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Summary and Analysis Chapter 8

The following year brings more work on the windmill and less food for the workers, despite Squealer 's lists of figures supposedly proving that food production has increased dramatically under Napoleon 's rule. As Napoleon grows more powerful, he is seen in public less often. The general opinion of him is expressed in a poem by Minimus that lists his merits and virtues. More executions occur while Napoleon schemes to sell a pile of timber to Frederick — who is alternately rumored to be a sadistic torturer of animals and the victim of unfounded gossip.

After the completion of the new windmill in August, Napoleon sells the pile of timber to Frederick, who tries to pay with a check. Napoleon, however, demands cash, which he receives. Whymper then learns that Frederick's banknotes are forgeries, and Napoleon pronounces the death sentence on the traitorous human.

The next morning, Frederick and 14 men arrive at Animal Farm and attempt to take it by force. Although the humans are initially successful, after they blow up the windmill, the animals are completely enraged and drive the men from the farm. Squealer explains to the bleeding animals that, despite what they may think, they were actually victorious in what will hereafter be called "The Battle of the Windmill."

Some days later, the pigs discover a case of whisky in Jones' cellar. After drinking too much of it, Napoleon fears he is dying and decrees that the drinking of alcohol is punishable by death. Two days later, however, Napoleon feels better and orders the small paddock (which was to have been used as a retirement-home for old animals) to be ploughed and planted with barley. The chapter ends with Muriel rereading the Seven Commandments and noticing, for the first time, that the Fifth Commandment now reads, "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess."

The number of executions occurring at the farm naturally raises some concerns among the animals, who recall the Sixth Commandment of Animalism: "No animal shall kill any other animal." However, as he has done many times already, Napoleon revises the past to suit his present aims and alters the painted Commandment to read, "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause." The addition of two words gives Napoleon free rein to kill whomever he wishes (since he determines all "causes"), and these two words echo the other additions to the commandments: "with sheets" to the Fourth and "to excess" to the Fifth. In all three cases, a minor grammatical revision permits major revision of a law that legitimizes and excuses Napoleon's tyranny.

As the work on the windmill continues, the animals do begin to starve, as Napoleon originally said they would in his debates with Snowball . Ever the happy sycophant, however, Squealer readily provides lists of figures to prove to the animals that they are not starving. Benjamin Disraeli, the former Prime Minister of England, once remarked, "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, damned lies, and statistics" — a remark that Squealer's actions here prove true. Like many people, the animals are dazzled by numbers as indicative of scientific sampling and concrete information, despite the fact that "they would have sooner had less figures and more food." Official sounding "evidence" thus convinces the animals that their own rumbling stomachs must be in the wrong.

Now that he is in total and undisputed control of Animal Farm, Napoleon becomes a paranoid egomaniac, and Orwell stresses this new phase of Napoleon's character in several ways. First, he virtually vanishes from public; when he is seen, he is first heralded by a black cockerel. Second, he lives in separate rooms from the other pigs and only eats from Jones' Crown Derby dinner service. Third, he orders the gun to be fired on his birthday and is referred to with flattering epithets, such as "Protector of the Sheep-fold." Fourth, he orders Minimus' poem about himself to be inscribed on the wall of the big barn, surmounted by a painting of his profile. Fifth, he has a pig named Pinkeye taste all of his food to be sure it is not poisoned. Sixth, he names the completed windmill Napoleon Mill and, after selling the timber, has the animals slowly walk past him as he lies on a bed of straw next to his piles of money. Again, Orwell displays a politician's image as a powerful means of controlling his subjects.

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Animal Farm

By george orwell, animal farm summary and analysis of chapter viii.

