George Orwell: Animal Farm

[cowgirl]

Old Major's speech was to sort of ralley everyone up. He explained to the animals how unfair it was that they were being treated, and what they could do to stop it. It made me realize how some animals must feel. We basically only take from them, and some are never treated with much more then a pat on the neck, and given just enough food to keep them going, and producing what the farmer wants. Especially preformance animals, they only get worked and fed, nothing more. They are not treated with much gratitude. It made me feel bad for some animals, but I know that I don't treat mine that way...

Major's commandments:
Whatever goes on two legs is an enemy
Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend
No amimal shall wear clothes
No animlas shall sleep in a bed
No animal shall drink alcohol
No animal shall ill any other animal
All animals are equal

Snowball is a born leader. He knows exactly what he wants, and he will push for it. He is also a persuasive speaker.

Napoleon sort of takes the side lines for a while, but also is very powerful and cunning.

Squealor is also rather intelligent, but is more of the follower. He is also a good persausive speaker.

Orwell shows how the animals are trying to become independent. The mood is sort of mixed up in different emotions before the revolt, then a calm and excitment passes through the farm once they take over. Then there is a lot of contraversy and wariness when leaders start to show through. Problems start to show up and the pigs always have ways of covering it up. (milk/apples/sugar)

Pigs and humans function realitively close, but do not resemble eachother at all.

The milk is taken by Napoleon. He doesn't want the other animals to know that he took it. He's becoming very gready, and doing things behind the other animal's backs.

There is sort of a struggle for power. The other animals besides the pigs aren't thinking a whole lot for themselves, and if they do try to the pigs always smooth it over. A dictatorship is somewhat beginning to form, with Napoleon at the top.

The pigs will most likely become the powerful ones. There will be a loss in equality. The farm will most likely begin to fall apart with a dictatorship.

 

[poste]

Boxer has two mottos that he says repeatedly in the book. He says, "I will work harder," and "Napoleon is always right." The first is important because it shows the other animals that he is a hard worker dedicated to the group and it sets an example to the others. The second is important because it shows the depth of Napoleon's power. The animals follow everything he says and allow him to become a dictator.

I think the first commandment broken was the one that states that whatever has two legs is an enemy. Napoleon set this rule but decides to trade with the other farms through Mr. Whymper. This shows that he is breaking the rules to get himself more power.

The pigs are becoming more powerful than the rest of the animals. There is no more equality. They live in the farm house, sleep in beds, and eat better food than the rest.

Snowball isn't guilty of what Napoleon is saying. Squealer twists stories to make it seem like other things happened in the past that the animals just can't remember. The windmill was his idea and he wasn't a spy for Mr. Jones. He also didn't knock over the windmill, it was because of the wind. Animals claim that he comes back and does things in the middle of the night because they are so brainwashed by Napoleon that they have no sense of reality. His name is important because it signifies the "snowball effect." Napoleon started blaming the problems on Snowball to gain power and now it keeps growing to be a bigger and bigger issue. When something goes wrong they always blame it on Snowball.

The Beasts of England was abolished because it signified the rebellion and Napoleon's followers said the rebellion was over and they achieved the society they had been longing for. They felt no need for the song to be sung anymore.

I like this book better than the last one we read. It's getting more exciting as Napoleon gains power. I think he's going to start killing more of the animals, which will leave the farm shorthanded and they will run out of food. What does the cat symbolize?? Is Snowball going to come back??

 

[cowgirl]

Boxer is extemly self-motivated. His own moto is "I will work harder." He is by far the hardest worker on the farm and is very devoted. The other animals look up to Boxer. He is a very strong figure to them. Although, Boxer is not the smartest...he will not fight the ideas of Napoloan.

The pigs are the only ones that are very eduacated. They can research, read, and write. They have a much larger compacity for learning. The pigs want the other animals to be intelligent, but they don't want them to be so intelligent that they will question their rules and teachings. The pigs only want the animals to understand the commandments. And, later on they even let those drop because the pigs start abbusing them. The other animlas only need to know the "four legs good, two legs bad"...and their song.

