Benjamincouldreadaswellasanypig,butneverexercisedhisfaculty.

Sofarasheknew,hesaid,therewasnothingworthreading.Cloverlearntthewholealphabet,butcouldnotputwordstogether.BoxercouldnotgetbeyondtheletterD.HewouldtraceoutA,B,C,D,inthedustwithhisgreathoof,andthenwouldstandstaringattheletterswithhisearsback,sometimesshakinghisforelock,tryingwithallhismighttorememberwhatcamenextandneversucceeding.Onseveraloccasions,indeed,hedidlearnE,F,G,H,butbythetimeheknewthem,itwasalwaysdiscoveredthathehadforgottenA,B,C,andD.Finallyhedecidedtobecontentwiththe

ortwiceeverydaytorefreshhismemory.Mollierefusedtolearnanybutthesixletterswhichspeltherownname.Shewouldformtheseveryneatlyoutofpiecesoftwig,andwouldthendecorate

admiringthem. NoneoftheotheranimalsonthefarmcouldgetfurtherthantheletterA.Itwasalsofoundthatthestupideranimals,suchasthesheep,hens,andducks,wereunabletolearntheSevenCommandmentsbyheart.AftermuchthoughtSnowballdeclaredthattheSevenCommandmentscouldineffectbereducedtoasinglemaxim,namely:‘Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad.’This,hesaid,containedtheessentialprincipleofAnimalism.Whoeverhadthoroughlygraspedit

alsohadtwolegs,butSnowballprovedtothemthatthiswasnotso. ‘Abird’swing,comrades,’hesaid,‘isanorganofpropulsionandnotofmanipulation.Itshouldthereforeberegardedasaleg.Thedistinguishingmarkofmanisthehand,theinstrumentwithwhichhedoesallhismischief.’ ThebirdsdidnotunderstandSnowball’slongwords,buttheyacceptedhisexplanation,andallthehumbleranimalssettoworktolearnthenewmaximbyheart.FOURLEGSGOOD,TWOLEGSBAD,wasinscribedontheendwallofthebarn,abovetheSevenCommandmentsandinbiggerlettersWhentheyhadoncegotitbyheart,thesheepdevelopedagreatlikingforthismaxim,

startbleating


‘Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad!Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad!’andkeepitupforhoursonend,nevergrowingtiredofit. NapoleontooknointerestinSnowball’scommittees.Hesaidthattheeducationoftheyoungwasmoreimportantthananythingthatcouldbedoneforthosewhowerealreadygrownup.IthappenedthatJessieandBluebellhadbothwhelpedsoonafterthehayharvest,givingbirthbetweenthemtoninesturdypuppies.Assoonastheywereweaned,Napoleontookthemawayfromtheirmothers,sayingthathewouldmakehimselfresponsiblefortheireducation.Hetookthemupintoaloftwhichcouldonlybereachedbyaladderfromtheharness-room,andtherekepttheminsuchseclusionthattherestofthefarmsoonforgottheirexistence. Themysteryofwherethemilkwenttowassoonclearedup.Itwasmixedeverydayintothepigs’mash.Theearlyappleswerenowripening,andthegrassoftheorchardwaslitteredwithwindfalls.Theanimalshadassumedasamatterofcoursethatthesewouldbesharedoutequally;oneday,however,theorderwentforththatallthewindfallsweretobecollectedandbroughttotheharness-roomfortheuseofthepigs.Atthissomeoftheotheranimalsmurmured,butitwasnouse.Allthepigswereinfullagreementonthispoint,evenSnowballandNapoleon.Squealerwassenttomakethenecessaryexplanationstotheothers. ‘Comrades!’hecried.‘Youdonotimagine,Ihope,thatwepigsaredoingthisinaspiritof

dislikemilkandapples.Idislikethemmyself.Oursoleobjectintakingthesethingsistopreserveourhealth.Milkandapples(thishasbeenprovedbyScience,comrades)containsubstancesabsolutelynecessarytothewell-beingofapig.Wepigsarebrainworkers.Thewholemanagementandorganisationofthisfarmdependonus.Dayandnightwearewatchingoveryourwelfare.Itisforyoursakethatwedrinkthatmilkandeatthoseapples.Doyouknowwhatwouldhappenifwepigsfailedinourduty?Joneswouldcomeback!Yes,Joneswouldcomeback!Surely,comrades,’criedSquealeralmostpleadingly,skippingfromsidetosideandwhiskinghistail,‘surelythereis

nooneamongyouwhowantstoseeJonescomeback?’ Nowiftherewasonethingthattheanimalswerecompletelycertainof,itwasthattheydidnotwantJonesback.Whenitwasputtotheminthislight,theyhadnomoretosay.Theimportanceofkeepingthepigsingoodhealthwasalltooobvious.Soitwasagreedwithoutfurtherargumentthatthemilkandthewindfallapples(andalsothemaincropofappleswhentheyripened)shouldbereservedforthepigsalone.

IV BythelatesummerthenewsofwhathadhappenedonAnimalFarmhadspreadacrosshalfthecounty.EverydaySnowballandNapoleonsent

minglewiththeanimalsonneighbouringfarms,tellthemthestoryoftheRebellion,andteachthemthetuneofBeastsofEngland. MostofthistimeMr.JoneshadspentsittinginthetaproomoftheRedLionatWillingdon,complainingtoanyonewhowouldlistenofthemonstrousinjusticehehadsufferedinbeingturnedoutofhispropertybyapackofgood-for-nothinganimals.Theotherfarmerssympathisedinprinciple,buttheydidnotat

wassecretlywonderingwhetherhecouldnotsomehowturnJones’misfortunetohisownadvantage.ItwasluckythattheownersofthetwofarmswhichadjoinedAnimalFarmwereonpermanentlybadterms.Oneofthem,whichwasnamedFoxwood,wasalarge,neglected,old-fashionedfarm,muchovergrownbywoodland,withallitspastureswornoutanditshedgesinadisgracefulcondition.Itsowner,Mr.Pilkington,wasaneasy-goinggentlemanfarmerwhospent

totheseason.Theotherfarm,whichwascalled

ownerwasaMr.Frederick,atough,shrewdman,perpetuallyinvolvedinlawsuitsandwithanamefordrivinghardbargains.Thesetwodislikedeach

cometoanyagreement,evenindefenceoftheirowninterests.


Nevertheless,theywereboththoroughlyfrightenedbytherebelliononAnimalFarm,andveryanxioustopreventtheirownanimalsfrom

tolaughtoscorntheideaofanimalsmanagingafarmforthemselves.Thewholethingwouldbeoverinafortnight,theysaid.TheyputitaboutthattheanimalsontheManorFarm(theyinsistedoncallingittheManorFarm;theywouldnottoleratethename‘AnimalFarm’)wereperpetually

starvingtodeath.Whentimepassedandtheanimalshadevidentlynotstarvedtodeath,FrederickandPilkingtonchangedtheirtuneandbegantotalkoftheterriblewickednessthatnow

theanimalstherepractisedcannibalism,torturedoneanotherwithred-hothorseshoes,andhadtheirfemalesincommon.ThiswaswhatcameofrebellingagainstthelawsofNature,FrederickandPilkingtonsaid. However,thesestorieswereneverfullybelieved.Rumoursofawonderfulfarm,wherethehumanbeingshadbeenturnedoutandtheanimalsmanagedtheirownaffairs,continuedtocirculateinvagueanddistortedforms,andthroughoutthatyearawaveofrebelliousnessranthroughthecountryside.Bullswhichhadalwaysbeentractablesuddenlyturnedsavage,sheepbrokedownhedgesanddevouredtheclover,cowskickedthepailover,huntersrefusedtheirfencesandshottheirridersontotheotherside.Aboveall,thetuneandeventhewordsofBeastsofEnglandwereknowneverywhere.Ithadspreadwithastonishingspeed.Thehumanbeingscouldnotcontaintheirragewhentheyheardthissong,thoughtheypretendedtothinkitmerelyridiculous.Theycouldnotunderstand,theysaid,howevenanimalscouldbringthemselvestosingsuchcontemptiblerubbish.Anyanimalcaught

yetthesongwasirrepressible.Theblackbirdswhistleditinthehedges,thepigeonscooeditintheelms,itgotintothedinofthesmithiesandthetuneofthechurchbells.Andwhenthehumanbeingslistenedtoit,theysecretlytrembled,hearinginitaprophecyoftheirfuturedoom. EarlyinOctober,whenthecornwascut

andstackedandsomeofitwasalreadythreshed,

andalightedintheyardofAnimalFarminthewildestexcitement.Jonesandallhismen,with

comingupthecart-trackthatledtothefarm.Theywereallcarryingsticks,exceptJones,whowasmarchingaheadwithaguninhishands.Obviouslytheyweregoingtoattempttherecaptureofthefarm. Thishadlongbeenexpected,andallpreparationshadbeenmade.Snowball,whohadstudiedanoldbookofJuliusCaesar’scampaignswhichhehadfoundinthefarmhouse,wasinchargeofthedefensiveoperations.Hegavehisordersquickly,andinacoupleofminuteseveryanimalwasathispost. Asthehumanbeingsapproachedthefarm

andfrooverthemen’sheadsandmuteduponthemfrommid-air;andwhilethemenweredealingwiththis,thegeese,whohadbeenhidingbehindthehedge,rushedoutandpeckedviciouslyatthecalvesoftheirlegs.However,thiswasonlyalightskirmishingmanoeuvre,intendedtocreatealittledisorder,andthemeneasilydrovethegeeseoffwiththeirsticks.Snowballnowlaunchedhissecondlineofattack.Muriel,Benjamin,andallthesheep,withSnowballattheheadofthem,rushedforwardandproddedandbuttedthemenfromeveryside,whileBenjaminturnedaroundandlashedatthemwithhissmallhoofs.Butonceagainthemen,withtheirsticksandtheirhobnailedboots,weretoostrongforthem;andsuddenly,atasquealfromSnowball,whichwasthesignalforretreat,alltheanimalsturnedand

Themengaveashoutoftriumph.They

theyrushedafterthemindisorder.ThiswasjustwhatSnowballhadintended.Assoonastheywerewellinsidetheyard,thethreehorses,thethreecows,andtherestofthepigs,whohadbeenlyinginambushinthecowshed,suddenlyemergedintheirrear,cuttingthemoff.Snowballnowgavethesignalforthecharge.Hehimselfdashedstraight


forJones.Jonessawhimcoming,raisedhisgun

Snowball’sback,andasheepdroppeddead.

hands.ButthemostterrifyingspectacleofallwasBoxer,rearinguponhishindlegsandstrikingoutwithhisgreatiron-shodhoofslikeastallion.His

theskullandstretchedhimlifelessinthemud.Atthesight,severalmendroppedtheirsticksandtriedtorun.Panicovertookthem,andthenextmomentalltheanimalstogetherwerechasingthemroundandroundtheyard.Theyweregored,kicked,bitten,trampledon.Therewasnotananimalonthefarmthatdidnottakevengeanceonthemafterhisownfashion.Eventhecatsuddenlyleaptoffaroofontoacowman’sshouldersandsankherclawsinhisneck,atwhichheyelledhorribly.Atamomentwhentheopeningwasclear,themenweregladenoughtorushoutoftheyardandmakeaboltforthemainroad.Andso

ignominiousretreatbythesamewayastheyhad

peckingattheircalvesalltheway. Allthemenweregoneexceptone.BackintheyardBoxerwaspawingwithhishoofatthestable-ladwholayfacedowninthemud,tryingtoturnhimover.Theboydidnotstir. ‘Heisdead,’saidBoxersorrowfully.‘Ihadnointentionofdoingthat.IforgotthatIwaswearingironshoes.WhowillbelievethatIdidnotdothisonpurpose?’ ‘Nosentimentality,comrade!’criedSnowballfromwhosewoundsthebloodwasstilldripping.‘Wariswar.Theonlygoodhumanbeingisadeadone.’ ‘Ihavenowishtotakelife,notevenhumanlife,’repeatedBoxer,andhiseyeswerefulloftears. ‘WhereisMollie?’exclaimedsomebody. Mollieinfactwasmissing.Foramomenttherewasgreatalarm;itwasfearedthatthemenmighthaveharmedherinsomeway,orevencarriedheroffwiththem.Intheend,however,shewasfoundhidinginherstallwithherheadburied

amongthehayinthemanger.Shehadtakento

otherscamebackfromlookingforher,itwas

stunned,hadalreadyrecoveredandmadeoff. Theanimalshadnowreassembledinthewildestexcitement,eachrecountinghisownexploitsinthebattleatthetopofhisvoice.Animpromptucelebrationofthevictorywasheld

Englandwassunganumberoftimes,thenthesheepwhohadbeenkilledwasgivenasolemnfuneral,ahawthornbushbeingplantedonhergrave.AtthegravesideSnowballmadealittlespeech,emphasisingtheneedforallanimalstobereadytodieforAnimalFarmifneedbe. Theanimalsdecidedunanimouslytocreateamilitarydecoration,‘AnimalHero,FirstClass,’whichwasconferredthereandthenonSnowballandBoxer.Itconsistedofabrassmedal(theywerereallysomeoldhorse-brasseswhichhadbeenfoundintheharness-room),tobewornonSundaysandholidays.Therewasalso‘AnimalHero,SecondClass,’whichwasconferredposthumouslyonthedeadsheep. Therewasmuchdiscussionastowhatthebattleshouldbecalled.Intheend,itwasnamedtheBattleoftheCowshed,sincethatwaswheretheambushhadbeensprung.Mr.Jones’gunhadbeenfoundlyinginthemud,anditwasknownthattherewasasupplyofcartridgesinthefarmhouse.ItwasdecidedtosetthegunupatthefootoftheFlagstaff,likeapieceofartillery,andto

theanniversaryoftheBattleoftheCowshed,andonceonMidsummerDay,theanniversaryoftheRebellion.

