As the new year's resolution to read canonical texts, I began with Animal Farm, considering it be interesting owing to its title. As I read the back of the book being about farm animals taking control of their destiny, the idea itself seemed inviting to be read through. I began thereafter.
Initially as I read began, I found an Old Major (pig)instigating the animals to fight for equality or rebellion as it would be called and as he completes this last task for life, he dies. Next, animals fight against the unfair treatment they went through due to human acts (symbolised by Jones, their owner). Quite willingly, the animals get ready to fight and under the leadership of Snowball and Napoleon they do get the farm free and name it "Animal Farm". They have their own commandments which would be like a modern day constitution and also have a national anthem with a title suitable to their community. As the chapters progress we see the duo of Snowball and Napoleon (pigs) having their own differences and Snowball as a result getting expelled. Till the end and even after the end of the novel, I couldn't find out what happened to Snowball and Mollie (cat). Further as the novel goes, we see how Napoleon and other members of his species takes total charge of all other animals and despite the idea of equality, he becomes more equal than others just because of his schematic designs (keeping dogs on guard and choosing not to work while all other animals work). Considering the interest of the readers, I wouldn't want to write anything about the end leaving it to the readers to analyse that part.
Clearly, the duality of the human race has been satirised (they behave in some way and act in another). The animals vow never to use any human things or human ways but the very acts of allotting work to everyone and hence carrying it out are human ways. Establishing the windmill, Napoleon's trade deals for eggs are human too. But also indicate that no person, country or organisation can exist in isolation. Boxer's tragic end also talks of the dark realities of human ways of using labour when they have strength and thereafter getting rid of it in anyway possible when their strength days are over. The reference to Queen Victoria in the initial chapters hints to the victimisation of the human race due to colonisation. The animals also have their own anthem which they sing with a lot of zeal. That again hints to the patriotic element and the fact of abandoning it towards the climax also talks of the change of loyalties of the characters (animals here). One more notable fact is about the mob mentality. How the mob can be manipulated to any use due to it's innocence and single mindedness. Squealer (pig), whose a loyal follower of Napoleon performs this manipulation part yet and yet again throughout the text.
Initially as I read began, I found an Old Major (pig)instigating the animals to fight for equality or rebellion as it would be called and as he completes this last task for life, he dies. Next, animals fight against the unfair treatment they went through due to human acts (symbolised by Jones, their owner). Quite willingly, the animals get ready to fight and under the leadership of Snowball and Napoleon they do get the farm free and name it "Animal Farm". They have their own commandments which would be like a modern day constitution and also have a national anthem with a title suitable to their community. As the chapters progress we see the duo of Snowball and Napoleon (pigs) having their own differences and Snowball as a result getting expelled. Till the end and even after the end of the novel, I couldn't find out what happened to Snowball and Mollie (cat). Further as the novel goes, we see how Napoleon and other members of his species takes total charge of all other animals and despite the idea of equality, he becomes more equal than others just because of his schematic designs (keeping dogs on guard and choosing not to work while all other animals work). Considering the interest of the readers, I wouldn't want to write anything about the end leaving it to the readers to analyse that part.
Clearly, the duality of the human race has been satirised (they behave in some way and act in another). The animals vow never to use any human things or human ways but the very acts of allotting work to everyone and hence carrying it out are human ways. Establishing the windmill, Napoleon's trade deals for eggs are human too. But also indicate that no person, country or organisation can exist in isolation. Boxer's tragic end also talks of the dark realities of human ways of using labour when they have strength and thereafter getting rid of it in anyway possible when their strength days are over. The reference to Queen Victoria in the initial chapters hints to the victimisation of the human race due to colonisation. The animals also have their own anthem which they sing with a lot of zeal. That again hints to the patriotic element and the fact of abandoning it towards the climax also talks of the change of loyalties of the characters (animals here). One more notable fact is about the mob mentality. How the mob can be manipulated to any use due to it's innocence and single mindedness. Squealer (pig), whose a loyal follower of Napoleon performs this manipulation part yet and yet again throughout the text.
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