I would not have bought the speach on milk and apples. The animals are just to naive to go against it. They are mad about it at first, but the pigs reassure them that it is better for the pigs to take care of it. The other animals are also too fearful that JOne's will come back.

The Battle of Cowshed is the first time the humans try to come back to take over the farm. The animals have the whole battle plotted out, and win without a problem. They even had different groups attact at certain times, and then ran back as if they were giving up...but then the worst of the battle occurred. The animals proved here that they could drive off the humans and stay in power.

Mollie never was very into the whole Animal Farm idea. She liked the human attention, and always wanted her sugar and ribbons. Clover caught Mollie letting a man pet her nose. Mollie was much happier with the humans. The pigs let her go. they would not want word that an animal could be happy with humans.

Snowball has an idea for a windmill. He claims that it will all pay off in the end, and give them electricity, heat lamps, and allow them to milk. Snowball even draws out all the details of the plan he wants to carry out. Napoleon does not agree with the windmill idea, and wants the animals to vote against it. Napoleon had the puppies on his side. He sent them to chase Snowball away, and they never heard from him again. Then he went back to the windmill idea and claimed that it had been his idea the whole time. Snowball was then looked down upon by all the animals, and pretty much sentenced to death if they ever found him because he had been unloyal.

Napoleon will definitly take over. He has a lot of power, but he will abuse it. I think the farm will start to fall apart more. The puppies he now has are always with him, and because of them no one will question his thoughts, ideas, and rulings. Squelor also helps the spread of Napoleon's ideas.

 

[Maegan]

I’m not sure if I agree or disagree. It would be easy to say that if everyone were “equal” that things would be different and simple. But at the same time, equality is a matter of opinion. What may be equal to one person might be offensive to another. As long as you have a group of people that are not conformed to all the same ideas, there will always be diversity. Diversity gets perceived in different ways from different people.
The laws in my equal society would be simple, if you treat another person in any way that may be offensive or demeaning, then you will be punished in some way.
If there was someone who was slow in some way, I don’t think there would be a way to help them catch up without making them feel unequal. You would have to bring the other people down to their level and continue to help them at the speed needed.
I don’t think that you could possibly make everyone equal as long as every person is allowed to think for themselves freely. If you have a government, some one might think that because they pick up garbage off the street, that the government worker has a higher standing in the eye of the public. There really isn’t a way to handle the problem. Being the “boss” the people may feel they are not equal to that person than either. So therefor, I don’t think that equality is possible. There will always be at least one person that can twist any situation to suit themselves.

Pg. 15-34

Majors speech was very strong and to the animals was life. Major was a great leader and knew what it would take to convince the animals of what was for their own good. The animals were being starved and under fed. If they wanted to live, they needed to do something. Since I used to live on a dairy farm, I know how we treated our animals and I also know how other people treat their animals, and I don’t feel guilty for how we treated them, but I do for those animals that aren’t treated as nicely. Our cows weren’t by any means a member of the family, but they brought income and without them, my family would have had to find another living. Now our pets, like my horse, is treated like another family member because I have come to love and respect him. So no I don’t feel guilty but it makes you wonder what your pets would say if they could talk.

7 Commandments:
1. Whatever goes on two legs is an enemy
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend
3. No animal shall wear clothes
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed
5. No animal shall drink alcohol
6. No animal shall kill another animal
7. All animals are equal

You can tell that the pigs are up to something… But aren’t sure what. Squelor is Napoleans side – kick, Snowball is a strong leader and has good ideas, and knows how to make the others listen. Napolean is a strong leader also but is more out for power. Squelor is just along for the ride so that he doesn’t end up working like the rest of the animals.

Orwell has made the book exciting. He starts the excitement by working up to the take ove of the farm. The mood starts to get a shadow over it when the puppies are taken away from Jessie and you start to get an uneasy feeling about Napolean.