V Aswinterdrewon,Molliebecamemoreandmoretroublesome.Shewaslateforworkeverymorningandexcusedherselfbysayingthatshehadoverslept,andshecomplainedofmysteriouspains,althoughherappetitewasexcellent.Oneverykindofpretextshewouldrunawayfromworkandgotothedrinkingpool,whereshewouldstandfoolishlygazingather


rumoursofsomethingmoreserious.Oneday,as

longtailandchewingatastalkofhay,Clovertookheraside. ‘Mollie,’shesaid,‘Ihavesomethingveryserioustosaytoyou.ThismorningIsawyoulookingoverthehedgethatdividesAnimalFarmfromFoxwood.OneofMr.Pilkington’smenwasstandingontheothersideofthehedge.And—Iwasalongwayaway,butIamalmostcertainIsawthis—hewastalkingtoyouandyouwereallowinghimtostrokeyournose.Whatdoesthatmean,Mollie?’ ‘Hedidn’t!Iwasn’t!Itisn’ttrue!’criedMollie,beginningtopranceaboutandpawtheground. ‘Mollie!Lookmeintheface.Doyougivemeyourwordofhonourthatthatmanwasnotstrokingyournose?’ ‘Itisn’ttrue!’repeatedMollie,butshecouldnotlookCloverintheface,andthenextmomentshetooktoherheelsandgallopedaway

AthoughtstruckClover.Withoutsayinganythingtotheothers,shewenttoMollie’sstallandturnedoverthestrawwithherhoof.Hiddenunderthestrawwasalittlepileoflumpsugarandseveralbunchesofribbonofdifferentcolours. ThreedayslaterMolliedisappeared.Forsomeweeksnothingwasknownofherwhereabouts,thenthepigeonsreportedthattheyhadseenherontheothersideofWillingdon.Shewasbetweentheshaftsofasmartdogcartpaintedredandblack,whichwasstandingoutsideapublic-house.Afatred-facedmanincheckbreechesandgaiters,wholookedlikeapublican,wasstrokinghernoseandfeedingherwithsugar.Hercoatwasnewlyclippedandsheworeascarletribbonroundherforelock.Sheappearedtobeenjoyingherself,sothepigeonssaid.NoneoftheanimalsevermentionedMollieagain. InJanuarytherecamebitterlyhardweather.Theearthwaslikeiron,andnothing

wereheldinthebigbarn,andthepigsoccupiedthemselveswithplanningouttheworkofthecomingseason.Ithadcometobeacceptedthat

thepigs,whoweremanifestlyclevererthantheotheranimals,shoulddecideallquestionsoffarm

byamajorityvote.ThisarrangementwouldhaveworkedwellenoughifithadnotbeenforthedisputesbetweenSnowballandNapoleon.Thesetwodisagreedateverypointwheredisagreementwaspossible.Ifoneofthemsuggestedsowingabiggeracreagewithbarley,theotherwascertaintodemandabiggeracreageofoats,andifone

rightforcabbages,theotherwoulddeclarethatitwasuselessforanythingexceptroots.Eachhadhisownfollowing,andthereweresomeviolentdebates.AttheMeetingsSnowballoftenwonoverthemajoritybyhisbrilliantspeeches,butNapoleonwasbetteratcanvassingsupportforhimselfinbetweentimes.Hewasespeciallysuccessfulwiththesheep.Oflatethesheephadtakentobleating‘Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad’bothinandoutofseason,andtheyofteninterruptedtheMeetingwiththis.Itwasnoticedthattheywereespeciallyliabletobreakinto‘Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad’atcrucialmomentsinSnowball’sspeeches.SnowballhadmadeaclosestudyofsomebacknumbersoftheFarmerandStockbreederwhichhehadfoundinthefarmhouse,andwasfullofplansforinnovations

drains,silage,andbasicslag,andhadworkedoutacomplicatedschemeforalltheanimalstodrop

everyday,tosavethelabourofcartage.Napoleonproducednoschemesofhisown,butsaidquietlythatSnowball’swouldcometonothing,andseemedtobebidinghistime.Butofalltheircontroversies,nonewassobitterastheonethattookplaceoverthewindmill. Inthelongpasture,notfarfromthefarmbuildings,therewasasmallknollwhichwasthehighestpointonthefarm.Aftersurveyingtheground,Snowballdeclaredthatthiswasjusttheplaceforawindmill,whichcouldbemadetooperateadynamoandsupplythefarmwithelectricalpower.Thiswouldlightthestallsandwarmtheminwinter,andwouldalsorunacircularsaw,achaff-cutter,amangel-slicer,andanelectricmilkingmachine.Theanimalshad


neverheardofanythingofthiskindbefore(forthefarmwasanold-fashionedoneandhadonlythemostprimitivemachinery),andtheylistenedinastonishmentwhileSnowballconjureduppicturesoffantasticmachineswhichwoulddotheirworkforthemwhiletheygrazedattheir

readingandconversation. WithinafewweeksSnowball’splansforthewindmillwerefullyworkedout.ThemechanicaldetailscamemostlyfromthreebookswhichhadbelongedtoMr.Jones—OneThousandUsefulThingstoDoAbouttheHouse,EveryManHisOwnBricklayer,andElectricityforBeginners.Snowballusedashisstudyashedwhichhadoncebeenusedforincubatorsandhad

Hewasclosetedthereforhoursatatime.Withhisbooksheldopenbyastone,andwithapieceofchalkgrippedbetweentheknucklesofhistrotter,hewouldmoverapidlytoandfro,drawinginlineafterlineandutteringlittlewhimpersofexcitement.Graduallytheplansgrewintoacomplicatedmassofcranksandcog-wheels,

animalsfoundcompletelyunintelligiblebutveryimpressive.AllofthemcametolookatSnowball’sdrawingsatleastonceaday.Eventhehensandduckscame,andwereatpainsnottotreadonthechalkmarks.OnlyNapoleonheldaloof.Hehaddeclaredhimselfagainstthewindmillfromthestart.Oneday,however,hearrivedunexpectedlytoexaminetheplans.Hewalkedheavilyroundtheshed,lookedcloselyateverydetailoftheplansandsnuffedatthemonceortwice,thenstoodforalittlewhilecontemplatingthemoutofthecornerofhiseye;thensuddenlyheliftedhisleg,urinatedovertheplans,andwalkedoutwithoututteringaword. Thewholefarmwasdeeplydividedonthesubjectofthewindmill.Snowballdidnotdeny

wouldhavetobecarriedandbuiltupintowalls,thenthesailswouldhavetobemadeandafterthattherewouldbeneedfordynamosandcables.(Howtheseweretobeprocured,Snowballdidnotsay.)Buthemaintainedthatitcouldallbedoneinayear.Andthereafter,hedeclared,somuchlabour

wouldbesavedthattheanimalswouldonlyneedtoworkthreedaysaweek.Napoleon,ontheotherhand,arguedthatthegreatneedofthemomentwastoincreasefoodproduction,andthatiftheywastedtimeonthewindmilltheywouldallstarvetodeath.Theanimalsformedthemselvesintotwofactionsundertheslogan,‘VoteforSnowballandthethree-dayweek’and‘VoteforNapoleonandthefullmanger.’Benjaminwastheonlyanimalwhodidnotsidewitheitherfaction.Herefusedtobelieveeitherthatfoodwouldbecomemoreplentifulorthatthewindmillwouldsavework.Windmillornowindmill,hesaid,lifewouldgoonasithadalwaysgoneon—thatis,badly. Apartfromthedisputesoverthewindmill,therewasthequestionofthedefenceofthefarm.ItwasfullyrealisedthatthoughthehumanbeingshadbeendefeatedintheBattleoftheCowshedtheymightmakeanotherandmoredeterminedattempttorecapturethefarmandreinstateMr.Jones.Theyhadallthemorereasonfordoingsobecausethenewsoftheirdefeathadspreadacrossthecountrysideandmadetheanimalsontheneighbouringfarmsmorerestivethanever.Asusual,SnowballandNapoleonwereindisagreement.AccordingtoNapoleon,whatthe

trainthemselvesintheuseofthem.AccordingtoSnowball,theymustsendoutmoreandmorepigeonsandstiruprebellionamongtheanimalsontheotherfarms.Theonearguedthatiftheycouldnotdefendthemselvestheywereboundtobeconquered,theotherarguedthatifrebellionshappenedeverywheretheywouldhavenoneed

Napoleon,thentoSnowball,andcouldnotmakeuptheirmindswhichwasright;indeed,theyalwaysfoundthemselvesinagreementwiththeonewhowasspeakingatthemoment. AtlastthedaycamewhenSnowball’splanswerecompleted.AttheMeetingonthefollowingSundaythequestionofwhetherornottobeginworkonthewindmillwastobeputtothevote.Whentheanimalshadassembledinthebigbarn,Snowballstoodupand,thoughoccasionallyinterruptedbybleatingfromthesheep,setforthhisreasonsforadvocatingthebuildingofthewindmill.ThenNapoleonstoodupto


reply.Hesaidveryquietlythatthewindmillwasnonsenseandthatheadvisednobodytovoteforit,andpromptlysatdownagain;hehadspokenforbarelythirtyseconds,andseemedalmostindifferentastotheeffectheproduced.AtthisSnowballsprangtohisfeet,andshoutingdownthesheep,whohadbegunbleatingagain,brokeintoapassionateappealinfavourofthewindmill.Untilnowtheanimalshadbeenaboutequallydividedintheirsympathies,butinamomentSnowball’seloquencehadcarriedthemaway.InglowingsentenceshepaintedapictureofAnimalFarmasitmightbewhensordidlabourwasliftedfromtheanimals’backs.Hisimaginationhadnowrunfarbeyondchaff-cuttersandturnip-slicers.Electricity,hesaid,couldoperatethreshingmachines,ploughs,harrows,rollers,andreapersandbinders,besidessupplyingeverystallwithitsownelectriclight,hotandcoldwater,and

speaking,therewasnodoubtastowhichwaythevotewouldgo.ButjustatthismomentNapoleonstoodupand,castingapeculiarsidelonglookatSnowball,utteredahigh-pitchedwhimperofakindnoonehadeverheardhimutterbefore. Atthistherewasaterriblebayingsoundoutside,andnineenormousdogswearingbrass-studdedcollarscameboundingintothebarn.TheydashedstraightforSnowball,whoonlysprangfromhisplacejustintimetoescapetheirsnappingjaws.Inamomenthewasoutofthedoorandtheywereafterhim.Tooamazedandfrightenedtospeak,alltheanimalscrowdedthroughthedoortowatchthechase.Snowballwasracingacrossthelongpasturethatledtotheroad.Hewasrunningasonlyapigcanrun,butthedogswerecloseonhisheels.Suddenlyheslippedanditseemedcertainthattheyhadhim.Thenhewasupagain,runningfasterthanever,thenthedogsweregainingonhimagain.OneofthemallbutclosedhisjawsonSnowball’stail,butSnowballwhiskeditfreejustintime.Thenheputonanextraspurtand,withafewinchestospare,slippedthroughaholeinthehedgeandwasseennomore.

backintothebarn.Inamomentthedogscame

imaginewherethesecreaturescamefrom,buttheproblemwassoonsolved:theywerethepuppieswhomNapoleonhadtakenawayfromtheirmothersandrearedprivately.Thoughnotyetfull-

aswolves.TheykeptclosetoNapoleon.ItwasnoticedthattheywaggedtheirtailstohiminthesamewayastheotherdogshadbeenusedtodotoMr.Jones. Napoleon,withthedogsfollowinghim,nowmountedontotheraisedportionofthe

hisspeech.HeannouncedthatfromnowontheSunday-morningMeetingswouldcometoanend.Theywereunnecessary,hesaid,andwastedtime.Infutureallquestionsrelatingtotheworkingofthefarmwouldbesettledbyaspecialcommitteeofpigs,presidedoverbyhimself.Thesewouldmeetinprivateandafterwardscommunicatetheirdecisionstotheothers.Theanimalswouldstill

singBeastsofEngland,andreceivetheirordersfortheweek;buttherewouldbenomoredebates. InspiteoftheshockthatSnowball’sexpulsionhadgiventhem,theanimalsweredismayedbythisannouncement.Severalofthemwouldhaveprotestediftheycouldhavefoundtherightarguments.EvenBoxerwasvaguelytroubled.Hesethisearsback,shookhisforelockseveraltimes,andtriedhardtomarshalhisthoughts;butintheendhecouldnotthinkofanythingtosay.Someofthepigsthemselves,however,weremorearticulate.Fouryoungporkersinthefrontrowutteredshrillsquealsofdisapproval,andallfourofthemsprangtotheirfeetandbeganspeakingatonce.ButsuddenlythedogssittingroundNapoleonletoutdeep,menacinggrowls,andthepigsfellsilentandsatdownagain.Thenthesheepbrokeoutintoatremendousbleatingof‘Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad!’whichwentonfornearlyaquarterofanhourandputanendtoanychanceofdiscussion. AfterwardsSquealerwassentroundthefarmtoexplainthenewarrangementtotheothers. ‘Comrades,’hesaid,‘Itrustthatevery

ComradeNapoleonhasmadeintakingthisextra


labouruponhimself.Donotimagine,comrades,thatleadershipisapleasure!Onthecontrary,itisadeepandheavyresponsibility.Noonebelieves

animalsareequal.Hewouldbeonlytoohappytoletyoumakeyourdecisionsforyourselves.Butsometimesyoumightmakethewrongdecisions,comrades,andthenwhereshouldwebe?SupposeyouhaddecidedtofollowSnowball,withhismoonshineofwindmills—Snowball,who,aswenowknow,wasnobetterthanacriminal?’ ‘HefoughtbravelyattheBattleoftheCowshed,’saidsomebody. ‘Braveryisnotenough,’saidSquealer.‘Loyaltyandobediencearemoreimportant.AndastotheBattleoftheCowshed,Ibelievethetime

initwasmuchexaggerated.Discipline,comrades,irondiscipline!Thatisthewatchwordfortoday.Onefalsestep,andourenemieswouldbeuponus.Surely,comrades,youdonotwantJonesback?’ Onceagainthisargumentwasunanswerable.CertainlytheanimalsdidnotwantJonesback;iftheholdingofdebatesonSundaymorningswasliabletobringhimback,thenthedebatesmuststop.Boxer,whohadnowhadtimetothinkthingsover,voicedthegeneralfeelingbysaying:‘IfComradeNapoleonsaysit,itmustberight.’Andfromthenonheadoptedthemaxim,‘Napoleonisalwaysright,’inadditiontohisprivatemottoof‘Iwillworkharder.’ Bythistimetheweatherhadbrokenandthespringploughinghadbegun.TheshedwhereSnowballhaddrawnhisplansofthewindmillhadbeenshutupanditwasassumedthatthe

morningatteno’clocktheanimalsassembledinthebigbarntoreceivetheirordersforthe

hadbeendisinterredfromtheorchardandset

mannerbeforeenteringthebarn.Nowadaystheydidnotsitalltogetherastheyhaddoneinthepast.Napoleon,withSquealerandanotherpignamedMinimus,whohadaremarkablegiftforcomposingsongsandpoems,satonthe

frontoftheraisedplatform,withthenineyoungdogsformingasemicircleroundthem,andtheotherpigssittingbehind.Therestoftheanimalssatfacingtheminthemainbodyofthebarn.Napoleonreadouttheordersfortheweekinagruffsoldierlystyle,andafterasinglesingingofBeastsofEngland,alltheanimalsdispersed. OnthethirdSundayafterSnowball’sexpulsion,theanimalsweresomewhatsurprisedtohearNapoleonannouncethatthewindmillwastobebuiltafterall.Hedidnotgiveanyreasonforhavingchangedhismind,butmerelywarnedtheanimalsthatthisextrataskwouldmeanveryhardwork,itmightevenbenecessarytoreducetheirrations.Theplans,however,hadallbeenprepared,downtothelastdetail.Aspecialcommitteeofpigshadbeenatworkuponthemforthepastthreeweeks.Thebuildingofthewindmill,withvariousotherimprovements,wasexpectedtotaketwoyears. ThateveningSquealerexplainedprivatelytotheotheranimalsthatNapoleonhadneverinrealitybeenopposedtothewindmill.Onthecontrary,itwashewhohadadvocateditinthebeginning,andtheplanwhichSnowballhad

actuallybeenstolenfromamongNapoleon’spapers.Thewindmillwas,infact,Napoleon’sowncreation.Why,then,askedsomebody,hadhespokensostronglyagainstit?HereSquealerlookedverysly.That,hesaid,wasComradeNapoleon’scunning.Hehadseemedtoopposethewindmill,simplyasamanoeuvretogetridofSnowball,whowasadangerouscharacterand

theway,theplancouldgoforwardwithouthisinterference.This,said

Squealer,wassomethingcalledtactics.Herepeatedanumberoftimes,‘Tactics,comrades,tactics!’skippingroundandwhiskinghistailwithamerrylaugh.Theanimalswerenotcertainwhatthewordmeant,butSquealerspokesopersuasively,andthethreedogswhohappenedtobewithhimgrowledsothreateningly,thattheyacceptedhisexplanationwithoutfurtherquestions.