Once the terror abates, some of the animals recall the Sixth Commandment, “No animal shall kill any other animal.” Clover again asks Muriel to read to her from the wall, only to find that the Sixth Commandment has been changed to: “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause” (98). Clover and Muriel convince themselves that the commandment has always been that way and decide that treachery justifies murder after all. The animals work even harder than in the previous year. On Sundays Squealer assures them, by reading statistics from a sheet of paper, that their efforts are increasing production many times over. The animals can do nothing but believe Squealer. They can scarcely remember life before the Rebellion.

Napoleon restricts his public appearances further to about once a month. He is said to eat separately from the other pigs, using the fine china. He also decrees that the gun be fired every year on his birthday. The animals now call Napoleon “our Leader, Comrade Napoleon.” Just as the animals attribute all misfortunes to Snowball , they now attribute all success and luck to Napoleon. Minimus composes a poem called “Comrade Napoleon,” which Napoleon has inscribed on the wall across from the Seven Commandments, where Squealer also paints his portrait.

Napoleon continues to negotiate with Mr. Frederick and Mr. Pilkington , though the timber remains unsold. Rumors of Mr. Frederick’s plans to overthrow the farm continue. In the summer, three hens confess to plotting against Napoleon’s life and are executed instantly. After that, Napoleon increases his security even more and enlists a pig named Pinkeye to be his taster, lest someone attempt to poison him. Napoleon finally agrees to sell the timber to Pilkington, as well as to engage in regular trade with Foxwood. Meanwhile, rumors about Frederick’s coming invasion, as well as his cruel practices at Pinchfield, begin to circulate. One day, Napoleon announces that he never planned to do business with Frederick at all. He makes the messenger pigeons change their slogan from “Death to Humanity” to “Death to Frederick” (103). He also, strangely, forbids them from going to Foxwood.

The wheat fields turn out to be filled with weeds, a misfortune that the animals blame promptly on Snowball. A gander confesses to knowing about the plot to mix weed seeds with the wheat seeds and commits suicide. To bring further ignominy upon Snowball’s memory, Squealer disseminates a rumor that Snowball never received the title of “Animal Hero, First Class” at all. As usual, he is able to quell any questions that arise from his rewriting of history.

At last the windmill is finished, with walls twice as thick as before. The animals are very proud of their achievement. Napoleon names the windmill “Napoleon Mill.” Two days later, Napoleon calls a meeting to announce that he has sold the timber to Frederick, not Pilkington. He denounces Foxwood and makes the pigeons change their slogan to “Death to Pilkington.” Napoleon claims that Frederick had never planned to invade Animal Farm and that he was not as cruel as rumored. Moreover, Snowball has never been at Foxwood or been Frederick’s collaborator; in reality, he has been Pilkington’s longtime collaborator. The pigs are proud of Napoleon’s shrewdness. They believe Napoleon’s claim that his relationship with Pilkington was just a pretense to get Frederick to raise his bid. Even cleverer, Napoleon refused to let Frederick pay for the timber with a check, instead demanding cash that he will use to buy the windmill machinery. Napoleon goes so far as to hold a special meeting where the animals can inspect the banknotes.

Three days later, Whymper informs Napoleon that the banknotes are forgeries. Napoleon sentences Frederick to death by boiling alive and tries to reconcile with Pilkington. The next morning, Frederick and his armed men overtake the farm. Napoleon considers calling Pilkington for help, but Pilkington sends a note that says, “Serves you right.” As the animals watch helplessly, Frederick and his men blow up the windmill. After that, the animals put up a fight and manage to chase the men off. Squealer, who was not in the battle, has the gun fired as a sign of victory. For the first time, Boxer ’s faith in the value of hard work begins to flag. However, Napoleon devotes two days to celebrating the victory at the newly named Battle of the Windmill and burying the slain. He also gives himself the title, “Order of the Green Banner.”