Humans and pigs are very close genetically, I guess. Pigs have smaller brains, no thumb, and a tail. That’s the only difference. We have all the same organs. They are smaller and walk on four legs. That’s about it.

The pigs are mixing the milk with their food because they need the “extra strength” so that they can tell the rest of the animals what to do.

Animal Farm is starting to turn into a dictatorship. What was once “equal” is now not. The animals are forced to believe every word that Napolean tells them because otherwise they are afraid that Jones will come back.

At this point you can see that its only a matter of time before the animals realize what is truly going on. Dicatatorship will soon run the farm and will eventually fall apart.

 

[Maegan]

Boxer is the hardest working animal on animal farm. No matter what happens, he is always willing to do the job and not complain. He puts forth 120% regaurdless of whether he's tired or hungry. He also is very gullable. He's so loyal to animalism that he would believe anything that you tell him.

The role of education is key throughtout the book. The pigs are very educated and tell the rest that they know what's best for them. They teach the rest how to read the commandments but at the same time, they will only allow them to know that. If they rest become just as educated as the pigs, then they could overthrough the pigs and there would be chaos.

Squealors speech was totally made up to cover up their tracks. No I wouldn't have believed it. But the rest of the groupp has nothing else to believe in. They figure that the pigs saved them from Jones, so they must be right about the apples and milk to keep the pigs strong.

The threat is the spreading of animalism around the world. If other animals were to hear about the animals rebelling against their owners, then they too may do the same.

The battle of Cowshed was the proving point that the animals were serious about keeping the farm. Jones and a bunch of men fron the tavern went to animal farm to take it back. All the men had sticks, except Jones-he had a gun. The animals sent two rounds of attacks and then retreated. Jones and his men followed the small animals into the cowshed where an ambush was waiting for them. The horses,cows and pigs all attacked. The men either ran away from being scared or hurt except the one stable boy who Boxer had hit. He tought he had killed him but was only stunned. One sheep was killed when Jones's gun was fired.

Mollie went into hiding when the gun was fired. Later she is showered with her favorite things - Ribbons and sugar. She leaves animal farm.

A windmill was to be built. It was snowballs idea. If they all work now, when the mill is built, they are told that they will not have to work so much later.

Naoleon and Snowball have opposing views on whether or not the windmill should be built and you can start to tell that there is definite tension between the two. Nepoleon sends out Jessie's puppies after Snowball to banish him. Later Napoleon takes all the credit for the windmill, and telss them that he set it up that way to get rid of Snowball.

You can tell for sure that Napoleon is only out to run things his way. He is definatly a dictator and Squealor is his little sidekick and does the dirty work.

 

[dr_mojo]

