Animal Farm Summary

On Manor Farm, animals suffer under the careless and drunk farmer, Mr. Jones. One night, they gather to listen to Old Major, a wise boar, share his dream of a rebellion against humans. He teaches them "Beasts of England," inspiring a vision of equality and freedom. After Old Major dies, his ideas motivate two young pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, to plan their revolt.

The animals successfully overthrow Mr. Jones and rename the farm Animal Farm. They adopt the Seven Commandments of Animalism, with the important message: "All animals are equal." The pigs lead the farm, as Snowball educates everybody in reading while Napoleon trains puppies as aggressive enforcers. The workers feel united, proudly raising a flag with a hoof and horn, standing for their hard-won independence.

At first, the animals enjoy good harvests and cooperation. However, troubles soon emerge between Snowball and Napoleon when Snowball suggests a windmill to increase productivity. Napoleon, fearful of losing power, uses his dogs to chase Snowball away and solidifies his leadership. His robots then grow hostile, marking the beginning of a more dictatorial regime.

Under Napoleon's rule, the pigs become increasingly privileged, consuming special food like milk and apples. They claim it is necessary for their health to lead the farm. Meanwhile, Napoleon relies on propaganda to defend his actions, framing Snowball as a traitor responsible for every trouble thrown their way. As hunger mounts among the animals, Napoleon orchestrates a false image of productivity, masking the struggles faced daily.

One day, the hens refuse to give away their eggs at Napoleon's directive, resulting in harsh consequences. He cuts off their rations, causing several hens to die. Eventually, they submit to his will. Despite growing adversity, the animals tirelessly rebuild the destroyed windmill, now meant to emphasize their sacrifices and labor.

Fear spreads among neighboring farmers, yet they can’t unite against the animals of Animal Farm. Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Frederick, two farmers, softly scheme against the regime. Mr. Jones makes an attempt to regain control but fails during the "Battle of the Cowshed." During this skirmish, Boxer, the strong workhorse, mistakenly believes he has harmed a human, causing him inner turmoil.

As time goes on, the pigs begin to act like their former human oppressors. They alter the Seven Commandments to justify their actions, and the idea of egalitarianism dissipates. The pigs start trading services with humans. Finally, Napoleon hosts Mr. Whymper, reassuring him of the farm’s prosperity while life for the other animals worsens. Rewrite of the commandments leads to the final, ironic declaration: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

In the final moments, animals can hardly tell the pigs apart from humans. The pigs strut on two legs, dress in garments, and wield whips, making deals with farm owners. Meanwhile, the other animals look on, horrified that their aspirations for freedom have succumbed to another oppressive regime. They are left, too late, to grasp the depth of betrayal orchestrated by their once-revolutionary leaders.

In the final chapters of Animal Farm, the pigs, who have become the leaders of the farm, continue to exploit the other animals. They change the commandments of Animalism to suit their needs, making it easier for them to indulge in privileges that the other animals sacrificed for.

The tensions grow between the pigs and the animals, especially when the pigs start walking on two legs, resembling humans. This ultimately blurs the line between their original rebellion against humans and their current lifestyle, raising suspicions among the other animals.

As the story concludes, the other animals look into the farmhouse and see the pigs dining with humans. The animals can’t tell the difference anymore between the two groups, and they feel betrayed. The pigs, once comrades, have turned into what they initially despised.