A few days later, the pigs discover a store of whisky, which they begin consuming. The morning after, the pigs do not show up for work. Squealer finally emerges to inform the animals that Napoleon is dying, a fact that the animals blame on Snowball. He announces Napoleon’s final declaration: drinking alcohol should be punishable by death. However, Napoleon recovers and, soon after, asks Whymper to procure information on how to brew alcohol. He also designates a field for the propagation of barley. Soon after, a strange episode occurs. One midnight, a crash in the barn awakens the animals. They rush there only to discover Squealer with a broken ladder and a can of paint. Benjamin seems to understand what is happening but declines to share his insight with the others. However, a few days later, Muriel notices that the Fifth Commandment has been changed from “No animal shall drink alcohol” to “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess” (113).

Napoleon’s revisionism continues with the alterations of the commandments. Worst of all is the reversal from “No animal shall kill any other animal” to “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause .” This particular revision may strike a particularly deep chord with readers on the parallel between the original Commandment and the Biblical commandment “Thou shalt not kill.” On that note, we should notice that by this point, Moses is absent from Animal Farm along with the morality he represents and his vision of Sugarcandy Mountain, which could help the animals through their terror. Napoleon adds to his array of propaganda the reading of optimistic statistics. Stalin’s Five Year Plans were successful, especially considering how much catching up Russia had to do, but they did not meet up to his exceptionally high projections. Maintaining appearances was deemed vital to the regime’s international reputation.

At this point, Napoleon can trust that his terrorist tactics have made the animals submissive. They cannot believe in their own safety, so they embrace any good news they can get, and good news arrives to them almost exclusively in the form of propaganda. They have lost the ability to judge their success or their quality of life because they cannot remember what life was like before or just after the Rebellion. The animals have also become immune to the type of outrage that their leaders’ deceit might arouse in someone with a democratic education and mindset. Even when they catch Squealer in the act of revising the Seven Commandments, they are too subdued to protest. The animals have taken on Benjamin’s quality of apathy, not because they are naturally apathetic like him, but because Napoleon has molded and terrorized them to be that way. In the same way, the Soviet populace adjusted to Stalin’s tactics of fear and manipulation. Powerless to change anything, they grew to accept it. In psychology this might be called a denial, a defense mechanism, or a coping mechanism. Again, the nobles, who tended to have better educations than the working class, had fled.

As the animals are forced to live an increasingly restricted lifestyle, Napoleon and the pigs are continually awarding themselves privileges and taking an unfair share of the rations. Historically, this corresponds to Stalin’s privileging of the Communist elite. While the typical Soviet citizen worked hard and gained little, the typical member of the Communist elite had access to everything from fancy consumer goods to summer houses in the country. During the 1930s, it became increasingly difficult for people to join the ranks of the Communist elite. Orwell reflects this in Animal Farm, where there is absolutely no social mobility. Pigs alone have access to privileges such as sleeping in beds and drinking alcohol. We should recall that the seeds of this extreme class stratification, contrary to the tenets of Animalism and to Marxism-Leninism, began very early on when the pigs appropriated the milk supply. Orwell introduces the pigs’ privileges early and increases them gradually to show how insidious and therefore successful Stalin’s policies could be. People can be subjugated severely when the subjugation is enacted by degrees.

The events of Chapter VIII cover the historical events of: Hiter’s ascension to power in Germany, the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact, and Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union. Napoleon continues to be suspicious of Frederick just as Stalin kept one eye open as Hitler ascended to power in Germany. The stories of animal torture on Frederick’s farm are meant to symbolize the reports of atrocities coming out of Nazi Germany. The rumors are not substantiated in Animal Farm, presumably because the truth about the scale and severity of Hitler’s atrocities did not emerge fully until after World War II. Napoleon’s tightening leash on Animal Farm’s consciousness is reflected in his interactions with the messenger pigeons. The pigeons, which were formerly his mouthpieces, are now forbidden from flying over the neighboring farms. Presumably, Napoleon does not want them to undermine his ever-changing opinions about Frederick and Pilkington.