Boxer represents the working class of a normal society. He is willing to work as hard as he needs to and follow blindly. It is this that really allows communism and socialism to exist for without the working class the government would collapse in a short number of years. THis is shown in the book for the windmill would not have been built had it not been for Boxer and his enourmous strength.
In the story the pigs are by far the most educated in the entire farm. THey do not fully educate the others in the farm because they may lose power. This has been represented in numerous governments that fear the people being too educated. THe government then limits the knowledge of the people as to protect their power. It has been a fatal flaw in many governments because a country can only progress as far as its people can take it. Lack of education kills governments.
Squealor tells the other animals that the milk and apples are for the pigs only, because they need to be able to thihnk and lead the other animals. THis is very interesting because the pigs do the least amount of work compared to the other animals. If I was an animal in the farm I would have been outraged by the lack of respect for the working class. The leaders are supposed to serve the people not the other way around. THe reason that the animals do buy it is very simple: They do not know any better. THe pigs are by far the smartest animals and Boxer cant even write five letters of the alphabet, fooling the animals is as easy as stealing apples from a baby.
THe threat of the farmers coming back is enough to scare the shit out of the animals. THe absolute last thing that they want to happen is for Mr. Jones to come back and to work them until they die. Napoleon uses this very cunningly, for he know it is a valuable tool.
THe battle of cowshed show who really is a coward and which people believe in the revolution. Mollie is found cowering in the corner of her stall, frightened of dying, while Napoleon sits far from the battle and watches snowball lead his troops to victory. THis battle is very interesting. Snowball plans every last detail ingeniously and leads the troops into the battle, yet at the end it is Napoleon who gets all the credit. THis is very interesting to say the least, yet it becomes obvious that Snowball has become a pawn in which Napoleon has used.
Mollie decides that she no longer wants to live at animal farm. THis is a nightmare for Napoleon because it shows that life may be better at the other farms than at fabled animal farm. THe whole legend that surrounds animal farm is what keeps the workers happy, the arguments low, and stealing to a minimum. Without the mirage that animal farm is better than all the other farms, Napoleon could lose power in a short time.
THe windmill could very well be the downfall of Animal farm. From the beginning it was not the best idea Snowball has concocted. The theory is good, yet the animals lack the basic tools and opposable thumbs to assemble a great structure such as the windmill. This opens up the possibility of trading in the minds of the animals and that of Napoleon.
Napoleon and Snowball are bitter rivals yet they both want the same thing, a better life. THe difference between the two is that Snowball is not willing to sell out the working class in order to get it. THere will be a power struggle between the two and it wil not be pretty.
The farm is on a great decline even though they have defeated their enemy, they still have very many domestic enemies that are beginning to come out of the woodwork.

 

[member 737]

Originally posted by cowgirl

There will be a loss in equality

To my mind, there never was any equality on the Animal Farm. There were always someone who set the rules (seven commandments), and the rest had to obey.

The other animals are also too fearful that JOne's will come back.

Very interesting statement for me. It is one of methods used by dictators in totalitarian regimes to keep their citizens faithful and obedient: to make them believe that there is a mysterious, poweful enemy outside, who wants to destroy them. In such a hard circumstances radical actions taken by the government are accepted - because we are in danger, we must protect ourselves.

 

[phil_t]

Very interesting statement for me. It is one of methods used by dictators in totalitarian regimes to keep their citizens faithful and obedient: to make them believe that there is a mysterious, poweful enemy outside, who wants to destroy them. In such a hard circumstances radical actions taken by the government are accepted - because we are in danger, we must protect ourselves.

Hmmmm, that sounds familiar, which country would act like that in this day and age .....

Phil

 

[AmyD]

Boxer is without a doubt the most hardworking on the farm. Everyone admires him for the great deal of work he take upon himself. He gets up earlier than everyone else to do the work. He may not be very intelligent, but he gets his work done, and that is admirable.

The role of education is important on the farm. The pigs are teaching the animals to read and write, however some of the animals can't grasp it quite as well. The pigs are satisfied with that because they don't want any animal growing smarter than themselves, because they have the power. They think that because they are the smartest on the farm, they have the right to boss everyone else around.

Squealor's speech is about the pigs taking all of the milk and apples. He tells the animals that because they are the smartest they need their strength and must eat all the apples and the milk. When in reality, they do the least work on the farm. They threaten the animals that if they aren't strong and able to lead the farm that Jones might come back, which scares the other animals, and settles the dispute.

The threat is that all of the other animals on nearby farms would rebel, like that of Animal Farm. The farmers are scared completely out of their minds. By this time, almost all of the animals on near-by farms know Beasts of England, and the farmers are definatly concerned.

Jones shows up at the farm with some men, and plans to take the farm back. They have weapons and Jones carries a gun. Snowball anticipated this would happen, and had already thought of a war plan. He definatly showed leadership and bravery during the Battle of the Cowshed.