VI Allthatyeartheanimalsworkedlikeslaves.Buttheywerehappyintheirwork;they

themselvesandthoseoftheirkindwhowouldcomeafterthem,andnotforapackofidle,thievinghumanbeings. Throughoutthespringandsummertheyworkedasixty-hourweek,andinAugustNapoleonannouncedthattherewouldbeworkonSundayafternoonsaswell.Thisworkwasstrictlyvoluntary,butanyanimalwhoabsentedhimselffromitwouldhavehisrationsreducedbyhalf.Evenso,itwasfoundnecessarytoleavecertaintasksundone.Theharvestwasalittlelesssuccessfulthaninthepreviousyear,andtwo

intheearlysummerwerenotsownbecausetheploughinghadnotbeencompletedearlyenough.Itwaspossibletoforeseethatthecomingwinterwouldbeahardone. Thewindmillpresentedunexpected

onthefarm,andplentyofsandandcementhadbeenfoundinoneoftheouthouses,sothatallthematerialsforbuildingwereathand.Butthe

howtobreakupthestoneintopiecesofsuitablesize.Thereseemednowayofdoingthisexceptwithpicksandcrowbars,whichnoanimalcoulduse,becausenoanimalcouldstandonhishindlegs.Onlyafterweeksofvaineffortdidtherightideaoccurtosomebody—namely,toutilisetheforceofgravity.Hugeboulders,fartoobigtobeusedastheywere,werelyingalloverthebedofthequarry.Theanimalslashedropesroundthese,andthenalltogether,cows,horses,sheep,anyanimalthatcouldlayholdoftherope—eventhepigssometimesjoinedinatcriticalmoments—theydraggedthemwithdesperateslownessuptheslopetothetopofthequarry,wheretheyweretoppledovertheedge,toshattertopiecesbelow.Transportingthestonewhenitwasoncebrokenwascomparativelysimple.Thehorsescarrieditoffincart-loads,thesheepdraggedsingleblocks,evenMurielandBenjaminyokedthemselves

intoanoldgoverness-cartanddidtheirshare.

accumulated,andthenthebuildingbegan,underthesuperintendenceofthepigs. Butitwasaslow,laboriousprocess.Frequentlyittookawholedayofexhaustingefforttodragasinglebouldertothetopofthequarry,andsometimeswhenitwaspushedovertheedgeitfailedtobreak.NothingcouldhavebeenachievedwithoutBoxer,whosestrengthseemedequaltothatofalltherestoftheanimalsputtogether.Whentheboulderbegantoslipandthe

draggeddownthehill,itwasalwaysBoxerwhostrainedhimselfagainsttheropeandbroughtthebouldertoastop.Toseehimtoilinguptheslopeinchbyinch,hisbreathcomingfast,thetipsofhishoofsclawingattheground,andhisgreat

admiration.Cloverwarnedhimsometimestobecarefulnottooverstrainhimself,butBoxerwouldneverlistentoher.Histwoslogans,‘Iwillworkharder’and‘Napoleonisalwaysright,’seemedto

madearrangementswiththecockereltocallhimthree-quartersofanhourearlierinthemorningsinsteadofhalfanhour.Andinhissparemoments,ofwhichtherewerenotmanynowadays,hewouldgoalonetothequarry,collectaloadofbrokenstone,anddragitdowntothesiteofthewindmillunassisted. Theanimalswerenotbadlyoffthroughoutthatsummer,inspiteofthehardnessoftheirwork.IftheyhadnomorefoodthantheyhadhadinJones’day,atleasttheydidnothaveless.Theadvantageofonlyhavingtofeedthemselves,and

beingsaswell,wassogreatthatitwouldhavetakenalotoffailurestooutweighit.Andinmanywaystheanimalmethodofdoingthingswasmore

forinstance,couldbedonewithathoroughnessimpossibletohumanbeings.Andagain,sincenoanimalnowstole,itwasunnecessarytofenceoffpasturefromarableland,whichsavedalotoflabourontheupkeepofhedgesandgates.Nevertheless,asthesummerworeon,variousunforeseenshortagesbegantomakethemselves


dogbiscuits,andironforthehorses’shoes,noneofwhichcouldbeproducedonthefarm.Later

machineryforthewindmill.Howtheseweretobeprocured,noonewasabletoimagine. OneSundaymorning,whentheanimalsassembledtoreceivetheirorders,Napoleonannouncedthathehaddecideduponanewpolicy.Fromnowon-wardsAnimalFarmwouldengageintradewiththeneighbouringfarms:not,ofcourse,foranycommercialpurpose,butsimplyinordertoobtaincertainmaterialswhichwereurgentlynecessary.Theneedsofthewindmillmustoverrideeverythingelse,hesaid.Hewasthereforemakingarrangementstosellastackofhayandpartofthecurrentyear’swheatcrop,andlateron,ifmoremoneywereneeded,itwouldhavetobemadeupbythesaleofeggs,forwhichtherewasalwaysamarketinWillingdon.The

astheirownspecialcontributiontowardsthebuildingofthewindmill. Onceagaintheanimalswereconsciousofavagueuneasiness.Nevertohaveanydealingswithhumanbeings,nevertoengageintrade,nevertomakeuseofmoney—hadnotthesebeenamongtheearliestresolutionspassedat

expelled?Alltheanimalsrememberedpassingsuchresolutions:oratleasttheythoughtthattheyrememberedit.ThefouryoungpigswhohadprotestedwhenNapoleonabolishedtheMeetingsraisedtheirvoicestimidly,buttheywerepromptlysilencedbyatremendousgrowlingfromthedogs.Then,asusual,thesheepbrokeinto‘Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad!’andthemomentaryawkwardnesswassmoothedover.FinallyNapoleonraisedhistrotterforsilenceandannouncedthathehadalreadymadeallthearrangements.Therewouldbenoneedforanyoftheanimalstocomeincontactwithhumanbeings,whichwouldclearlybemostundesirable.Heintendedtotakethewholeburdenuponhisownshoulders.AMr.Whymper,asolicitorlivinginWillingdon,hadagreedtoactasintermediarybetweenAnimalFarmandtheoutsideworld,

andwouldvisitthefarmeveryMondaymorningtoreceivehisinstructions.Napoleonendedhisspeechwithhisusualcryof‘LongliveAnimalFarm!’andafterthesingingofBeastsofEnglandtheanimalsweredismissed. AfterwardsSquealermadearoundofthefarmandsettheanimals’mindsatrest.Heassuredthemthattheresolutionagainstengagingintradeandusingmoneyhadneverbeenpassed,orevensuggested.Itwaspureimagination,probablytraceableinthebeginningtoliescirculatedbySnowball.Afewanimalsstillfeltfaintlydoubtful,butSquealeraskedthemshrewdly,‘Areyoucertainthatthisisnotsomethingthatyouhavedreamed,comrades?Haveyouanyrecordofsucharesolution?Isitwrittendownanywhere?’Andsinceitwascertainlytruethatnothingofthekindexistedin

beenmistaken. EveryMondayMr.Whympervisitedthefarmashadbeenarranged.Hewasasly-lookinglittlemanwithsidewhiskers,asolicitorinaverysmallwayofbusiness,butsharpenoughtohaverealisedearlierthananyoneelsethatAnimalFarmwouldneedabrokerandthatthecommissionswouldbeworthhaving.Theanimalswatchedhiscomingandgoingwithakindofdread,andavoidedhimasmuchaspossible.Nevertheless,thesightofNapoleon,onallfours,deliveringorderstoWhymper,whostoodontwolegs,rousedtheirprideandpartlyreconciledthemtothenewarrangement.Theirrelationswiththehumanracewerenownotquitethesameastheyhadbeenbefore.ThehumanbeingsdidnothateAnimalFarmanylessnowthatitwasprospering;indeed,theyhateditmorethanever.Everyhumanbeinghelditasanarticleoffaiththatthefarmwouldgobankruptsoonerorlater,and,aboveall,thatthewindmillwouldbeafailure.Theywouldmeetinthepublic-housesandprovetooneanotherbymeansofdiagramsthatthewindmillwasboundtofalldown,orthatifitdidstandup,thenthatitwouldneverwork.Andyet,againsttheirwill,theyhaddevelopedacertain

weremanagingtheirownaffairs.OnesymptomofthiswasthattheyhadbeguntocallAnimal


FarmbyitspropernameandceasedtopretendthatitwascalledtheManorFarm.TheyhadalsodroppedtheirchampionshipofJones,whohadgivenuphopeofgettinghisfarmbackandgonetoliveinanotherpartofthecounty.ExceptthroughWhymper,therewasasyetnocontactbetweenAnimalFarmandtheoutsideworld,buttherewereconstantrumoursthatNapoleonwas

eitherwithMr.PilkingtonofFoxwoodorwith

noticed,withbothsimultaneously. Itwasaboutthistimethatthepigssuddenlymovedintothefarmhouseandtookuptheirresidencethere.Againtheanimalsseemedtorememberthataresolutionagainstthishadbeenpassedintheearlydays,andagainSquealerwasabletoconvincethemthatthiswasnotthecase.Itwasabsolutelynecessary,hesaid,thatthepigs,whowerethebrainsofthefarm,shouldhaveaquietplacetoworkin.ItwasalsomoresuitedtothedignityoftheLeader(foroflatehehadtakentospeakingofNapoleonunderthetitleof‘Leader’)toliveinahousethaninameresty.Nevertheless,someoftheanimalsweredisturbedwhentheyheardthatthepigsnotonlytooktheirmealsinthekitchenandusedthedrawing-roomasarecreationroom,butalsosleptinthebeds.Boxerpasseditoffasusualwith‘Napoleonisalwaysright!’,butClover,whothoughtshe

totheendofthebarnandtriedtopuzzleouttheSevenCommandmentswhichwereinscribedthere.Findingherselfunabletoreadmorethanindividualletters,shefetchedMuriel. ‘Muriel,’shesaid,‘readmetheFourthCommandment.Doesitnotsaysomethingaboutneversleepinginabed?’

’Noanimalshallsleepinabedwithsheets,”she

notrememberedthattheFourthCommandmentmentionedsheets;butasitwasthereonthewall,itmusthavedoneso.AndSquealer,whohappenedtobepassingatthismoment,attendedbytwoorthreedogs,wasabletoputthewholematterinitsproperperspective.

‘Youhaveheardthen,comrades,’hesaid,‘thatwepigsnowsleepinthebedsofthefarmhouse?Andwhynot?Youdidnotsuppose,surely,thattherewaseverarulingagainstbeds?Abedmerelymeansaplacetosleepin.Apileofstrawinastallisabed,properlyregarded.Therulewasagainstsheets,whichareahumaninvention.Wehaveremovedthesheetsfromthefarmhousebeds,andsleepbetweenblankets.Andverycomfortablebedstheyaretoo!Butnotmorecomfortablethanweneed,Icantellyou,comrades,withallthebrainworkwehavetodonowadays.Youwouldnotrobusofourrepose,wouldyou,comrades?Youwouldnothaveustootiredtocarryoutourduties?SurelynoneofyouwishestoseeJonesback?’ Theanimalsreassuredhimonthispointimmediately,andnomorewassaidaboutthepigssleepinginthefarmhousebeds.Andwhen,somedaysafterwards,itwasannouncedthatfromnowonthepigswouldgetupanhourlaterinthemorningsthantheotheranimals,nocomplaintwasmadeaboutthateither. Bytheautumntheanimalsweretiredbuthappy.Theyhadhadahardyear,andafterthesaleofpartofthehayandcorn,thestoresoffoodforthewinterwerenonetooplentiful,butthewindmillcompensatedforeverything.Itwasalmosthalfbuiltnow.Aftertheharvesttherewasastretchofcleardryweather,andtheanimalstoiledharderthanever,thinkingitwellworthwhiletoplodtoandfroalldaywithblocksofstoneifbydoingsotheycouldraisethewallsanotherfoot.Boxerwouldevencomeoutatnightsandworkforanhourortwoonhisownbythelightoftheharvestmoon.Intheirsparemomentstheanimalswouldwalkroundandroundthe

perpendicularityofitswallsandmarvellingthattheyshouldeverhavebeenabletobuildanythingsoimposing.OnlyoldBenjaminrefusedtogrowenthusiasticaboutthewindmill,though,asusual,hewouldutternothingbeyondthecrypticremarkthatdonkeyslivealongtime. Novembercame,withragingsouth-westwinds.Buildinghadtostopbecauseitwasnowtoowettomixthecement.Finallytherecameanightwhenthegalewassoviolentthatthefarm


buildingsrockedontheirfoundationsandseveraltileswereblownofftheroofofthebarn.Thehenswokeupsquawkingwithterrorbecausetheyhadalldreamedsimultaneouslyofhearingagungooffinthedistance.Inthemorningtheanimalscame

blowndownandanelmtreeatthefootoftheorchardhadbeenpluckeduplikearadish.Theyhadjustnoticedthiswhenacryofdespairbrokefromeveryanimal’sthroat.Aterriblesighthadmettheireyes.Thewindmillwasinruins. Withoneaccordtheydasheddowntothespot.Napoleon,whoseldommovedoutofawalk,racedaheadofthemall.Yes,thereitlay,thefruitofalltheirstruggles,levelledtoitsfoundations,thestonestheyhadbrokenandcarriedso

speak,theystoodgazingmournfullyatthelitteroffallenstoneNapoleonpacedtoandfroinsilence,

grownrigidandtwitchedsharplyfromsidetoside,asigninhimofintensementalactivity.Suddenlyhehaltedasthoughhismindweremadeup. ‘Comrades,’hesaidquietly,‘doyouknowwhoisresponsibleforthis?Doyouknowtheenemywhohascomeinthenightandoverthrownourwindmill?SNOWBALL!’hesuddenlyroaredinavoiceofthunder.‘Snowballhasdonethisthing!Insheermalignity,thinkingtosetbackourplansandavengehimselfforhisignominiousexpulsion,thistraitorhascrepthereundercoverofnightanddestroyedourworkofnearlyayear.Comrades,hereandnowIpronouncethedeathsentenceuponSnowball.’AnimalHero,SecondClass,’andhalfabushelofapplestoanyanimalwhobringshimtojustice.Afullbusheltoanyonewhocaptureshimalive!’ TheanimalswereshockedbeyondmeasuretolearnthatevenSnowballcouldbeguiltyofsuchanaction.Therewasacryofindignation,andeveryonebeganthinkingoutwaysofcatchingSnowballifheshouldevercomeback.Almostimmediatelythefootprintsofapigwerediscoveredinthegrassatalittledistancefromtheknoll.Theycouldonlybetracedforafewyards,butappearedtoleadtoaholeinthehedge.Napoleonsnuffeddeeplyatthemandpronounced

themtobeSnowball’s.HegaveitashisopinionthatSnowballhadprobablycomefromthedirectionofFoxwoodFarm. ‘Nomoredelays,comrades!’criedNapoleonwhenthefootprintshadbeenexamined.‘Thereisworktobedone.Thisverymorningwebeginrebuildingthewindmill,andwewillbuildallthroughthewinter,rainorshine.Wewillteachthismiserabletraitorthathecannotundoourworksoeasily.Remember,comrades,theremustbenoalterationinourplans:theyshallbecarriedouttotheday.Forward,comrades!Longlivethewindmill!LongliveAnimalFarm!’