In 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed a non-aggression pact that promised neutrality and cooperation between the two nations. In Animal Farm, Napoleon’s trade agreement with Frederick symbolizes this pact. Napoleon does not trust Frederick completely, as shown in his unwillingness to accept a check. In the same way Stalin was wary of Hitler and his goals, perhaps seeing some of his own ruthlessness and ambition in Hitler’s eyes. Napoleon’s distrust of Frederick soon turns out to be true, just as Stalin was right not to trust Hitler completely. Hitler’s forces invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, an event that Orwell mirrors in Frederick’s attack on Animal Farm. He summarizes the incredible damage that the Nazis did before their defeat in the destruction of the windmill.

Pilkington’s neutrality during the conflict and his not-so-neutral message, “Serves you right,” satirize the Allies’ initial hesitance to respond during World War II. World War II devastated the Soviet population, which lost over twenty million people. Orwell reflects the magnitude of the Soviet Union’s loss in Boxer’s flagging enthusiasm. Even he, the bastion of positive thinking, finds it difficult to recoup after the Battle of the Windmill. With Animal Farm so isolationist and duplicitous toward the human world (compare modern-day North Korea), it is no wonder that it faces withering shortages, demoralization, and tyranny within and hostility everywhere without.

Animal Farm Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Animal Farm is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Animal Farm contains mainly extremely effective scenes. Some are humorous or witty, others bitterly ironic or pessimistic . Which scene did you find most effective and memorable? why?

A seen that sticks with me is a terrifying one: I suppose that is why it has stayed with me for so long. The scene is when Boxer the horse. One afternoon, a van comes to take Boxer away. It has “lettering on its side and a sly-looking man in...

What is the relationship between Snowball and Napoleon?

Both Snowball and Napoleon are leaders. They see leadership in each other. Napoleon sees Snowball's loyalty to the animals as a threat to his dictatorship. While Snowball works for the good of the farm, Napoleon works only for his own interests.

Essay question is : Power cannot be used for good.it can only be used for keeping power. Agree or disagree in relation to animal farm

Unfortunately we cannot write essays for you on this furum. Check out The Inevitability of Totalitarianism at the GradeSaver link below:

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• Bit and Spur Shall Rust Forever: Hollow Symbols in George Orwell's Animal Farm
• Consent to Destruction: the Phases of Fraternity and Separation in Animal Farm
• Character Textual Response - Benjamin
• Non vi, sed verbo (Not by force, but by the word)
• Comparison of Values: Animal Farm and V for Vendetta

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Animal Farm

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Chapter 8 Summary

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).

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.

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Animal Farm Chapter 8 Summary

Animal Farm Chapter 8: As the windmill is rebuilt, the animals realize that they are working more but being fed the same or perhaps even less than they had under the watch of Mr. Jones.

Napoleon engages in misleading negotiations with Mr. Frederick and Mr. Pilkington to buy the farm’s timber, initially spreading horrible rumors about Mr. Frederick but then deciding to sell to him in the end after he raises his offer as a result of the mind games.

Around this time, the windmill is finished, the animals are congratulated, and it’s named Napoleon Mill.

But then it’s realized that Mr. Frederick had paid for the timber with counterfeit money, and he and his men soon attack Animal Farm and blow up the windmill. This last act enrages the animals so much that they drive the men off of the farm but not before six animals are killed and many are wounded.

A victory is declared, but that’s not initially agreed upon by the animals although it doesn’t take much – a speech from Napoleon – for them to buy into it.

The pigs find some whisky, drink it and decide to plant some barley.

Squealer is caught next to the commandments with a broken ladder and some paint.

Shortly thereafter, it’s discovered that the fifth amendment reads, “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.” The animals hadn’t remembered the final two words being there.

As the chapter starts, the animals remember the commandment, “No animal shall kill any other animal.” However, upon further inspection, it actually says, “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.” They must have been mistaken and forgotten that the final two words had been a part of it.

The animals continue rebuilding the windmill.