You can tell that Mollie is not happy on the Animal Farm. She liked it when the humans were around to feed her sugar and put pretty ribbon in her mane. Clover confronts her about seeing her with a farmer who was rubbing her nose and feeding her sugar, but she denies it. Soon after, Mollie vanishes. The pigeons find her and say that she is happy with sugar in her mouth and ribbons in her mane. The pigs don't tell the other animals about this because they don't want any of the other animals to leave. If they see that Mollie is happy, they may assume that they could be happy outside of Animal Farm as well, and the pigs don't want that.

Snowball comes up with the plan to make a windmill. With this invention, life on the farm would be a lot easier. The animals are in awe of this new idea, and Snowball is obsessed with drawing the plans for it. When Napoleon sees that Snowball is gaining lots of support and power from this idea, he says that the windmill was his idea from the beginning, and then has the 9 puppies chase Snowball out of the farm. Napoleon then gains most of the power. The animals are afraid to question his authority. He tells them that Snowball was the cause for all of their hardships and problems on the farm, and tries to brainwash the animals into thinking that Snowball was an awful creature. Napoleon is behaving more and more like a human everyday. His name is very fitting for him because he acts like a dictator. Animal Farm isn't what it once was. Animal Farm will most likely collapse because Napoleon is driven by power and greed.

 

[bet]

Definition of terms
Allegory-the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence.

Satire-Trenchant wit, irony or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly.

Toltalitarianism- the political concept that the citizen should be totally subject to an absolute state authority.

Communism-a system in which goods are owned in common and are available to all as needed

Socialist-a member of a party or political group advocating socialism

Propaganda-ideas, facts, or allegations deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause.

George Orwell is a British author, he achieved prominence in the late 1940's as the author of two brilliant satires attacking totalitarianism. Familiarity with the novels, documentaries, essays, and criticism he wrote during the 1930's. Orwell established as one of the most important and influential voices of the century. His best known novels are animal farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four.

The book was published in 1945 during the end of WWII and the author wanted to symbolize his feelings by writing this book. George Orwell may of had intense feelings and fierce hates on the political system. He hates can't, lying cruelty in life and literature. Also, he hates totalitarianism and served in the Loyalist forces in the Spanish Civil War.

The major people in the Russian Revolution were Peter I and Alexander II. The Russian Revolution was a violent upheaval in Russia in 1917 that overthre the czarist government. Russia was divided into several political groups. The autocracy was upheald by the landed nobility and higher clergy; the capitalist desired a constitutional monarcy; the liberal bourgeoisie made up the bulk of the group that later became the Constitutional Democratic part; Peasants and intelligentsia were incorporated into the Socialist Revolutionary party; and the workers influenced by Marxism, were represented in the Bolshevik and Menshevik wings of Social Democratic Labor Party.

Life in the USA would not be perfect if we were all equal. Everyone is different in their own unique way. Some people are faster, some smarter, some better looking, some are strong and some are just born, raised leaders. There is always someone out there working harder, trying to take your place and trying to dominate. Theres no way anyone can be equal then people wouldn't be set apart in their strengths.

If i were to design a society where everyone was treated equal. Laws would not even help, why would you need laws?

To help people who are less capable mentally, physically or socially to "catch up" maybe they could have thier own community set up so they aren't with normal people. Then they could have a better life without getting made fun of or not being treated as equal as others.

The problems that i can forsee that might arise in a society with enforced "equality for all" is someone will try to over power everyone and it will get into chaos. Everyone always has an opinion, everyone has to be a leader, everyone has to handle problems their way. Animal farm and Lord of the flies are great examples of how crazy society can get if we try to create it to be equal or with laws and rules.

Equality is not possible in human nature, it assures that some people would eventually dominate others. Throughout history its happend. Their are so many politial leaders. Its hard to think how life would be if we were all equal. Their is always compitition in sports, jobs, race, sex, relationships, families, money etc...........

 

[AmyD]

Boxer's mottos are "Napoleon is always right" and "I will work harder." The first one shows how much power Napoleon has over the other animals. The second quote shows that Boxer is indeed a dilligent worker, and he sets an example for the other animals to follow.