VII Itwasabitterwinter.Thestormyweatherwasfollowedbysleetandsnow,andthenbyahardfrostwhichdidnotbreaktillwellintoFebruary.Theanimalscarriedonasbesttheycouldwiththerebuildingofthewindmill,wellknowingthattheoutsideworldwaswatchingthemandthattheenvioushumanbeingswould

ontime. Outofspite,thehumanbeingspretendednottobelievethatitwasSnowballwhohaddestroyedthewindmill:theysaidthatithadfallendownbecausethewallsweretoothin.Theanimalsknewthatthiswasnotthecase.Still,ithadbeendecidedtobuildthewallsthreefeetthickthistimeinsteadofeighteeninchesasbefore,whichmeantcollectingmuchlargerquantitiesofstone.Foralongtimethequarrywasfullofsnowdriftsandnothingcouldbedone.Someprogresswasmadeinthedryfrostyweatherthatfollowed,butitwascruelwork,andtheanimalscouldnotfeelsohopefulaboutitastheyhadfeltbefore.Theywerealwayscold,andusuallyhungryaswell.OnlyBoxerandCloverneverlostheart.Squealermadeexcellentspeechesonthejoyofserviceandthedignityoflabour,buttheotheranimalsfoundmoreinspirationinBoxer’sstrengthandhisnever-failingcryof‘Iwillworkharder!’ InJanuaryfoodfellshort.Thecornrationwasdrasticallyreduced,anditwasannouncedthatanextrapotatorationwouldbeissuedto


makeupforit.Thenitwasdiscoveredthatthegreaterpartofthepotatocrophadbeenfrostedintheclamps,whichhadnotbeencoveredthicklyenough.Thepotatoeshadbecomesoftanddiscoloured,andonlyafewwereedible.Fordaysatatimetheanimalshadnothingtoeatbutchaffandmangels.Starvationseemedtostarethemintheface. Itwasvitallynecessarytoconcealthisfactfromtheoutsideworld.Emboldenedbythecollapseofthewindmill,thehumanbeingswereinventingfreshliesaboutAnimalFarm.Onceagainitwasbeingputaboutthatalltheanimalsweredyingoffamineanddisease,andthatthey

andhadresortedtocannibalismandinfanticide.Napoleonwaswellawareofthebadresultsthatmightfollowiftherealfactsofthefoodsituationwereknown,andhedecidedtomakeuseofMr.Whympertospreadacontraryimpression.HithertotheanimalshadhadlittleornocontactwithWhymperonhisweeklyvisits:now,however,afewselectedanimals,mostlysheep,wereinstructedtoremarkcasuallyinhishearingthatrationshadbeenincreased.Inaddition,Napoleonorderedthealmostemptybinsinthestore-shed

wasthencoveredupwithwhatremainedofthegrainandmeal.OnsomesuitablepretextWhymperwasledthroughthestore-shedandallowedtocatchaglimpseofthebins.Hewasdeceived,andcontinuedtoreporttotheoutsideworldthattherewasnofoodshortageonAnimalFarm. Nevertheless,towardstheendofJanuaryitbecameobviousthatitwouldbenecessarytoprocuresomemoregrainfromsomewhere.InthesedaysNapoleonrarelyappearedinpublic,butspentallhistimeinthefarmhouse,which

Whenhedidemerge,itwasinaceremonialmanner,withanescortofsixdogswhocloselysurroundedhimandgrowledifanyonecametoonear.FrequentlyhedidnotevenappearonSundaymornings,butissuedhisordersthroughoneoftheotherpigs,usuallySquealer. OneSundaymorningSquealerannouncedthatthehens,whohadjustcomeintolay

again,mustsurrendertheireggs.Napoleonhadaccepted,throughWhymper,acontractforfourhundredeggsaweek.Thepriceofthesewouldpayforenoughgrainandmealtokeepthefarmgoingtillsummercameonandconditionswereeasier. Whenthehensheardthis,theyraisedaterribleoutcry.Theyhadbeenwarnedearlier

believedthatitwouldreallyhappen.Theywerejustgettingtheirclutchesreadyforthespringsitting,andtheyprotestedthattotaketheeggs

theexpulsionofJones,therewassomethingresemblingarebellion.LedbythreeyoungBlackMinorcapullets,thehensmadeadeterminedefforttothwartNapoleon’swishes.Theirmethod

actedswiftlyandruthlessly.Heorderedthehens’rationstobestopped,anddecreedthatanyanimalgivingsomuchasagrainofcorntoahenshouldbepunishedbydeath.Thedogssawtoit

thehensheldout,thentheycapitulatedandwentbacktotheirnestingboxes.Ninehenshaddiedinthemeantime.Theirbodieswereburiedintheorchard,anditwasgivenoutthattheyhaddiedofcoccidiosis.Whymperheardnothingofthisaffair,andtheeggsweredulydelivered,agrocer’svandrivinguptothefarmonceaweektotakethemaway. AllthiswhilenomorehadbeenseenofSnowball.Hewasrumouredtobehidingononeoftheneighbouringfarms,eitherFoxwoodor

bettertermswiththeotherfarmersthanbefore.Ithappenedthattherewasintheyardapileoftimberwhichhadbeenstackedtheretenyearsearlierwhenabeechspinneywascleared.Itwaswellseasoned,andWhymperhadadvisedNapoleontosellit;bothMr.PilkingtonandMr.Frederickwereanxioustobuyit.Napoleonwashesitatingbetweenthetwo,unabletomakeuphismind.ItwasnoticedthatwheneverheseemedonthepointofcomingtoanagreementwithFrederick,SnowballwasdeclaredtobeinhidingatFoxwood,while,whenheinclinedtoward


Suddenly,earlyinthespring,analarmingthingwasdiscovered.Snowballwassecretlyfrequentingthefarmbynight!Theanimalsweresodisturbedthattheycouldhardlysleepintheirstalls.Everynight,itwassaid,hecamecreepinginundercoverofdarknessandperformedallkindsofmischief.Hestolethecorn,heupsetthemilk-pails,hebroketheeggs,hetrampledtheseedbeds,hegnawedthebarkoffthefruittrees.WheneveranythingwentwrongitbecameusualtoattributeittoSnowball.Ifawindowwasbrokenoradrainwasblockedup,someonewascertaintosaythatSnowballhadcomeinthenightanddoneit,andwhenthekeyofthestore-shedwaslost,thewholefarmwasconvincedthatSnowballhadthrownitdownthewell.Curiouslyenough,theywentonbelievingthisevenafterthemislaidkeywasfoundunderasackofmeal.ThecowsdeclaredunanimouslythatSnowballcreptintotheirstallsandmilkedthemintheirsleep.Therats,whichhadbeentroublesomethatwinter,werealsosaidtobeinleaguewithSnowball. NapoleondecreedthatthereshouldbeafullinvestigationintoSnowball’sactivities.Withhisdogsinattendancehesetoutandmadeacarefultourofinspectionofthefarmbuildings,theotheranimalsfollowingatarespectfuldistance.AteveryfewstepsNapoleonstoppedandsnuffedthegroundfortracesofSnowball’sfootsteps,which,hesaid,hecoulddetectbythesmell.Hesnuffedineverycorner,inthebarn,inthecow-shed,inthehenhouses,inthevegetablegarden,andfoundtracesofSnowballalmosteverywhere.Hewouldputhissnouttotheground,giveseveraldeepsniffs,adexclaiminaterriblevoice,‘Snowball!Hehasbeenhere!Icansmellhimdistinctly!’andattheword‘Snowball’allthedogsletoutblood-curdlinggrowlsandshowedtheirsideteeth. Theanimalswerethoroughlyfrightened.ItseemedtothemasthoughSnowballwere

airaboutthemandmenacingthemwithallkindsofdangers.IntheeveningSquealercalledthemtogether,andwithanalarmedexpressiononhisfacetoldthemthathehadsomeseriousnewstoreport.

‘Comrades!’criedSquealer,makinglittlenervousskips,‘amostterriblethinghasbeendiscovered.Snowballhassoldhimselfto

plottingtoattackusandtakeourfarmawayfromus!Snowballistoactashisguidewhentheattackbegins.Butthereisworsethanthat.WehadthoughtthatSnowball’srebellionwascausedsimplybyhisvanityandambition.Butwewerewrong,comrades.Doyouknowwhattherealreasonwas?SnowballwasinleaguewithJonesfromtheverystart!HewasJones’secretagentallthetime.Ithasallbeenprovedbydocumentswhichheleftbehindhimandwhichwehaveonlyjustdiscovered.Tomymindthisexplainsagreatdeal,comrades.Didwenotseeforourselveshowheattempted—fortunatelywithoutsuccess—togetusdefeatedanddestroyedattheBattleoftheCowshed?’

wickednessfaroutdoingSnowball’sdestructionofthewindmill.Butitwassomeminutesbeforetheycouldfullytakeitin.Theyallremembered,orthoughttheyremembered,howtheyhadseenSnowballchargingaheadofthemattheBattleoftheCowshed,howhehadralliedandencouragedthemateveryturn,andhowhehadnotpausedforaninstantevenwhenthepelletsfromJones’

onJones’side.EvenBoxer,whoseldomaskedquestions,waspuzzled.Helaydown,tuckedhisforehoofsbeneathhim,shuthiseyes,andwithahardeffortmanagedtoformulatehisthoughts. ‘Idonotbelievethat,’hesaid.‘SnowballfoughtbravelyattheBattleoftheCowshed.Isawhimmyself.Didwenotgivehim’AnimalHero,FirstClass,’immediatelyafterwards?’ ‘Thatwasourmistake,comrade.Forweknownow—itisallwrittendowninthesecretdocumentsthatwehavefound—thatinrealityhewastryingtolureustoourdoom.’ ‘Buthewaswounded,’saidBoxer.‘Weallsawhimrunningwithblood.’ ‘Thatwaspartofthearrangement!’criedSquealer.‘Jones’shotonlygrazedhim.Icouldshowyouthisinhisownwriting,ifyouwereabletoreadit.TheplotwasforSnowball,atthe


succeeded—Iwillevensay,comrades,hewouldhavesucceededifithadnotbeenforourheroicLeader,ComradeNapoleon.Doyounotrememberhow,justatthemomentwhenJonesandhismenhadgotinsidetheyard,Snowballsuddenly

Anddoyounotremember,too,thatitwasjustatthatmoment,whenpanicwasspreadingandallseemedlost,thatComradeNapoleonsprangforwardwithacryof’DeathtoHumanity!’andsankhisteethinJones’leg?Surelyyourememberthat,comrades?’exclaimedSquealer,friskingfromsidetoside. NowwhenSquealerdescribedthescenesographically,itseemedtotheanimalsthattheydidrememberit.Atanyrate,theyrememberedthatatthecriticalmomentofthebattleSnowball

uneasy. ‘IdonotbelievethatSnowballwasa

hasdonesinceisdifferent.ButIbelievethatattheBattleoftheCowshedhewasagoodcomrade.’ ‘OurLeader,ComradeNapoleon,’announcedSquealer,speakingveryslowlyand

comrade—thatSnowballwasJones’agentfromtheverybeginning—yes,andfromlongbeforetheRebellionwaseverthoughtof.’ ‘Ah,thatisdifferent!’saidBoxer.‘IfComradeNapoleonsaysit,itmustberight.’ ‘Thatisthetruespirit,comrade!’criedSquealer,butitwasnoticedhecastaveryuglylookatBoxerwithhislittletwinklingeyes.Heturnedtogo,thenpausedandaddedimpressively:‘Iwarneveryanimalonthisfarmtokeephiseyesverywideopen.ForwehavereasontothinkthatsomeofSnowball’ssecretagentsarelurkingamongusatthismoment!’ Fourdayslater,inthelateafternoon,Napoleonorderedalltheanimalstoassembleintheyard.Whentheywereallgatheredtogether,Napoleonemergedfromthefarmhouse,wearingbothhismedals(forhehadrecentlyawardedhimself‘AnimalHero,FirstClass,’and‘AnimalHero,SecondClass’),withhisninehugedogs

friskingroundhimandutteringgrowlsthatsentshiversdownalltheanimals’spines.Theyallcoweredsilentlyintheirplaces,seemingtoknowinadvancethatsometerriblethingwasabouttohappen. Napoleonstoodsternlysurveyinghisaudience;thenheutteredahigh-pitchedwhimper.Immediatelythedogsboundedforward,seizedfourofthepigsbytheearanddraggedthem,squealingwithpainandterror,toNapoleon’sfeet.Thepigs’earswerebleeding,thedogshadtastedblood,andforafewmomentstheyappearedtogoquitemad.Totheamazement

Boxer.Boxersawthemcomingandputouthisgreathoof,caughtadoginmid-air,andpinnedhimtotheground.Thedogshriekedformercy

theirlegs.BoxerlookedatNapoleontoknowwhetherheshouldcrushthedogtodeathorletitgo.Napoleonappearedtochangecountenance,andsharplyorderedBoxertoletthedoggo,whereatBoxerliftedhishoof,andthedogslunkaway,bruisedandhowling. Presentlythetumultdieddown.Thefourpigswaited,trembling,withguiltwrittenoneverylineoftheircountenances.Napoleonnowcalleduponthemtoconfesstheircrimes.TheywerethesamefourpigsashadprotestedwhenNapoleonabolishedtheSundayMeetings.WithoutanyfurtherpromptingtheyconfessedthattheyhadbeensecretlyintouchwithSnowballeversincehisexpulsion,thattheyhadcollaboratedwithhimindestroyingthewindmill,andthattheyhadenteredintoanagreementwithhimtohandoverAnimalFarmtoMr.Frederick.TheyaddedthatSnowballhadprivatelyadmittedtothemthathehadbeenJones’secretagentforyearspast.

promptlytoretheirthroatsout,andinaterriblevoiceNapoleondemandedwhetheranyotheranimalhadanythingtoconfess. ThethreehenswhohadbeentheringleadersintheattemptedrebellionovertheeggsnowcameforwardandstatedthatSnowballhadappearedtotheminadreamandincitedthemtodisobeyNapoleon’sorders.They,too,wereslaughtered.Thenagoosecameforward


andconfessedtohavingsecretedsixearsofcornduringthelastyear’sharvestandeatentheminthenight.Thenasheepconfessedtohavingurinatedinthedrinkingpool—urgedtodothis,soshesaid,bySnowball—andtwoothersheepconfessedtohavingmurderedanoldram,anespeciallydevotedfollowerofNapoleon,by

hewassufferingfromacough.Theywereallslainonthespot.Andsothetaleofconfessionsandexecutionswenton,untiltherewasapileofcorpseslyingbeforeNapoleon’sfeetandtheairwasheavywiththesmellofblood,whichhadbeenunknowntheresincetheexpulsionofJones. Whenitwasallover,theremaininganimals,exceptforthepigsanddogs,creptawayinabody.Theywereshakenandmiserable.Theydidnotknowwhichwasmoreshocking—thetreacheryoftheanimalswhohadleaguedthemselveswithSnowball,orthecruelretributiontheyhadjustwitnessed.Intheolddaystherehadoftenbeenscenesofbloodshedequallyterrible,butitseemedtoallofthemthatitwasfarworsenowthatitwashappeningamongthemselves.SinceJoneshadleftthefarm,untiltoday,noanimalhadkilledanotheranimal.Notevenarathadbeenkilled.Theyhadmadetheir

windmillstood,andwithoneaccordtheyalllaydownasthoughhuddlingtogetherforwarmth—Clover,Muriel,Benjamin,thecows,thesheep,

indeed,exceptthecat,whohadsuddenlydisappearedjustbeforeNapoleonorderedtheanimalstoassemble.Forsometimenobodyspoke.