They also come to the realization that they are working more and being fed the same or less as compared to when Mr. Jones ran the farm. However, Squealer provides a long list of statistics showing just how much their food has increased as of late, and the animals can no longer remember exactly what it was like under Mr. Jones. However, they know that they are hungrier than they’d like to be.

Napoleon is now being referred to as “our Leader, Comrade Napoleon” and similar complimentary designations. Squealer often emotionally extols Napoleon’s virtues, and Minimus composes a poem, “Comrade Napoleon,” that does the same and that is put up opposite the commandments.

Napoleon engages in negotiations with Mr. Frederick and Mr. Pilkington to buy a large pile of timber that dates to Mr. Jones’ time on the farm. Rumors that Mr. Frederick is going to lead an attack on Animal Farm and that he is especially cruel to his animals abound. The pigeons are told to change the message that they had been sending out from “Death to Humanity” to “Death to Frederick.”

In the autumn, the windmill is finished by a proud group of animals. Napoleon congratulations them and announces that it will be named Napoleon Mill.

Two days after that, he stuns the rest of the animals by saying that he is going to sell to Mr. Frederick. Napoleon says that the rumors about Mr. Frederick were untrue and most likely came from Snowball and those associated with him. Snowball, who had been rumored to be hiding out on Pinchfield Farm, was now said to be relaxing with Mr. Pilkington instead. The pigs are ecstatic that Napoleon was so cunning, pretending to be friendly with Mr. Pilkington so that Mr. Frederick would raise his price.

Napoleon demands to be paid with five-pound notes, not a check, and he is.

However, three days later, it’s determined that the five-pound notes are fake. Enraged, Napoleon says that Mr. Frederick needs to be captured and boiled alive. He adds that the animals should expect an attack from him and his men soon. It occurs the next morning.

This battle, later named the Battle of the Windmill, does not result in an easy victory as had been the case with the Battle of the Cowshed. This is partly due to how well armed the attackers were; the 15 men carry six guns in and are not shy about using them.

The animals retreat, and the men are in charge of the farm. The first thing that they do is blow up the windmill. This enrages the animals, and they attack the men and eventually force them off of Animal Farm. Casualties on the animal side include the deaths of three sheep, two geese and a cow while “nearly everyone” is wounded.

After it ends, Squealer, who had not been seen throughout the fighting, is beaming and talks of the victory celebration that has commenced with the celebratory firing of a gun. The animals are initially dubious on the statement that this was a victory, but they are quickly convinced during Napoleon’s subsequent speech.

Several days later, the pigs discover some whisky and take advantage of it. The next day, it’s announced that Napoleon is nearing death, but he fully recovers by the following day. Plans to plant barley follow.

Shortly thereafter, the animals are woken up by a loud crash, and they see Squealer on the ground adjacent to the commandments with a broken ladder, paint, a paintbrush and a lantern next to him.

Soon after this occurred, it’s noticed that the animals had misremembered another amendment as, once again, the final two words had been forgotten. In full, it reads, “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.”

The animals are hungry, but they are told glowing statistics of how much more food they have now than before. Although the animals don’t disbelieve what Squealer is saying, “they would sooner have … less figures and more food.” In other words, does it really matter what the statistics are saying if they are not experiencing what they supposedly reveal?

As Snowball continues to be a scapegoat for just about everything, Napoleon has turned into the opposite figure. Everything that has gone right is due to him. This is further shown in Squealer’s emotional speeches about him and in the poem that Minimum composes.

Three hens confessed that Snowball and they had decided to kill Napoleon. After they were killed, Napoleon is further protected by four dogs at his bed at night and a food taster. Perhaps the animals should have realized that maybe there is a good reason that Napoleon’s life is in danger?

The total destruction of the windmill symbolizes the ending of the utopian visions that Snowball had had for the farm.