The first commandment that is broken is No animal shall sleep in a bed. However, the pigs change the commandment into saying No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets. The pigs argue that a bed can be defined in many ways. A pile of hay could be a bed, and in no way were they violating the commandment.

The pigs are behaving more like humans everyday. They change the commandments to best suite their needs and think of themselves as a higher or better class than the rest of the animals, which is why they feel it is okay for them to do what they are doing and change the commandments for their own pleasure.

Snowball is not guilty of all that Naploeon accuses him of. Snowball was a good leader, he was just gaining too much support and power from the other animals. Napoleon realized this and turned the tables. He disgraced Snowball's name and told the other animals that Snowball was the cause of all the problems on Animal Farm. I'd have to agree with emily on why his name is important. Obviously it's creating a snow-ball effect, because whenever something goes wrong, the blame falls on Snowball.

I think the book right now is foreshadowing what is to come. I think Animal Farm is being corrupted by Napoleon and eventually it will fall. The pigs are acting more and more like humans everyday, and because of this, the rebellion has definatly taken a turn for the worse.

 

[bet]

Majors speech was very thoughtout and impacted all the animals. The animals seemed comfortable and paid close attention to Major. He has strong feels to how him and his fellow "comrads" get treated by humans. The animals put a lot into their work labor for Mr. Jones and they wern't getting any respect back. The whole speech was to get the animals prepared for rebellion.

The commandments were: 1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.

Napoleon is a pig who emerges as the leader of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Napoleon uses military force (his nine loyal attack dogs) to intimidate the other animals and consolidate his power. He is very sneaky and brainwash's the animals. In his supreme craftiness, Napoleon proves more treacherous than his counterpart, Snowball.

Squealer is a pig who spreads Napoleon's propaganda among the other animals. He justifies the pigs' monopolization of resources and spreads false statistics pointing to the farm's success. Squealer uses ways to explore power often uses rhetoric and language to twist the truth. He's an enforcer of gaining and maintaining social and political control.

Orwell is setting up a tone where the animals are working together, learning to read and write, setting up their environment and stating the commandments. Hes going to start establishing more domination from the animals, seperation and unjustice. Not everyone is created equal and he sets the tone right away with the pigs attitutes.


Snowball is a pig who challenges Napoleon for control of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Snowball is intelligent, passionate, eloquent, and less subtle and devious than his counterpart, Napoleon. Snowball seems to win the loyalty of the other animals and cement his power.

Genetically pigs and humans don't exactly resemble eachother. Expcet for the dark side of the greedyness, hatred, domination and lies.

The milk vanishes because the pigs took it for themselves at the end of the chapter.

Problems Animal farm will forseek: The Societal Tendency toward Class Stratification , The Danger of a Naive Working Class and The Abuse of Language as Instrumental to the Abuse of Power .

 

[cowgirl]

Boxer is a very hard worker, and he goes by his mottos...that's what keeps him going. I think it may be partially the reason why he will not rebell. HIs mottos are: "I will work harder" and "Napoloen is always right."

The first commandment that was broken was number 4. The one that no animal shall sleep in a bed. The pigs of course once again twisted it around. They then claimed it was ok as long as the bed did not have sheets.

The pigs keep changing the commandments in this mannor. They are now only looking for their own conforts, and are becoming extremly self-fish. They are now just as bad as when Jone's was running the farm. It's only for themselves, and the animals are mistreated.

Napoleon is really the one to blame, and not Snowball. I think Napoloen was just jelous and wanted the power for himself. He pretty much brainwahed the animals against Snowball. Anything that would go wrong on the farm was blamed on Snowball...it was always his fault.

I think the pigs are going to gain more and more power. Eventually they are going to ruin the farm. It is all Napoleon's fault. The animals will probably begin to starve to death, and die off. Eventually the humans will be able to wear down on them and come back. Which may or may not be a good thing, because the pigs are already acting human like.