andfro,swishinghislongblacktailagainsthissidesandoccasionallyutteringalittlewhinnyofsurprise.Finallyhesaid: ‘Idonotunderstandit.Iwouldnothavebelievedthatsuchthingscouldhappenonourfarm.Itmustbeduetosomefaultinourselves.Thesolution,asIseeit,istoworkharder.FromnowonwardsIshallgetupafullhourearlierinthemornings.’ Andhemovedoffathislumberingtrotandmadeforthequarry.Havinggotthere,hecollectedtwosuccessiveloadsofstoneand

draggedthemdowntothewindmillbeforeretiringforthenight. TheanimalshuddledaboutClover,notspeaking.Theknollwheretheywerelyinggavethemawideprospectacrossthecountryside.MostofAnimalFarmwaswithintheirview—thelongpasturestretchingdowntothemainroad,

andgreen,andtheredroofsofthefarmbuildingswiththesmokecurlingfromthechimneys.Itwasaclearspringevening.Thegrassandtheburstinghedgesweregildedbythelevelraysofthesun.Neverhadthefarm—andwithakindofsurprisetheyrememberedthatitwastheirownfarm,everyinchofittheirownproperty—appearedtotheanimalssodesirableaplace.AsCloverlooked

couldhavespokenherthoughts,itwouldhavebeentosaythatthiswasnotwhattheyhadaimedatwhentheyhadsetthemselvesyearsagotoworkfortheoverthrowofthehumanrace.Thesescenesofterrorandslaughterwerenotwhattheyhadlookedforwardtoonthatnightwhen

herselfhadhadanypictureofthefuture,ithadbeenofasocietyofanimalssetfreefromhungerandthewhip,allequal,eachworkingaccordingtohiscapacity,thestrongprotectingtheweak,asshehadprotectedthelostbroodofducklingswithherforelegonthenightofMajor’sspeech.Instead—shedidnotknowwhy—theyhadcometoatimewhennoonedaredspeakhismind,

andwhenyouhadtowatchyourcomradestorntopiecesafterconfessingtoshockingcrimes.Therewasnothoughtofrebellionordisobedienceinhermind.Sheknewthat,evenasthingswere,theywerefarbetteroffthantheyhadbeeninthedaysofJones,andthatbeforeallelseitwasneedfultopreventthereturnofthehumanbeings.Whateverhappenedshewouldremainfaithful,workhard,carryouttheordersthatweregiventoher,andaccepttheleadershipofNapoleon.Butstill,itwasnotforthisthatsheandalltheotheranimalshadhopedandtoiled.ItwasnotforthisthattheyhadbuiltthewindmillandfacedthebulletsofJones’gun.Suchwereherthoughts,thoughshelacked


thewordstoexpressthem. Atlast,feelingthistobeinsomewaya

shebegantosingBeastsofEngland.Theotheranimalssittingroundhertookitup,andtheysangitthreetimesover—verytunefully,butslowlyandmournfully,inawaytheyhadneversungitbefore.

thirdtimewhenSquealer,attendedbytwodogs,approachedthemwiththeairofhavingsomethingimportanttosay.Heannouncedthat,byaspecialdecreeofComradeNapoleon,BeastsofEnglandhadbeenabolished.Fromnowonwardsitwasforbiddentosingit. Theanimalsweretakenaback.‘Why?’criedMuriel.‘It’snolongerneeded,comrade,’said

theRebellion.ButtheRebellionisnowcompleted.Theexecutionofthetraitorsthisafternoon

internalhasbeendefeated.InBeastsofEnglandweexpressedourlongingforabettersocietyindaystocome.Butthatsocietyhasnowbeenestablished.Clearlythissonghasnolongeranypurpose.’Frightenedthoughtheywere,someoftheanimalsmightpossiblyhaveprotested,butatthismomentthesheepsetuptheirusualbleatingof‘Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad,’whichwentonforseveralminutesandputanendtothediscussion.SoBeastsofEnglandwasheardnomore.InitsplaceMinimus,thepoet,hadcomposedanothersongwhichbegan:

andthiswassungevery

somehowneitherthewordsnorthetuneeverseemedtotheanimalstocomeupto

VIII Afewdayslater,whentheterrorcausedbytheexecutionshaddieddown,someoftheanimalsremembered—orthoughttheyremembered—thattheSixthCommandment

decreed‘Noanimalshallkillanyotheranimal.’Andthoughnoonecaredtomentionitinthehearingofthepigsorthedogs,itwasfeltthatthekillingswhichhadtakenplacedidnotsquarewiththis.CloveraskedBenjamintoreadhertheSixthCommandment,andwhenBenjamin,asusual,saidthatherefusedtomeddleinsuchmatters,shefetchedMuriel.MurielreadtheCommandmentforher.Itran:‘Noanimalshallkillanyotheranimalwithoutcause.’Somehoworother,thelasttwowordshadslippedoutoftheanimals’memory.ButtheysawnowthattheCommandmenthadnotbeenviolated;forclearlytherewasgoodreasonforkillingthetraitorswhohadleaguedthemselveswithSnowball. ThroughouttheyeartheanimalsworkedevenharderthantheyhadworkedinthepreviousyearTorebuildthewindmill,withwallstwiceas

date,togetherwiththeregularworkofthefarm,wasatremendouslabour.ThereweretimeswhenitseemedtotheanimalsthattheyworkedlongerhoursandfednobetterthantheyhaddoneinJones’day.OnSundaymorningsSquealer,holdingdownalongstripofpaperwithhistrotter,would

theproductionofeveryclassoffoodstuffhadincreasedbytwohundredpercent,threehundred

mightbe.Theanimalssawnoreasontodisbelievehim,especiallyastheycouldnolongerrememberveryclearlywhatconditionshadbeenlikebeforetheRebellion.Allthesame,thereweredayswhentheyfeltthattheywouldsoonerhavehadless

AllorderswerenowissuedthroughSquealeroroneoftheotherpigs.Napoleonhimselfwasnotseeninpublicasoftenasonceinafortnight.Whenhedidappear,hewasattendednotonlybyhisretinueofdogsbutbyablackcockerelwhomarchedinfrontofhimandactedasakindoftrumpeter,lettingoutaloud‘cock-a-doodle-doo’beforeNapoleonspoke.Eveninthefarmhouse,itwassaid,Napoleoninhabitedseparateapartmentsfromtheothers.Hetookhismealsalone,withtwodogstowaituponhim,andalwaysatefromtheCrownDerbydinnerservicewhichhadbeenintheglasscupboardinthe


drawing-room.Itwasalsoannouncedthatthegun

aswellasontheothertwoanniversaries. Napoleonwasnowneverspokenofsimplyas‘Napoleon.’Hewasalwaysreferredtoinformalstyleas‘ourLeader,ComradeNapoleon,’andthispigslikedtoinventforhimsuchtitlesasFatherofAllAnimals,TerrorofMankind,ProtectoroftheSheep-fold,Ducklings’Friend,andthelike.Inhisspeeches,SquealerwouldtalkwiththetearsrollingdownhischeeksofNapoleon’swisdomthegoodnessofhisheart,andthedeeploveheboretoallanimalseverywhere,evenandespeciallytheunhappyanimalswhostilllivedinignoranceandslaveryonotherfarms.IthadbecomeusualtogiveNapoleonthecreditforeverysuccessfulachievementandeverystrokeofgoodfortune.Youwouldoftenhearonehenremarktoanother,‘UndertheguidanceofourLeader,Comrade

cows,enjoyingadrinkatthepool,wouldexclaim,‘ThankstotheleadershipofComradeNapoleon,howexcellentthiswatertastes!’ThegeneralfeelingonthefarmwaswellexpressedinapoementitledComradeNapoleon,whichwascomposedbyMinimusandwhichranasfollows:

Napoleonapprovedofthispoemandcausedittobeinscribedonthewallofthebigbarn,attheoppositeendfromtheSevenCommandments.Itwassurmountedbyaportrait

whitepaint. Meanwhile,throughtheagencyofWhymper,NapoleonwasengagedincomplicatednegotiationswithFrederickandPilkington.Thepileoftimberwasstillunsold.Ofthetwo,Frederickwasthemoreanxioustogetholdofit,buthewouldnotofferareasonableprice.AtthesametimetherewererenewedrumoursthatFrederickandhismenwereplottingtoattackAnimalFarmandtodestroythewindmill,thebuildingofwhichhadarousedfuriousjealousyinhim.Snowballwasknowntobestillskulking

theanimalswerealarmedtohearthatthreehenshadcomeforwardandconfessedthat,inspiredbySnowball,theyhadenteredintoaplottomurderNapoleon.Theywereexecutedimmediately,andfreshprecautionsforNapoleon’ssafetyweretaken.Fourdogsguardedhisbedatnight,oneateachcorner,andayoungpignamedPinkeyewasgiventhetaskoftastingallhisfoodbeforeheateit,lestitshouldbepoisoned. AtaboutthesametimeitwasgivenoutthatNapoleonhadarrangedtosellthepileoftimbertoMr.Pilkington;hewasalsogoingtoenterintoaregularagreementfortheexchangeofcertainproductsbetweenAnimalFarmandFoxwood.TherelationsbetweenNapoleonandPilkington,thoughtheywereonlyconductedthroughWhymper,werenowalmostfriendly.TheanimalsdistrustedPilkington,asahumanbeing,butgreatlypreferredhimtoFrederick,whomtheybothfearedandhated.Asthesummerworeon,andthewindmillnearedcompletion,therumoursofanimpendingtreacherousattackgrewstrongerandstronger.Frederick,itwassaid,intendedtobringagainstthemtwentymenallarmedwithguns,andhehadalreadybribedthemagistratesandpolice,sothatifhecouldoncegetholdofthetitle-deedsofAnimalFarmtheywouldasknoquestions.Moreover,terriblestorieswere

thatFrederickpractiseduponhisanimals.He


cows,hehadkilledadogbythrowingitintothefurnace,heamusedhimselfintheeveningsby

tiedtotheirspurs.Theanimals’bloodboiledwithragewhentheyheardofthesethingsbeingdonetotheircomrades,andsometimestheyclamouredtobeallowedtogooutinabodyand

andsettheanimalsfree.ButSquealercounselledthemtoavoidrashactionsandtrustinComradeNapoleon’sstrategy. Nevertheless,feelingagainstFrederickcontinuedtorunhigh.OneSundaymorningNapoleonappearedinthebarnandexplainedthathehadneveratanytimecontemplatedsellingthepileoftimbertoFrederick;heconsidereditbeneathhisdignity,hesaid,tohavedealingswithscoundrelsofthatdescription.ThepigeonswhowerestillsentouttospreadtidingsoftheRebellionwereforbiddentosetfootanywhereonFoxwood,andwerealsoorderedtodroptheirformersloganof‘DeathtoHumanity’infavourof‘DeathtoFrederick.’InthelatesummeryetanotherofSnowball’smachinationswaslaidbare.Thewheatcropwasfullofweeds,anditwasdiscoveredthatononeofhisnocturnalvisitsSnowballhadmixedweedseedswiththeseedcorn.AganderwhohadbeenprivytotheplothadconfessedhisguilttoSquealerandimmediatelycommittedsuicidebyswallowingdeadlynightshadeberries.TheanimalsnowalsolearnedthatSnowballhadnever—asmanyofthemhadbelievedhitherto—receivedtheorderof‘AnimalHero,FirstClass.’ThiswasmerelyalegendwhichhadbeenspreadsometimeaftertheBattleoftheCowshedbySnowballhimself.Sofarfrombeingdecorated,hehadbeencensuredforshowingcowardiceinthebattle.Onceagainsomeoftheanimalsheardthiswithacertainbewilderment,butSquealerwassoonabletoconvincethemthattheirmemorieshadbeenatfault. Intheautumn,byatremendous,exhaustingeffort—fortheharvesthadtobegatheredatalmostthesametime—thewindmill

installed,andWhymperwasnegotiatingthepurchaseofit,butthestructurewascompleted.

inexperience,ofprimitiveimplements,ofbadluckandofSnowball’streachery,theworkhadbeen

proud,theanimalswalkedroundandroundtheirmasterpiece,whichappearedevenmorebeautiful

time.Moreover,thewallsweretwiceasthickasbefore.Nothingshortofexplosiveswouldlaythemlowthistime!Andwhentheythoughtofhowtheyhadlaboured,whatdiscouragementstheyhadovercome,andtheenormousdifferencethatwouldbemadeintheirliveswhenthesailswereturningandthedynamosrunning—whentheythoughtofallthis,theirtirednessforsookthemandtheygambolledroundandroundthewindmill,utteringcriesoftriumph.Napoleonhimself,attendedbyhisdogsandhiscockerel,camedowntoinspectthecompletedwork;hepersonallycongratulatedtheanimalsontheirachievement,andannouncedthatthemillwouldbenamedNapoleonMill. Twodayslatertheanimalswerecalledtogetherforaspecialmeetinginthebarn.TheywerestruckdumbwithsurprisewhenNapoleonannouncedthathehadsoldthepileoftimbertoFrederick.TomorrowFrederick’swagonswouldarriveandbegincartingitaway.ThroughoutthewholeperiodofhisseemingfriendshipwithPilkington,NapoleonhadreallybeeninsecretagreementwithFrederick. AllrelationswithFoxwoodhadbeenbrokenoff;insultingmessageshadbeensenttoPilkington.Thepigeonshadbeentoldtoavoid

‘DeathtoFrederick’to‘DeathtoPilkington.’AtthesametimeNapoleonassuredtheanimalsthatthestoriesofanimpendingattackonAnimalFarmwerecompletelyuntrue,andthatthetalesaboutFrederick’scrueltytohisownanimalshadbeengreatlyexaggerated.AlltheserumourshadprobablyoriginatedwithSnowballandhisagents.ItnowappearedthatSnowballwasnot,

neverbeenthereinhislife:hewasliving—inconsiderableluxury,soitwassaid—atFoxwood,andhadinrealitybeenapensionerofPilkingtonforyearspast.


ThepigswereinecstasiesoverNapoleon’scunning.ByseemingtobefriendlywithPilkingtonhehadforcedFredericktoraisehispricebytwelvepounds.ButthesuperiorqualityofNapoleon’smind,saidSquealer,wasshowninthefactthathetrustednobody,notevenFrederick.Frederickhadwantedtopayforthetimberwithsomethingcalledacheque,which,itseemed,wasapieceofpaperwithapromisetopaywrittenuponit.ButNapoleonwastoocleverforhim.He

whichweretobehandedoverbeforethetimberwasremoved.AlreadyFrederickhadpaidup;andthesumhehadpaidwasjustenoughtobuythemachineryforthewindmill. Meanwhilethetimberwasbeingcartedawayathighspeed.Whenitwasallgone,anotherspecialmeetingwasheldinthebarnfortheanimalstoinspectFrederick’sbank-notes.Smiling

Napoleonreposedonabedofstrawontheplatform,withthemoneyathisside,neatlypiledonachinadishfromthefarmhousekitchen.The

AndBoxerputouthisnosetosniffatthebank-

rustledinhisbreath. Threedayslatertherewasaterriblehullabaloo.Whymper,hisfacedeadlypale,came

theyardandrushedstraightintothefarmhouse.ThenextmomentachokingroarofragesoundedfromNapoleon’sapartments.Thenewsofwhat

Thebanknoteswereforgeries!Frederickhadgotthetimberfornothing! NapoleoncalledtheanimalstogetherimmediatelyandinaterriblevoicepronouncedthedeathsentenceuponFrederick.Whencaptured,hesaid,Frederickshouldbeboiledalive.Atthesametimehewarnedthemthatafterthistreacherousdeedtheworstwastobeexpected.Frederickandhismenmightmaketheirlong-expectedattackatanymoment.Sentinelswereplacedatalltheapproachestothefarm.Inaddition,fourpigeonsweresenttoFoxwoodwithaconciliatorymessage,whichitwashopedmightre-establishgoodrelationswithPilkington.

