Animal Farm

The pig leaders continue their practice of systematically altering the text of the Seven Commandments to make their actions (especially murdering fellow animals) legal and defensible. They release misinformation, suggesting that food production is increasing even though the evidence proves otherwise. Napoleon takes on more and more dictatorial traits, including a new title, “Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon” (66). A pig called Minimus writes a special poem to commemorate this change.

Napoleon, who had until now conducted trade with Mr. Pilkington, switches his allegiance to Mr. Frederick. This comes as a shock to the residents of Animal Farm, who fear and hate Frederick, who is reportedly cruel to his animals. However, Napoleon now vilifies Pilkington, claiming that Snowball has been living on Pilkington’s farm. Napoleon sells timber to Frederick and plans to use the money to buy machinery for the new windmill.

However, the money paid by Frederick to Napoleon turns out to be counterfeit, so Frederick and several men orchestrate an attack on Animal Farm. Once there, the humans blow up the newly completed windmill with gunpowder. Emboldened by this “vile, contemptible act” (74), the animals rout the humans from the farm, and