I personally wish the animals would get fed up and rebell against the pigs, but I don't think that will happen. If the animals all go against the pigs will the pigs give up? Or will they keep fighting with their dogs untill they all died?...Or will humans come back first? Any way it goes...I hope the pigs will eventually pay for what they have done.

 

[Maegan]

Boxers mottos are “ I will work harder” and “ Napolean is right.” Boxer is so brainwashed by the thought of animalism that he would do anything he was told, no matter if it were to harm him in any way.

The first commandment broken is that no animal shall sleep in a bed. The pigs changed it to “no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.”

The pigs are becoming power hungry and are taking advantage of the other animals on the farm. They are starting to act like humans which is totally against animalism.

Snowball is not guilty of anything that he accused of by Napolean. Napolean knew that snowball was just as strong of a leader as he was and that was a threat. Snowball and the animals understood each other. Napolean just wants to use the animals for his own personal good. The importance of Snowballs name is exactlly like the snowball effect. Things started off well and the pigs started to run everything. Slowly a foreshadowing of what was to come came in place when the puppies were taking away. Then after Snowball was run out of the farm, everything becomes out of control.

The beasts of England was abolished because the rebellion was over and there was need for it. I think that Napolean is afraid that if the animals keep singing the song that someone may figure the meaning and rebel against him.

I like the book. It was a little weird at first with the animals and all but it has a lot of meaning behind it. I would like to see the animals rebel against Napolean and I want to see Snowball lead the pack. I think that he is the next best thing to actually still having Major around.

 

[msthiel]

p.88-116

What happens what are your reactions? What sense can you make of all this at this point of the book? What are your theories on the author's intent...what are we the readers suppose to be getting out of this book?

Why do you think Orwell choose the pigs as the "leaders" on Animal Farm? Was it just random or might he have choosen the pigs for a specific reason/to make a specific point?

What in our society today reminds you of what is happening in this book? Personally I can see the media of today directly portrayed in this book....we are surrounded my propaganda of various forms and in various degrees...

 

[member 737]

Originally posted by phil_t
Hmmmm, that sounds familiar, which country would act like that in this day and age .....
l

It's true that history likes to repeat itself.

Seriously speaking, while writing that reply I had my mind focused on the mechanisms which ruled totalitarian regimes only and I didn't notice any similarity to contemporary events. Now, after your post, I see that some similarities really can be drawn. But I didn't mean that. So, any coincidence with present political situation is simply accidental.

 

[cowgirl]

The major thing that happened, was Boxer being taken away. He was the hardest worker, and out bringing a load of rocks for the windmill. He fell, and was obviously getting to weak, tired, and old to keep going. He was taken back, and Clover kept a close eye on him. It was also now time for him to retire. Napoloen said that since he was the most devoted worker, that he would be sent to a special hospital. Someone came for Boxer, but it was going to be taken for slaughter. It said right on the side of the cart. Benjamin actaully came galloping in to let everyone know, and they tryed to tell Boxer but he was too weak to get out. Napoloen did this because he did not want to let Boxer live out the rest of his days on pasture, and "waste" food on him, because he could no longer work. Maybe the author is trying to show that leaders in society think that someone that cannot work is worthless, and not worth their money. Or, they dont' want to spend their money on retired people, becuase their working days are over.

I think there was a specific reason he chose the pigs. The animals can be somewhat looked down upon, and they are comparing them to humans as if the humans are bad also.

Alot of things from the book can relate to society today. There are always struggles for power, and leadership. And, maybe even people are somewhat brainwashed. In some cases we almost have to beleive what we are told. Or, just look at our advertisments today, they persuade the viewers to feel a certain way about a product. It's all a matter of getting the consumers on "your side." Even people running for office have to sort of appeal to the viewers. They have to come up with something the people want to get them to vote for them. That's sort of like the Animal Farm, Napoleon told them of all they would have, and this gave them an appeal for him.