Theverynextmorningtheattackcame.Theanimalswereatbreakfastwhenthelook-outscameracinginwiththenewsthatFrederickandhisfollowershadalreadycomethrough

salliedforthtomeetthem,butthistimetheydidnothavetheeasyvictorythattheyhadhadinthe

withhalfadozengunsbetweenthem,andthey

Theanimalscouldnotfacetheterribleexplosionsandthestingingpellets,andinspiteoftheeffortsofNapoleonandBoxertorallythem,theyweresoondrivenback.Anumberofthemwerealreadywounded.Theytookrefugeinthefarmbuildingsandpeepedcautiouslyoutfromchinksandknot-holes.Thewholeofthebigpasture,includingthewindmill,wasinthehandsoftheenemy.ForthemomentevenNapoleonseemedataloss.Hepacedupanddownwithoutaword,histailrigidandtwitching.WistfulglancesweresentinthedirectionofFoxwood.IfPilkingtonandhismenwouldhelpthem,thedaymightyetbewon.Butatthismomentthefourpigeons,whohadbeensentoutonthedaybefore,returned,oneofthembearingascrapofpaperfromPilkington.Onitwaspencilledthewords:‘Servesyouright.’ MeanwhileFrederickandhismenhadhaltedaboutthewindmill.Theanimalswatchedthem,andamurmurofdismaywentround.Twoofthemenhadproducedacrowbarandasledgehammer.Theyweregoingtoknockthewindmilldown. ‘Impossible!’criedNapoleon.‘Wehavebuiltthewallsfartoothickforthat.Theycouldnotknockitdowninaweek.Courage,comrades!’ ButBenjaminwaswatchingthemovementsofthemenintently.Thetwowiththehammerandthecrowbarweredrillingaholenearthebaseofthewindmill.Slowly,andwithanairalmostofamusement,Benjaminnoddedhislongmuzzle. ‘Ithoughtso,’hesaid.‘Doyounotseewhattheyaredoing?Inanothermomenttheyaregoingtopackblastingpowderintothathole.’

impossiblenowtoventureoutoftheshelterofthebuildings.Afterafewminutesthemenwere


seentoberunninginalldirections.Thentherewasadeafeningroar.Thepigeonsswirledinto

Whentheygotupagain,ahugecloudofblacksmokewashangingwherethewindmillhadbeen.Slowlythebreezedrifteditaway.Thewindmillhadceasedtoexist! Atthissighttheanimals’couragereturnedtothem.Thefearanddespairtheyhadfeltamomentearlierweredrownedintheirrageagainstthisvile,contemptibleact.Amightycryforvengeancewentup,andwithoutwaitingforfurtherorderstheychargedforthinabodyandmadestraightfortheenemy.Thistimetheydidnotheedthecruelpelletsthatsweptoverthemlikehail.Itwasasavage,bitterbattle.Themen

toclosequarters,lashedoutwiththeirsticksandtheirheavyboots.Acow,threesheep,andtwogeesewerekilled,andnearlyeveryonewaswounded.EvenNapoleon,whowasdirectingoperationsfromtherear,hadthetipofhistailchippedbyapellet.Butthemendidnotgounscathedeither.ThreeofthemhadtheirheadsbrokenbyblowsfromBoxer’shoofs;anotherwasgoredinthebellybyacow’shorn;anotherhadhistrousersnearlytornoffbyJessieandBluebell.AndwhentheninedogsofNapoleon’sownbodyguard,whomhehadinstructedtomakeadetourundercoverofthehedge,suddenlyappearedonthe

them.Theysawthattheywereindangerofbeingsurrounded.Frederickshoutedtohismentogetoutwhilethegoingwasgood,andthenextmomentthecowardlyenemywasrunningfordearlife.Theanimalschasedthemrightdownto

atthemastheyforcedtheirwaythroughthethornhedge. Theyhadwon,buttheywerewearyandbleeding.Slowlytheybegantolimpbacktowardsthefarm.Thesightoftheirdeadcomradesstretcheduponthegrassmovedsomeofthemtotears.Andforalittlewhiletheyhaltedinsorrowfulsilenceattheplacewherethewindmillhadoncestood.Yes,itwasgone;almostthelasttraceoftheirlabourwasgone!Eventhe

foundationswerepartiallydestroyed.Andinrebuildingittheycouldnotthistime,asbefore,makeuseofthefallenstones.Thistimethestoneshadvanishedtoo.Theforceoftheexplosionhad

wasasthoughthewindmillhadneverbeen. AstheyapproachedthefarmSquealer,whohadunaccountablybeenabsentduringthe

histailandbeamingwithsatisfaction.Andtheanimalsheard,fromthedirectionofthefarmbuildings,thesolemnboomingofagun.

‘Tocelebrateourvictory!’criedSquealer. ‘Whatvictory?’saidBoxer.Hiskneeswerebleeding,hehadlostashoeandsplithishoof,andadozenpelletshadlodgedthemselvesinhishindleg. ‘Whatvictory,comrade?Havewenotdriventheenemyoffoursoil—thesacredsoilofAnimalFarm?’ ‘Buttheyhavedestroyedthewindmill.Andwehadworkedonitfortwoyears!’ ‘Whatmatter?Wewillbuildanotherwindmill.Wewillbuildsixwindmillsifwefeellikeit.Youdonotappreciate,comrade,themightythingthatwehavedone.Theenemywasinoccupationofthisverygroundthatwestandupon.Andnow—thankstotheleadershipofComradeNapoleon—wehavewoneveryinchofitbackagain!’ ‘Thenwehavewonbackwhatwehadbefore,’saidBoxer. ‘Thatisourvictory,’saidSquealer.Theylimpedintotheyard.ThepelletsundertheskinofBoxer’slegsmartedpainfully.Hesawaheadofhimtheheavylabourofrebuildingthewindmillfromthefoundations,andalreadyinimaginationhe

itoccurredtohimthathewaselevenyearsoldandthatperhapshisgreatmuscleswerenotquitewhattheyhadoncebeen.

thatNapoleonmade,congratulatingthemontheirconduct,itdidseemtothemafterallthattheyhadwonagreatvictory.Theanimalsslain


inthebattleweregivenasolemnfuneral.BoxerandCloverpulledthewagonwhichservedasahearse,andNapoleonhimselfwalkedattheheadoftheprocession.Twowholedaysweregivenovertocelebrations.Thereweresongs,speeches,

applewasbestowedoneveryanimal,withtwoouncesofcornforeachbirdandthreebiscuitsforeachdog.ItwasannouncedthatthebattlewouldbecalledtheBattleoftheWindmill,andthatNapoleonhadcreatedanewdecoration,theOrderoftheGreenBanner,whichhehadconferreduponhimself.Inthegeneralrejoicingstheunfortunateaffairofthebanknoteswasforgotten. Itwasafewdayslaterthanthisthatthepigscameuponacaseofwhiskyinthecellarsofthefarmhouse.Ithadbeenoverlookedatthe

nighttherecamefromthefarmhousethesoundofloudsinging,inwhich,toeveryone’ssurprise,thestrainsofBeastsofEnglandweremixedup.AtabouthalfpastnineNapoleon,wearinganoldbowlerhatofMr.Jones’,wasdistinctlyseentoemergefromthebackdoor,galloprapidlyroundtheyard,anddisappearindoorsagain.Butinthemorningadeepsilencehungoverthefarmhouse.Notapigappearedtobestirring.Itwasnearlynineo’clockwhenSquealermadehisappearance,walkingslowlyanddejectedly,hiseyesdull,histailhanginglimplybehindhim,andwitheveryappearanceofbeingseriouslyill.Hecalledtheanimalstogetherandtoldthemthathehadaterriblepieceofnewstoimpart.ComradeNapoleonwasdying! Acryoflamentationwentup.Strawwaslaiddownoutsidethedoorsofthefarmhouse,andtheanimalswalkedontiptoe.WithtearsintheireyestheyaskedoneanotherwhattheyshoulddoiftheirLeaderweretakenawayfromthem.ArumourwentroundthatSnowballhadafterallcontrivedtointroducepoisonintoNapoleon’sfood.Ateleveno’clockSquealercameouttomakeanotherannouncement.Ashislastactuponearth,ComradeNapoleonhadpronouncedasolemndecree:thedrinkingofalcoholwastobepunishedbydeath. Bytheevening,however,Napoleonappearedtobesomewhatbetter,andthe

followingmorningSquealerwasabletotellthemthathewaswellonthewaytorecovery.BytheeveningofthatdayNapoleonwasbackatwork,andonthenextdayitwaslearnedthathehadinstructedWhympertopurchaseinWillingdonsomebookletsonbrewinganddistilling.AweeklaterNapoleongaveordersthatthesmallpaddockbeyondtheorchard,whichithadpreviouslybeenintendedtosetasideasagrazing-groundforanimalswhowerepastwork,wastobeploughedup.Itwasgivenoutthatthepasturewasexhaustedandneededre-seeding;butitsoonbecameknownthatNapoleonintendedtosowitwithbarley. Aboutthistimethereoccurredastrangeincidentwhichhardlyanyonewasabletounderstand.Onenightatabouttwelveo’clocktherewasaloudcrashintheyard,andtheanimalsrushedoutoftheirstalls.Itwasamoonlitnight.Atthefootoftheendwallofthebigbarn,wheretheSevenCommandmentswerewritten,therelayaladderbrokenintwopieces.Squealer,temporarilystunned,wassprawlingbesideit,andnearathandtherelayalantern,apaint-brush,andanoverturnedpotofwhitepaint.ThedogsimmediatelymadearingroundSquealer,andescortedhimbacktothefarmhouseassoonashewasabletowalk.Noneoftheanimalscouldformanyideaastowhatthismeant,exceptoldBenjamin,whonoddedhismuzzlewithaknowingair,andseemedtounderstand,butwouldsaynothing. ButafewdayslaterMuriel,readingovertheSevenCommandmentstoherself,noticedthattherewasyetanotherofthemwhichtheanimalshadrememberedwrong.TheyhadthoughttheFifthCommandmentwas‘Noanimalshalldrinkalcohol,’butthereweretwowordsthattheyhadforgotten.ActuallytheCommandmentread:‘Noanimalshalldrinkalcoholtoexcess.’

IX Boxer’ssplithoofwasalongtimeinhealing.Theyhadstartedtherebuildingofthewindmillthedayafterthevictorycelebrationswereended.Boxerrefusedtotakeevenadayoffwork,andmadeitapointofhonournottoletit


beseenthathewasinpain.IntheeveningshewouldadmitprivatelytoCloverthatthehooftroubledhimagreatdeal.Clovertreatedthehoofwithpoulticesofherbswhichshepreparedbychewingthem,andbothsheandBenjaminurgedBoxertoworklesshard.‘Ahorse’slungsdonotlastforever,’shesaidtohim.ButBoxerwouldnotlisten.Hehad,hesaid,onlyonerealambitionleft—toseethewindmillwellunderwaybeforehereachedtheageforretirement. Atthebeginning,whenthelawsofAnimal

atfourteen,fordogsatnine,forsheepatseven,

pensionshadbeenagreedupon.Asyetnoanimalhadactuallyretiredonpension,butoflatethesubjecthadbeendiscussedmoreandmore.Now

setasideforbarley,itwasrumouredthatacornerofthelargepasturewastobefencedoffandturnedintoagrazing-groundforsuperannuatedanimals.Forahorse,itwassaid,thepension

appleonpublicholidays.Boxer’stwelfthbirthdaywasdueinthelatesummerofthefollowingyear. Meanwhilelifewashard.Thewinterwasascoldasthelastonehadbeen,andfoodwasevenshorter.Onceagainallrationswerereduced,exceptthoseofthepigsandthedogs.Atoorigidequalityinrations,Squealerexplained,wouldhavebeencontrarytotheprinciplesofAnimalism.

otheranimalsthattheywerenotinrealityshortoffood,whatevertheappearancesmightbe.Forthetimebeing,certainly,ithadbeenfoundnecessarytomakeareadjustmentofrations(Squealeralwaysspokeofitasa‘readjustment,’neverasa‘reduction’),butincomparisonwiththedaysofJones,theimprovementwasenormous.Reading

themindetailthattheyhadmoreoats,morehay,moreturnipsthantheyhadhadinJones’day,thattheyworkedshorterhours,thattheirdrinkingwaterwasofbetterquality,thattheylivedlonger,thatalargerproportionoftheiryoungonessurvivedinfancy,andthattheyhadmorestraw

animalsbelievedeverywordofit.Truthtotell,Jonesandallhestoodforhadalmostfadedoutoftheirmemories.Theyknewthatlifenowadayswasharshandbare,thattheywereoftenhungryandoftencold,andthattheywereusuallyworkingwhentheywerenotasleep.Butdoubtlessithadbeenworseintheolddays.Theyweregladtobelieveso.Besides,inthosedaystheyhadbeenslavesandnowtheywerefree,andthatmadeallthedifference,asSquealerdidnotfailtopointout. Thereweremanymoremouthstofeednow.Intheautumnthefoursowshadalllitteredaboutsimultaneously,producingthirty-oneyoungpigsbetweenthem.Theyoungpigswerepiebald,andasNapoleonwastheonlyboaronthefarm,itwaspossibletoguessattheirparentage.Itwasannouncedthatlater,whenbricksandtimberhadbeenpurchased,aschoolroomwouldbebuiltinthefarmhousegarden.Forthetimebeing,theyoungpigsweregiventheirinstructionbyNapoleonhimselfinthefarmhousekitchen.Theytooktheirexerciseinthegarden,andwerediscouragedfromplayingwiththeotheryounganimals.Aboutthistime,too,itwaslaiddownasarulethatwhenapigandanyotheranimalmetonthepath,theotheranimalmuststandaside:andalsothatallpigs,ofwhateverdegree,weretohavetheprivilegeofwearinggreenribbonsontheirtailsonSundays. Thefarmhadhadafairlysuccessfulyear,butwasstillshortofmoney.Therewerethebricks,sand,andlimefortheschoolroomtobepurchased,anditwouldalsobenecessarytobeginsavingupagainforthemachineryforthewindmill.Thentherewerelampoilandcandlesforthehouse,sugarforNapoleon’sowntable(heforbadethistotheotherpigs,onthegroundthatitmadethemfat),andalltheusualreplacementssuchastools,nails,string,coal,wire,scrap-iron,anddogbiscuits.Astumpofhayandpartofthepotatocropweresoldoff,andthecontractforeggswasincreasedtosixhundredaweek,sothatthatyearthehensbarelyhatchedenoughchickstokeeptheirnumbersatthesamelevel.Rations,reducedinDecember,werereducedagaininFebruary,andlanternsinthestallswereforbiddentosaveOil.Butthepigs


seemedcomfortableenough,andinfactwereputtingonweightifanything.OneafternooninlateFebruaryawarm,rich,appetisingscent,suchastheanimalshadneversmeltbefore,wafteditselfacrosstheyardfromthelittlebrew-house,whichhadbeendisusedinJones’time,andwhichstoodbeyondthekitchen.Someonesaiditwasthesmellofcookingbarley.Theanimalssniffedtheairhungrilyandwonderedwhetherawarmmashwasbeingpreparedfortheirsupper.Butnowarmmashappeared,andonthefollowingSundayitwasannouncedthatfromnowonwardsallbarley

theorchardhadalreadybeensownwithbarley.Andthenewssoonleakedoutthateverypigwasnowreceivingarationofapintofbeerdaily,withhalfagallonforNapoleonhimself,whichwasalwaysservedtohimintheCrownDerbysouptureen. Butiftherewerehardshipstobeborne,theywerepartlyoffsetbythefactthatlifenowadayshadagreaterdignitythanithadhadbefore.Thereweremoresongs,morespeeches,moreprocessions.NapoleonhadcommandedthatonceaweekthereshouldbeheldsomethingcalledaSpontaneousDemonstration,theobjectofwhichwastocelebratethestrugglesandtriumphsofAnimalFarm.Attheappointedtimetheanimalswouldleavetheirworkandmarchroundtheprecinctsofthefarminmilitaryformation,withthepigsleading,thenthehorses,thenthecows,thenthesheep,andthenthepoultry.Thedogs

marchedNapoleon’sblackcockerel.BoxerandCloveralwayscarriedbetweenthemagreenbannermarkedwiththehoofandthehornandthecaption,‘LongliveComradeNapoleon!’AfterwardstherewererecitationsofpoemscomposedinNapoleon’shonour,andaspeechbySquealergivingparticularsofthelatestincreasesintheproductionoffoodstuffs,andon

werethegreatestdevoteesoftheSpontaneousDemonstration,andifanyonecomplained(asafewanimalssometimesdid,whennopigsordogswerenear)thattheywastedtimeandmeantalotofstandingaboutinthecold,thesheepweresuretosilencehimwithatremendousbleatingof