The poorer result at the Battle of the Windmill as compared to the Battle of the Cowshed is likely due to Snowball’s greater military prowess due to his studying of military strategies that had been used by Julius Caesar. It appears that Napoleon did no such studying, and it showed. Of course, the opponent being more prepared to invade than Mr. Jones’ men had been played a significant role as well.

The pigs drinking alcohol near the end of the chapter symbolizes their further fall into gluttony. It should also be noted that the altered commandment – “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess” – has not resulted in the other animals having any access to it.

When Squealer is found on the ground with a broken ladder, paint and a paintbrush in the area, only one animal, Benjamin, makes any sense of it. Even with clear evidence right in front of them, the rest of the animals still cannot see the corruption that is being done.

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Animal Farm Chapter 8 Questions and Answers

“… without cause.”

Napoleon’s birthday.

“Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon.”

A pile of timber.

Napoleon Mill.

Mr. Frederick.

“Death to Humanity,” “Death to Frederick” and “Death to Pilkington.”

Five-pound notes, which turned out to be counterfeit.

He should be captured and boiled alive.

Fifteen men attacked Animal Farm, and they brought six guns with them.

“Serves you right.”

He had 12 pellets in his hind leg, split his hoof, lost a shoe and had bleeding knees.

Eleven years old.

The Battle of the Windmill.

Napoleon was dying.

No. Apparently, he was hungover.

A broken ladder, a lantern, a paintbrush and paint.

“… to excess.”

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Animal Farm by George Orwell – Chapter 8 with Summary

Full chapter of george orwell's classic fairytale about the russian revolution..

Lucy Davidson

01 jan 2022, @lucejuiceluce.

Chapter 8 Summary

A few days after the purges, the animals discover that the commandment ‘No animal shall kill any other animal’ now reads ‘No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.’ The animals think that they must’ve just forgotten the original commandment, and that it must be true.

Although Squealer’s statistics show that food production has increased hugely under Napoleon’s rule, the animals have to work harder and eat even less in the following year. Napoleon is seen less and less by the animals, and the executions continue. Napoleon plans to sell Mr. Frederick a pile of timber, and later, Mr. Pilkington. When negotiations are going well with Mr. Frederick, Napoleon teaches the animals to hate Mr. Pilkington, and vice versa.

After the windmill is completed, Napoleon sells the timber to Frederick. Napoleon demands that Frederick pay in cash, which he receives. However, they realise his banknotes are forgeries, so Napoleon states that he wants Frederick dead.

The next day, Frederick and a group of men arrive at Animal Farm and attempt to take it. They blow up the windmill which enrages the animals. They are driven from the farm. Though many of the animals are injured, Squealer celebrates their victory in ‘The Battle of the Windmill’.

The pigs become drunk after finding a case of whisky in Mr. Jones’ cellar. Napoleon fears he is dying after drinking too much, and declares that drinking is punishable by death. Two days later, Napoleon has recovered and orders that a paddock, which was meant to be used as a retirement home for old animals, be used to grow barley. The Fifth Commandment then reads ‘No animal shall drink alcohol to excess’. The animals once again blame their memories: they must have been wrong in thinking that it was different before.

Animal Farm, Chapter 8 Full Text

A few days later, when the terror caused by the executions had died down, some of the animals remembered—or thought they remembered—that the Sixth Commandment decreed “No animal shall kill any other animal.” And though no one cared to mention it in the hearing of the pigs or the dogs, it was felt that the killings which had taken place did not square with this. Clover asked Benjamin to read her the Sixth Commandment, and when Benjamin, as usual, said that he refused to meddle in such matters, she fetched Muriel. Muriel read the Commandment for her. It ran: “No animal shall kill any other animal WITHOUT CAUSE.” Somehow or other, the last two words had slipped out of the animals’ memory. But they saw now that the Commandment had not been violated; for clearly there was good reason for killing the traitors who had leagued themselves with Snowball.