 

[poste]

The farm is going under. The are running low on food. The animals are getting tired and overworked. Boxer gets taken away to the glue factory because he isn't able to provide work for the farm. The other animals are very upset because they all looked up to Boxer. Squealor tries to cover up and say that Boxer died peacefully in a hospital and wanted them to go on and stick with Napoleon. This section of the book was my favorite part so far. It gave action and evoked emotion. It made it clear that Napoleon was a complete dictator and that their society was crumbling. Without Boxer I think the farm will collapse. I think the author is trying to prove a point that after rebellion life can only be good for so long. Eventually some evil person will take over and you will be left unhappier than when you started. Also that the government lies to citizens and tries to brainwash them.

I think he chose pigs because of how they are similar to people and what pigs imply. When you call some one a pig it is an insult. It usually signifies that some one is filthy, perverse, rude, etc. This is how Orwell views the government and probably others in society.

Squealor seems to be like the media today. He tries to cover up negative things by making up stories....but more than anything else this story reminds me of how the U.S. blames others for our problems. When our prices go up it's because some other country isn't doing what they are supposed to. We always throw the blame onto another country instead of taking the responsibility on ourselves.

 

[Maegan]

Boxer falls when he works late, taking rocks to the windmill. The pigs try to tell the animals that Boxer will get the best medicine and medical care. But reallly they send him to get slaughtered. It is really sad that they would consider doing that to such a loyal animal. Boxer never “boo” about anyone and then they turn around and send him away. The pigs are only caring about themselves and there own personal needs, instead of the best interest of the group. As a reader, you are to be picking up on the fact that the pigs have become dictators.

The pigs are chosen as the leaders because they are dirty animals an of all the animals in the book, they would be best fit to be the cruel ones that try to take over.

This book today reminds me of the problems that are being had in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. They are both led by cruel and harsh laws that are made to satisfy the powerful and wealthy. This is only a small percent of the population in both cases so that leaves many with nothing accept what they little they have. This is like some of the problems in animal far

 

[dr_mojo]

THe motto's that Boxer lives by seem to come directly from Squealor's mouth. He is driven to work as hard as he possibly can, yet it will eventually be the end of him. THis is extremely significant because Boxer is the reason that teh farm has survived thusfar. THese mottos also drive the others to work harder and therefore, Boxer is really the driving force behind the farm.

The first commandment that is broken is #7. All animals are equal. From the very beginning, it was evident that the pigs were held in a higher respect. From the moment that the milk and apples were saved for the pigs, they were the unofficial royal family of the farm. ALthough it is very difficult for a person in power to spead equality to all, if it is attempted, then this goes a long way in the eyes of the animals.

THe pigs are turning into men. THey act like men, they trade with men, they drink like men and they also play poker. THis is very interesting due to the fact that the last thing the animals want is a man ruler. I think that the "turning into men" is a sign that they are too corrupted to return to their animal roots. THis is shown to affect the animals as they question the fact that the pigs are defying the commandments.

Snowball is not guilty of all of the things that Napoleon accuses him of because he is gone. THere is no possible way that Snowball is/was an agent of Mr. JOnes. THis shows that Napoleon rules with fear. The animals now fear and hate snowball, and if he were to come back he would be killed. Snowball's name represents how the lies that Napoleon tells, about Snowball and other things, are snowballing into a tale cunningly spun by Squealor. THe more outrageous the stories become, the more the animals believe them.

Beasts of ENgland was taken away from the animals because the pigs do not want the animals to think htat they have the rights and freedoms that Old Major said that they did. Also, teh pigs want the animals to forget about Old Major and his commandments. THe commandments have been nothing but a thorn in the side of the pigs since they came to power.

THe book is really following a very predictacble path with a few exceptions. I was wondering why they really did take away Beasts of England? I thought that it would raise morale, yet the pigs took it away anyway.