‘Fourlegsgood,twolegsbad!’Butbyandlargetheanimalsenjoyedthesecelebrations.Theyfounditcomfortingtoberemindedthat,afterall,theyweretrulytheirownmastersandthatthework

withthesongs,theprocessions,Squealer’slistsof

abletoforgetthattheirbellieswereempty,atleastpartofthetime. InApril,AnimalFarmwasproclaimedaRepublic,anditbecamenecessarytoelectaPresident.Therewasonlyonecandidate,Napoleon,whowaselectedunanimously.OnthesamedayitwasgivenoutthatfreshdocumentshadbeendiscoveredwhichrevealedfurtherdetailsaboutSnowball’scomplicitywithJones.ItnowappearedthatSnowballhadnot,astheanimalshadpreviouslyimagined,merelyattemptedtolosetheBattleoftheCowshedbymeansofastratagem,buthadbeenopenly

actuallybeentheleaderofthehumanforces,andhadchargedintobattlewiththewords‘LongliveHumanity!’onhislips.ThewoundsonSnowball’sback,whichafewoftheanimalsstillremembered

teeth. InthemiddleofthesummerMosestheravensuddenlyreappearedonthefarm,afteranabsenceofseveralyears.Hewasquiteunchanged,stilldidnowork,andtalkedinthesamestrainaseveraboutSugarcandyMountain.Hewould

thehourtoanyonewhowouldlisten.‘Upthere,comrades,’hewouldsaysolemnly,pointingtotheskywithhislargebeak—‘upthere,justontheothersideofthatdarkcloudthatyoucansee—thereitlies,SugarcandyMountain,thathappycountrywherewepooranimalsshallrestforeverfromourlabours!’Heevenclaimedtohavebeen

cakeandlumpsugargrowingonthehedges.Manyoftheanimalsbelievedhim.Theirlivesnow,theyreasoned,werehungryandlaborious;wasitnotrightandjustthatabetterworldshould


todeterminewastheattitudeofthepigstowardsMoses.TheyalldeclaredcontemptuouslythathisstoriesaboutSugarcandyMountainwerelies,andyettheyallowedhimtoremainonthefarm,notworking,withanallowanceofagillofbeeraday. Afterhishoofhadhealedup,Boxerworkedharderthanever.Indeed,alltheanimalsworkedlikeslavesthatyear.Apartfromtheregularworkofthefarm,andtherebuildingofthewindmill,therewastheschoolhousefortheyoungpigs,whichwasstartedinMarch.Sometimesthe

butBoxerneverfaltered.Innothingthathesaidordidwasthereanysignthathisstrengthwasnotwhatithadbeen.Itwasonlyhisappearancethatwasalittlealtered;hishidewaslessshinythanithadusedtobe,andhisgreathaunchesseemedtohaveshrunken.Theotherssaid,‘Boxerwillpickupwhenthespringgrasscomeson’;butthespringcameandBoxergrewnofatter.Sometimesontheslopeleadingtothetopofthequarry,whenhebracedhismusclesagainsttheweightofsomevastboulder,itseemedthatnothingkepthimonhisfeetexceptthewilltocontinue.Atsuchtimeshislipswereseentoformthewords,‘Iwillworkharder’;hehadnovoiceleft.OnceagainCloverandBenjaminwarnedhimtotakecareofhishealth,butBoxerpaidnoattention.Histwelfthbirthdaywasapproaching.Hedidnotcarewhathappenedsolongasagoodstoreofstonewasaccumulatedbeforehewentonpension. Lateoneeveninginthesummer,asuddenrumourranroundthefarmthatsomethinghadhappenedtoBoxer.Hehadgoneoutalonetodragaloadofstonedowntothewindmill.Andsureenough,therumourwastrue.Afewminuteslatertwopigeonscameracinginwiththenews: ‘Boxerhasfallen!Heislyingonhissideandcan’tgetup!’ Abouthalftheanimalsonthefarmrushedouttotheknollwherethewind-millstood.TherelayBoxer,betweentheshaftsofthecart,hisneckstretchedout,unableeventoraisehishead.Hiseyeswereglazed,hissidesmattedwithsweat.Athinstreamofbloodhadtrickledoutofhismouth.Cloverdroppedtoherkneesathisside. ‘Boxer!’shecried,‘howareyou?’ ‘Itismylung,’saidBoxerinaweak

voice.‘Itdoesnotmatter.Ithinkyouwillbe

aprettygoodstoreofstoneaccumulated.Ihadonlyanothermonthtogoinanycase.Totellyouthetruth,Ihadbeenlookingforwardtomyretirement.Andperhaps,asBenjaminisgrowingoldtoo,theywilllethimretireatthesametimeandbeacompaniontome.’ ‘Wemustgethelpatonce,’saidClover.‘Run,somebody,andtellSquealerwhathashappened.’ AlltheotheranimalsimmediatelyracedbacktothefarmhousetogiveSquealerthenews.OnlyCloverremained,andBenjaminwholaydownatBoxer’sside,and,withoutspeaking,kept

aquarterofanhourSquealerappeared,fullofsympathyandconcern.HesaidthatComradeNapoleonhadlearnedwiththeverydeepestdistressofthismisfortunetooneofthemostloyalworkersonthefarm,andwasalreadymakingarrangementstosendBoxertobetreatedinthehospitalatWillingdon.Theanimalsfeltalittleuneasyatthis.ExceptforMollieandSnowball,nootheranimalhadeverleftthefarm,andtheydidnotliketothinkoftheirsickcomradeinthehandsofhumanbeings.However,SquealereasilyconvincedthemthattheveterinarysurgeoninWillingdoncouldtreatBoxer’scasemoresatisfactorilythancouldbedoneonthefarm.Andabouthalfanhourlater,whenBoxerhad

tohisfeet,andmanagedtolimpbacktohisstall,whereCloverandBenjaminhadpreparedagoodbedofstrawforhim. ForthenexttwodaysBoxerremainedinhisstall.Thepigshadsentoutalargebottleofpinkmedicinewhichtheyhadfoundinthemedicinechestinthebathroom,andCloveradministeredittoBoxertwiceadayaftermeals.Intheeveningsshelayinhisstallandtalkedto

professednottobesorryforwhathadhappened.Ifhemadeagoodrecovery,hemightexpecttoliveanotherthreeyears,andhelookedforwardtothepeacefuldaysthathewouldspendinthecornerof

hadhadleisuretostudyandimprovehismind.He


intended,hesaid,todevotetherestofhislifetolearningtheremainingtwenty-twolettersofthealphabet. However,BenjaminandClovercouldonlybewithBoxerafterworkinghours,anditwasinthemiddleofthedaywhenthevancametotakehimaway.Theanimalswereallatworkweedingturnipsunderthesupervisionofapig,whentheywereastonishedtoseeBenjamincomegallopingfromthedirectionofthefarmbuildings,braying

theyhadeverseenBenjaminexcited—indeed,it

gallop.‘Quick,quick!’heshouted.‘Comeatonce!They’retakingBoxeraway!’Withoutwaitingforordersfromthepig,theanimalsbrokeoffworkandracedbacktothefarmbuildings.Sureenough,thereintheyardwasalargeclosedvan,drawnbytwohorses,withletteringonitssideandasly-lookingmaninalow-crownedbowlerhatsittingonthedriver’sseat.AndBoxer’sstallwasempty. Theanimalscrowdedroundthevan. ‘Good-bye,Boxer!’theychorused,‘good-bye!’ ‘Fools!Fools!’shoutedBenjamin,prancingroundthemandstampingtheearthwithhissmallhoofs.‘Fools!Doyounotseewhatiswrittenonthesideofthatvan?’ Thatgavetheanimalspause,andtherewasahush.Murielbegantospelloutthewords.ButBenjaminpushedherasideandinthemidstofadeadlysilenceheread: ‘AlfredSimmonds,HorseSlaughtererandGlueBoiler,Willingdon.DealerinHidesandBone-Meal.KennelsSupplied.’Doyounotunderstandwhatthatmeans?TheyaretakingBoxertotheknacker’s!’ Acryofhorrorburstfromalltheanimals.Atthismomentthemanontheboxwhippeduphishorsesandthevanmovedoutoftheyardatasmarttrot.Alltheanimalsfollowed,cryingoutatthetopsoftheirvoices.Cloverforcedherwaytothefront.Thevanbegantogatherspeed.Clovertriedtostirherstoutlimbstoagallop,andachievedacanter. ‘Boxer!’shecried.‘Boxer!Boxer!Boxer!’Andjustatthismoment,asthoughhehadheardtheuproaroutside,Boxer’sface,withthewhite

stripedownhisnose,appearedatthesmallwindowatthebackofthevan. ‘Boxer!’criedCloverinaterriblevoice.‘Boxer!Getout!Getoutquickly!They’retakingyoutoyourdeath!’ Alltheanimalstookupthecryof‘Getout,Boxer,getout!’Butthevanwasalreadygatheringspeedanddrawingawayfromthem.ItwasuncertainwhetherBoxerhadunderstoodwhatCloverhadsaid.Butamomentlaterhisfacedisappearedfromthewindowandtherewasthesoundofatremendousdrummingofhoofsinsidethevan.Hewastryingtokickhiswayout.ThetimehadbeenwhenafewkicksfromBoxer’shoofswouldhavesmashedthevantomatchwood.Butalas!hisstrengthhadlefthim;andinafewmomentsthesoundofdrumminghoofsgrewfainteranddiedaway.Indesperationtheanimalsbeganappealingtothetwohorseswhichdrewthevantostop. ‘Comrades,comrades!’theyshouted.‘Don’ttakeyourownbrothertohisdeath!’Butthestupidbrutes,tooignoranttorealisewhatwashappening,merelysetbacktheirearsandquickenedtheirpace.Boxer’sfacedidnotreappearatthewindow.Toolate,someone

barredgate;butinanothermomentthevanwasthroughitandrapidlydisappearingdowntheroad.Boxerwasneverseenagain. ThreedayslateritwasannouncedthathehaddiedinthehospitalatWillingdon,inspiteofreceivingeveryattentionahorsecouldhave.Squealercametoannouncethenewstotheothers.Hehad,hesaid,beenpresentduringBoxer’slasthours.‘ItwasthemostaffectingsightIhaveeverseen!’saidSquealer,liftinghistrotterandwipingawayatear.‘Iwasathisbedsideattheverylast.Andattheend,almosttooweaktospeak,hewhisperedinmyearthathissolesorrowwastohavepassedonbeforethewindmill

’ForwardinthenameoftheRebellion.LongliveAnimalFarm!LongliveComradeNapoleon!Napoleonisalwaysright.’Thosewerehisverylastwords,comrades.’ HereSquealer’sdemeanoursuddenlychanged.Hefellsilentforamoment,andhislittle


eyesdartedsuspiciousglancesfromsidetosidebeforeheproceeded. Ithadcometohisknowledge,hesaid,thatafoolishandwickedrumourhadbeencirculatedatthetimeofBoxer’sremoval.SomeoftheanimalshadnoticedthatthevanwhichtookBoxerawaywasmarked‘HorseSlaughterer,’andhadactuallyjumpedtotheconclusionthatBoxerwasbeingsenttotheknacker’s.Itwasalmostunbelievable,saidSquealer,thatanyanimalcouldbesostupid.Surely,hecriedindignantly,whiskinghistailandskippingfromsidetoside,surelytheyknewtheirbelovedLeader,ComradeNapoleon,betterthanthat?Buttheexplanationwasreallyverysimple.Thevanhadpreviouslybeenthepropertyoftheknacker,andhadbeenboughtbytheveterinarysurgeon,whohadnotyetpaintedtheoldnameout.Thatwashowthemistakehadarisen. Theanimalswereenormouslyrelievedtohearthis.AndwhenSquealerwentontogivefurthergraphicdetailsofBoxer’sdeath-bed,theadmirablecarehehadreceived,andtheexpensivemedicinesforwhichNapoleonhadpaidwithoutathoughtastothecost,theirlastdoubtsdisappearedandthesorrowthattheyfeltfortheircomrade’sdeathwastemperedbythethoughtthatatleasthehaddiedhappy. NapoleonhimselfappearedatthemeetingonthefollowingSundaymorningandpronouncedashortorationinBoxer’shonour.Ithadnotbeenpossible,hesaid,tobringbacktheirlamentedcomrade’sremainsforintermentonthefarm,buthehadorderedalargewreathtobemadefromthelaurelsinthefarmhousegardenandsentdowntobeplacedonBoxer’sgrave.Andinafewdays’timethepigsintendedtoholdamemorialbanquetinBoxer’shonour.NapoleonendedhisspeechwithareminderofBoxer’stwofavouritemaxims,‘Iwillworkharder’and‘ComradeNapoleonisalwaysright’—maxims,hesaid,whicheveryanimalwoulddowelltoadoptashisown. Onthedayappointedforthebanquet,agrocer’svandroveupfromWillingdonanddeliveredalargewoodencrateatthefarmhouse.Thatnighttherewasthesoundofuproarioussinging,whichwasfollowedbywhatsounded

likeaviolentquarrelandendedatabouteleveno’clockwithatremendouscrashofglass.Noonestirredinthefarmhousebeforenoononthefollowingday,andthewordwentroundthatfromsomewhereorotherthepigshadacquiredthemoneytobuythemselvesanothercaseofwhisky.

X Yearspassed.Theseasonscameandwent,

therewasnoonewhorememberedtheolddaysbeforetheRebellion,exceptClover,Benjamin,Mosestheraven,andanumberofthepigs. Murielwasdead;Bluebell,Jessie,andPincherweredead.Jonestoowasdead—hehaddiedinaninebriates’homeinanotherpartofthecountry.Snowballwasforgotten.Boxerwasforgotten,exceptbythefewwhohadknownhim.Cloverwasanoldstoutmarenow,stiffinthejointsandwithatendencytorheumyeyes.Shewastwoyearspasttheretiringage,butinfactnoanimalhadeveractuallyretired.Thetalkofsettingasideacornerofthepastureforsuperannuatedanimalshadlongsincebeendropped.Napoleonwasnowamatureboaroftwenty-fourstone.Squealerwassofatthathe

Benjaminwasmuchthesameasever,exceptforbeingalittlegreyeraboutthemuzzle,and,sinceBoxer’sdeath,moremoroseandtaciturnthanever. Thereweremanymorecreaturesonthefarmnow,thoughtheincreasewasnotsogreatashadbeenexpectedinearlieryears.ManyanimalshadbeenborntowhomtheRebellionwasonlyadimtradition,passedonbywordofmouth,andothershadbeenboughtwhohadneverheardmentionofsuchathingbeforetheirarrival.ThefarmpossessedthreehorsesnowbesidesClover.

andgoodcomrades,butverystupid.NoneofthemprovedabletolearnthealphabetbeyondtheletterB.TheyacceptedeverythingthattheyweretoldabouttheRebellionandtheprinciplesofAnimalism,especiallyfromClover,forwhomthey

whethertheyunderstoodverymuchofit.


