The Animal Farm (98-139)

Summary

As the days, weeks, months and eventually years go by, everyone begins to slow down and they begin to age. The animals that used to work the hardest are unable to do what they were able to do back then. An example of this can be seen when Boxer, one of the hardest working animals is unable to perform and he becomes very sick. However, instead of helping him or trying to make the situation a better one, Napoleon tells the other animals that he is sending Boxer to a place where he can get treated, but unbeknownst to the animals Boxer is taken to a glue factory. Different situations like these begin to happen all over the place where the pigs say one thing to the animals while doing something else. Also, Napoleon is raising an army of dogs and this can especially be seen when the animals catch a glimpse of the dogs walking on two feet, which previously meant that they were "bad". At the end of the novel, the animals take a peek into the house and they see the pigs interacting with humans, and they realize that they are unable to tell them apart.

Quote

"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but it was already impossible to to say which was which" (Orwell 139).

Reaction

This quote is the most significant out of all of the quotes in the book. It basically sums up what George Orwell was trying to say about society and what he was trying to say about the government. As this story went on the animals begin to miss a lot of things or tried to act like they did not see what was going on. I think that this translates to us as human beings because a lot of times we see things that the government is doing but we cast a blind eye to it. Also, there were so many times in the novella that I just wanted to yell out "Stop letting them brainwash you, you know what it right", and it kind of got me upset at those part. George Orwell does an extraordinary job of presenting this story and the metaphors that he uses are just splendid! This book is hands-down one of the best books that I have ever had to read for my school career.

The Animal Farm (60-97)

Summary

And so the backstabbing begins! Snowball who is one of the pigs has an idea to start a windmill that will help things run a bit smoother on the farm. However, Napoleon who is another one of the pigs disapproves of it, and during a community meeting he sends a pack of dogs that he has been raising after Snowball, and runs him off of the farm. Once that occurs, Napoleon takes over completely, and the farm is run differently than before. Napoleon begins to say how he actually did want the windmill and that Snowball stole the idea from him. The animals are immediately put to work on the windmill which is a grueling task for all of the animals. There are also some materials that they realize they do not have on the farm, and cannot grow on the farm, and so they must trade with other farms. Not only that but they begin to sell eggs to humans which goes against the commandment that says that animals are not allowed to trade with humans. As time goes by things begin to get “fishy” and the pigs begin to act in ways that go against the commandments.

Quote

“It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr. Jones (Orwell 68)”.

Reaction

This quote is an example of how things are really about to change in the farm. Slowly but surely, the pigs are turning into the same type of leaders that the farmer was especially with the way that they are treating the rest of the animal population. I think that this foreshadows what is yet to come, and pretty soon the pigs will probably be doing everything the same ways that the farmer used to do. In real life this sometimes occurs where there is a rebellion, but after a while things begin to drift right back to the way that things were previously. I cannot wait and see how things end.

The Animal Farm(25-60)

Summary
There is a lot of action that occurs in the exposition of this novella. From the beginning the problem is pointed out to the reader, and that problem is that the animals are very unhappy and disgruntled with the way that they are being treated. After having a meeting with the “wisest” and oldest pig on the farm named Old Major, they are informed that a rebellion is coming and that they should be prepared for it. Old Major tells them that men are the enemies because all they do is take from the animals and they fail to give anything back. He also tells them that all they do is provide the animals with the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and keeps the rest for their selves.
During the next three months after that speech is given all of the animals have a new outlook on life and on a Midsummer’s Night Eve, the Rebellion occurs and the farmer and his family are kicked out. Once this occurs the animals quickly begin to dole out rules and regulations and set up the 7 commandments. Each individual animal is given individual tasks and the pigs are put in charge because they have “superior knowledge”. As the months go by, Mr. Jones the farmer, attempts to get his land back many times but is always unsuccessful.

Quote
“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing…yet he is lord of all of the animals” (Orwell 29).

Reaction
Orwell begins the novella with excitement and that is something that I truly enjoy. He is able to grasp my attention in the expository which is something that many authors fail to do. Also, the way that he personifies the animals is uproarious. Many of the characteristics that Orwell uses to personify the animals are exactly what humans are like. Thinking about the ideology behind all of this makes so much sense. Man does not provide, and it is only right for the animals to rebel because for the most part, they are doing all of the work. This also occurs in real life under the tyranny of some dictators, especially due to the fact that people have rebelled against them.