Thefarmwasmoreprosperousnow,andbetterorganised:ithadevenbeenenlarged

Pilkington.Thewind-millhadbeensuccessfullycompletedatlast,andthefarmpossessedathreshingmachineandahayelevatorofitsown,andvariousnewbuildingshadbeenaddedtoit.Whymperhadboughthimselfadogcart.Thewindmill,however,hadnotafterallbeenusedforgeneratingelectricalpower.Itwasusedformillingcorn,andbroughtinahandsomemoney

itwassaid,thedynamoswouldbeinstalled.ButtheluxuriesofwhichSnowballhadoncetaughttheanimalstodream,thestallswithelectriclightandhotandcoldwater,andthethree-dayweek,werenolongertalkedabout.NapoleonhaddenouncedsuchideasascontrarytothespiritofAnimalism.Thetruesthappiness,hesaid,layinworkinghardandlivingfrugally. Somehowitseemedasthoughthefarmhadgrownricherwithoutmakingtheanimalsthemselvesanyricher—except,ofcourse,forthepigsandthedogs.Perhapsthiswaspartlybecausethereweresomanypigsandsomanydogs.Itwasnotthatthesecreaturesdidnotwork,aftertheirfashion.Therewas,asSquealerwasnevertiredofexplaining,endlessworkinthesupervisionandorganisationofthefarm.Muchofthisworkwasofakindthattheotheranimalsweretooignoranttounderstand.Forexample,Squealertoldthemthatthepigshadtoexpendenormouslabourseverydayuponmysteriousthingscalled

werelargesheetsofpaperwhichhadtobecloselycoveredwithwriting,andassoonastheyweresocovered,theywereburntinthefurnace.Thiswasofthehighestimportanceforthewelfareofthefarm,Squealersaid.Butstill,neitherpigsnordogsproducedanyfoodbytheirownlabour;andtherewereverymanyofthem,andtheirappetiteswerealwaysgood. Asfortheothers,theirlife,sofarastheyknew,wasasithadalwaysbeen.Theyweregenerallyhungry,theysleptonstraw,theydrank

wintertheyweretroubledbythecold,andin

amongthemrackedtheirdimmemoriesandtriedtodeterminewhetherintheearlydaysoftheRebellion,whenJones’expulsionwasstillrecent,thingshadbeenbetterorworsethannow.Theycouldnotremember.Therewasnothingwithwhichtheycouldcomparetheirpresentlives:theyhadnothingtogouponexceptSquealer’s

thateverythingwasgettingbetterandbetter.Theanimalsfoundtheprobleminsoluble;inanycase,theyhadlittletimeforspeculatingonsuchthingsnow.OnlyoldBenjaminprofessedtoremembereverydetailofhislonglifeandtoknowthatthingsneverhadbeen,norevercouldbemuchbetterormuchworse—hunger,hardship,anddisappointmentbeing,sohesaid,theunalterablelawoflife. Andyettheanimalsnevergaveuphope.More,theyneverlost,evenforaninstant,theirsenseofhonourandprivilegeinbeingmembersofAnimalFarm.Theywerestilltheonlyfarminthewholecounty—inallEngland!—ownedandoperatedbyanimals.Notoneofthem,noteventheyoungest,noteventhenewcomerswhohadbeenbroughtfromfarmstenortwentymilesaway,everceasedtomarvelatthat.Andwhentheyheardthegunboomingandsaw

heartsswelledwithimperishablepride,andthetalkturnedalwaystowardstheoldheroicdays,theexpulsionofJones,thewritingoftheSevenCommandments,thegreatbattlesinwhichthehumaninvadershadbeendefeated.Noneoftheolddreamshadbeenabandoned.TheRepublicoftheAnimalswhichMajorhadforetold,when

byhumanfeet,wasstillbelievedin.Somedayitwascoming:itmightnotbesoon,itmightnotbewithinthelifetimeofanyanimalnowliving,butstillitwascoming.EventhetuneofBeastsofEnglandwasperhapshummedsecretlyhereandthere:atanyrate,itwasafactthateveryanimalonthefarmknewit,thoughnoonewouldhavedaredtosingitaloud.Itmightbethattheirliveswerehardandthatnotalloftheirhopeshadbeen

notasotheranimals.Iftheywenthungry,itwas


notfromfeedingtyrannicalhumanbeings;iftheyworkedhard,atleasttheyworkedforthemselves.Nocreatureamongthemwentupontwolegs.Nocreaturecalledanyothercreature‘Master.’Allanimalswereequal. OnedayinearlysummerSquealerorderedthesheeptofollowhim,andledthemouttoapieceofwastegroundattheotherendofthefarm,whichhadbecomeovergrownwithbirchsaplings.ThesheepspentthewholedaytherebrowsingattheleavesunderSquealer’ssupervision.Intheeveninghereturnedtothefarmhousehimself,but,asitwaswarmweather,toldthesheeptostaywheretheywere.Itendedbytheirremainingthereforawholeweek,duringwhichtimetheotheranimalssawnothingofthem.Squealerwaswiththemforthegreaterpartofeveryday.Hewas,hesaid,teachingthemtosinganewsong,forwhichprivacywasneeded. Itwasjustafterthesheephadreturned,onapleasanteveningwhentheanimalshad

ofahorsesoundedfromtheyard.Startled,theanimalsstoppedintheirtracks.ItwasClover’svoice.Sheneighedagain,andalltheanimalsbrokeintoagallopandrushedintotheyard.ThentheysawwhatCloverhadseen. Itwasapigwalkingonhishindlegs. Yes,itwasSquealer.Alittleawkwardly,asthoughnotquiteusedtosup-portinghisconsiderablebulkinthatposition,butwithperfectbalance,hewasstrollingacrosstheyard.Andamomentlater,outfromthedoorofthe

ontheirhindlegs.Somediditbetterthanothers,

asthoughtheywouldhavelikedthesupportofastick,buteveryoneofthemmadehiswayright

atremendousbayingofdogsandashrillcrowingfromtheblackcockerel,andoutcameNapoleonhimself,majesticallyupright,castinghaughtyglancesfromsidetoside,andwithhisdogsgambollingroundhim. Hecarriedawhipinhistrotter. Therewasadeadlysilence.Amazed,

thelonglineofpigsmarchslowlyroundtheyard.Itwasasthoughtheworldhadturnedupside-down.Thentherecameamomentwhenthe

everything—inspiteoftheirterrorofthedogs,andofthehabit,developedthroughlongyears,ofnevercomplaining,nevercriticising,nomatterwhathappened—theymighthaveutteredsomewordofprotest.Butjustatthatmoment,asthoughatasignal,allthesheepburstoutintoatremendousbleatingof— ‘Fourlegsgood,twolegsbetter!Fourlegsgood,twolegsbetter!Fourlegsgood,twolegsbetter!’

stopping.Andbythetimethesheephadquieteddown,thechancetoutteranyprotesthadpassed,forthepigshadmarchedbackintothefarmhouse. Benjaminfeltanosenuzzlingathisshoulder.Helookedround.ItwasClover.Heroldeyeslookeddimmerthanever.Withoutsayinganything,shetuggedgentlyathismaneandledhimroundtotheendofthebigbarn,wheretheSevenCommandmentswerewritten.Foraminuteortwotheystoodgazingatthetattedwallwithitswhitelettering.

whenIwasyoungIcouldnothavereadwhatwaswrittenthere.Butitappearstomethatthatwalllooksdifferent.AretheSevenCommandmentsthesameastheyusedtobe,Benjamin?’ ForonceBenjaminconsentedtobreakhisrule,andhereadouttoherwhatwaswrittenonthewall.TherewasnothingtherenowexceptasingleCommandment.Itran:

Afterthatitdidnotseemstrangewhennextdaythepigswhoweresupervisingtheworkofthefarmallcarriedwhipsintheirtrotters.Itdidnotseemstrangetolearnthatthepigshadboughtthemselvesawirelessset,werearrangingtoinstallatelephone,andhadtakenoutsubscriptionstoJohnBull,TitBits,andtheDailyMirror.ItdidnotseemstrangewhenNapoleonwasseenstrollinginthefarmhousegardenwith


apipeinhismouth—no,notevenwhenthepigstookMr.Jones’clothesoutofthewardrobesandputthemon,Napoleonhimselfappearinginablackcoat,ratcatcherbreeches,andleatherleggings,whilehisfavouritesowappearedinthewateredsilkdresswhichMrs.JoneshadbeenusedtowearonSundays.Aweeklater,intheafternoon,anumberofdogcartsdroveuptothefarm. Adeputationofneighbouringfarmershadbeeninvitedtomakeatourofinspection.Theywereshownalloverthefarm,andexpressedgreatadmirationforeverythingtheysaw,especiallythewindmill.Theanimalswereweedingtheturnip

facesfromtheground,andnotknowingwhethertobemorefrightenedofthepigsorofthehumanvisitors. Thateveningloudlaughterandburstsofsingingcamefromthefarmhouse.Andsuddenly,atthesoundofthemingledvoices,theanimalswerestrickenwithcuriosity.Whatcouldbe

animalsandhumanbeingsweremeetingontermsofequality?Withoneaccordtheybegantocreepasquietlyaspossibleintothefarmhousegarden. Atthegatetheypaused,halffrightenedtogoonbutCloverledthewayin.Theytiptoeduptothehouse,andsuchanimalsasweretallenoughpeeredinatthedining-roomwindow.There,roundthelongtable,sathalfadozenfarmersandhalfadozenofthemoreeminentpigs,Napoleonhimselfoccupyingtheseatofhonourattheheadofthetable.Thepigsappearedcompletelyateaseintheirchairs.Thecompanyhadbeenenjoyingagameofcardsbuthadbrokenoffforthemoment,evidentlyinordertodrinkatoast.Alargejugwas

beer.Noonenoticedthewonderingfacesoftheanimalsthatgazedinatthewindow. Mr.Pilkington,ofFoxwood,hadstoodup,hismuginhishand.Inamoment,hesaid,hewouldaskthepresentcompanytodrinkatoast.Butbeforedoingso,therewereafewwordsthathefeltitincumbentuponhimtosay. Itwasasourceofgreatsatisfactiontohim,hesaid—and,hewassure,toallotherspresent—tofeelthatalongperiodofmistrust

andmisunderstandinghadnowcometoanend.Therehadbeenatime—notthathe,oranyofthepresentcompany,hadsharedsuchsentiments—buttherehadbeenatimewhentherespectedproprietorsofAnimalFarmhadbeenregarded,hewouldnotsaywithhostility,butperhapswithacertainmeasureofmisgiving,bytheirhumanneighbours.Unfortunateincidentshadoccurred,mistakenideashadbeencurrent.Ithadbeenfeltthattheexistenceofafarmownedandoperatedbypigswassomehowabnormalandwasliabletohaveanunsettlingeffectintheneighbourhood.Toomanyfarmershadassumed,withoutdueenquiry,thatonsuchafarmaspiritoflicenceandindisciplinewouldprevail.Theyhadbeennervousabouttheeffectsupontheirownanimals,orevenupontheirhumanemployees.Butallsuchdoubtswerenowdispelled.TodayheandhisfriendshadvisitedAnimalFarmandinspectedeveryinchofit

onlythemostup-to-datemethods,butadisciplineandanorderlinesswhichshouldbeanexampletoallfarmerseverywhere.HebelievedthathewasrightinsayingthattheloweranimalsonAnimalFarmdidmoreworkandreceivedlessfoodthananyanimalsinthecounty.Indeed,heandhisfellow-visitorstodayhadobservedmanyfeatureswhichtheyintendedtointroduceontheirownfarmsimmediately. Hewouldendhisremarks,hesaid,byemphasisingonceagainthefriendlyfeelingsthatsubsisted,andoughttosubsist,betweenAnimalFarmanditsneighbours.Betweenpigsandhumanbeingstherewasnot,andthereneednotbe,anyclashofinterestswhatever.Their

thelabourproblemthesameeverywhere?HereitbecameapparentthatMr.Pilkingtonwasabouttospringsomecarefullypreparedwitticismonthecompany,butforamomenthewastooovercomebyamusementtobeabletoutterit.Aftermuchchoking,duringwhichhisvariouschinsturnedpurple,hemanagedtogetitout:‘Ifyouhaveyourloweranimalstocontendwith,’hesaid,‘wehaveourlowerclasses!’Thisbonmotsetthetableinaroar;andMr.Pilkingtononceagaincongratulatedthepigsonthelowrations,thelongworkinghours,andthegeneralabsenceofpampering


whichhehadobservedonAnimalFarm.

companytorisetotheirfeetandmakecertainthattheirglasseswerefull.‘Gentlemen,’concludedMr.Pilkington,‘gentlemen,Igiveyouatoast:TotheprosperityofAnimalFarm!’ Therewasenthusiasticcheeringand

helefthisplaceandcameroundthetabletoclinkhismugagainstMr.Pilkington’sbeforeemptyingit.Whenthecheeringhaddieddown,Napoleon,whohadremainedonhisfeet,intimatedthathetoohadafewwordstosay. LikeallofNapoleon’sspeeches,itwasshortandtothepoint.Hetoo,hesaid,washappythattheperiodofmisunderstandingwasatanend.Foralongtimetherehadbeenrumours—circulated,hehadreasontothink,bysomemalignantenemy—thattherewassomethingsubversiveandevenrevolutionaryintheoutlookofhimselfandhiscolleagues.Theyhadbeencreditedwithattemptingtostiruprebellionamongtheanimalsonneighbouringfarms.Nothingcouldbefurtherfromthetruth!Theirsolewish,nowandinthepast,wastoliveatpeaceandinnormalbusinessrelationswiththeirneighbours.Thisfarmwhichhehadthehonourtocontrol,headded,wasaco-operativeenterprise.Thetitle-deeds,whichwereinhisownpossession,wereownedbythepigsjointly. Hedidnotbelieve,hesaid,thatanyoftheoldsuspicionsstilllingered,butcertainchangeshadbeenmaderecentlyintheroutineofthefarmwhichshouldhavetheeffectofpromoting

onthefarmhadhadaratherfoolishcustomofaddressingoneanotheras‘Comrade.’Thiswastobesuppressed.Therehadalsobeenaverystrangecustom,whoseoriginwasunknown,ofmarchingeverySundaymorningpastaboar’sskullwhichwasnailedtoapostinthegarden.This,too,wouldbesuppressed,andtheskullhadalreadybeenburied.Hisvisitorsmighthaveobserved,too,the

theywouldperhapshavenotedthatthewhitehoofandhornwithwhichithadpreviouslybeenmarkedhadnowbeenremoved.Itwouldbea

Hehadonlyonecriticism,hesaid,tomakeofMr.Pilkington’sexcellentandneighbourlyspeech.Mr.Pilkingtonhadreferredthroughoutto‘AnimalFarm.’Hecouldnotofcourseknow—

announcingit—thatthename‘AnimalFarm’hadbeenabolished.Henceforwardthefarmwastobeknownas‘TheManorFarm’—which,hebelieved,wasitscorrectandoriginalname. ‘Gentlemen,’concludedNapoleon,‘Iwillgiveyouthesametoastasbefore,butinadifferentform.Fillyourglassestothebrim.Gentlemen,hereismytoast:TotheprosperityofTheManorFarm!’ Therewasthesameheartycheeringasbefore,andthemugswereemptiedtothedregs.Butastheanimalsoutsidegazedatthescene,itseemedtothemthatsomestrangethingwashappening.Whatwasitthathadalteredinthe

somehadfour,somehadthree.Butwhatwasitthatseemedtobemeltingandchanging?Then,theapplausehavingcometoanend,thecompanytookuptheircardsandcontinuedthegamethathadbeeninterrupted,andtheanimalscreptsilentlyaway. Buttheyhadnotgonetwentyyardswhentheystoppedshort.Anuproarofvoiceswascomingfromthefarmhouse.Theyrushedbackandlookedthroughthewindowagain.Yes,aviolentquarrelwasinprogress.Therewereshoutings,bangingsonthetable,sharpsuspiciousglances,furiousdenials.ThesourceofthetroubleappearedtobethatNapoleonandMr.Pilkingtonhadeachplayedanaceofspadessimultaneously. Twelvevoiceswereshoutinginanger,andtheywereallalike.Noquestion,now,whathadhappenedtothefacesofthepigs.Thecreaturesoutsidelookedfrompigtoman,andfrommantopig,andfrompigtomanagain;butalreadyitwasimpossibletosaywhichwaswhich.

TheEnd


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Animal Farm FULL TEXT - Murphy's Classes and Clubsmurphysclassesandclubs.weebly.com/.../animal_farm_full_text.pdf · Animal Farm George Orwell 1945 50 Animal Farm: A study guide -