Throughout the year the animals worked even harder than they had worked in the previous year. To rebuild the windmill, with walls twice as thick as before, and to finish it by the appointed date, together with the regular work of the farm, was a tremendous labour. There were times when it seemed to the animals that they worked longer hours and fed no better than they had done in Jones’s day. On Sunday mornings Squealer, holding down a long strip of paper with his trotter, would read out to them lists of figures proving that the production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent, three hundred per cent, or five hundred per cent, as the case might be. The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him, especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion. All the same, there were days when they felt that they would sooner have had less figures and more food.

All orders were now issued through Squealer or one of the other pigs. Napoleon himself was not seen in public as often as once in a fortnight. When he did appear, he was attended not only by his retinue of dogs but by a black cockerel who marched in front of him and acted as a kind of trumpeter, letting out a loud “cock-a-doodle-doo” before Napoleon spoke. Even in the farmhouse, it was said, Napoleon inhabited separate apartments from the others. He took his meals alone, with two dogs to wait upon him, and always ate from the Crown Derby dinner service which had been in the glass cupboard in the drawing-room. It was also announced that the gun would be fired every year on Napoleon’s birthday, as well as on the other two anniversaries.

Napoleon was now never spoken of simply as “Napoleon.” He was always referred to in formal style as “our Leader, Comrade Napoleon,” and this pigs liked to invent for him such titles as Father of All Animals, Terror of Mankind, Protector of the Sheep-fold, Ducklings’ Friend, and the like. In his speeches, Squealer would talk with the tears rolling down his cheeks of Napoleon’s wisdom the goodness of his heart, and the deep love he bore to all animals everywhere, even and especially the unhappy animals who still lived in ignorance and slavery on other farms. It had become usual to give Napoleon the credit for every successful achievement and every stroke of good fortune. You would often hear one hen remark to another, “Under the guidance of our Leader, Comrade Napoleon, I have laid five eggs in six days”; or two cows, enjoying a drink at the pool, would exclaim, “Thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon, how excellent this water tastes!” The general feeling on the farm was well expressed in a poem entitled Comrade Napoleon, which was composed by Minimus and which ran as follows:

Napoleon approved of this poem and caused it to be inscribed on the wall of the big barn, at the opposite end from the Seven Commandments. It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon, in profile, executed by Squealer in white paint.

Meanwhile, through the agency of Whymper, Napoleon was engaged in complicated negotiations with Frederick and Pilkington. The pile of timber was still unsold. Of the two, Frederick was the more anxious to get hold of it, but he would not offer a reasonable price. At the same time there were renewed rumours that Frederick and his men were plotting to attack Animal Farm and to destroy the windmill, the building of which had aroused furious jealousy in him. Snowball was known to be still skulking on Pinchfield Farm. In the middle of the summer the animals were alarmed to hear that three hens had come forward and confessed that, inspired by Snowball, they had entered into a plot to murder Napoleon. They were executed immediately, and fresh precautions for Napoleon’s safety were taken. Four dogs guarded his bed at night, one at each corner, and a young pig named Pinkeye was given the task of tasting all his food before he ate it, lest it should be poisoned.

At about the same time it was given out that Napoleon had arranged to sell the pile of timber to Mr. Pilkington; he was also going to enter into a regular agreement for the exchange of certain products between Animal Farm and Foxwood. The relations between Napoleon and Pilkington, though they were only conducted through Whymper, were now almost friendly. The animals distrusted Pilkington, as a human being, but greatly preferred him to Frederick, whom they both feared and hated. As the summer wore on, and the windmill neared completion, the rumours of an impending treacherous attack grew stronger and stronger. Frederick, it was said, intended to bring against them twenty men all armed with guns, and he had already bribed the magistrates and police, so that if he could once get hold of the title-deeds of Animal Farm they would ask no questions. Moreover, terrible stories were leaking out from Pinchfield about the cruelties that Frederick practised upon his animals. He had flogged an old horse to death, he starved his cows, he had killed a dog by throwing it into the furnace, he amused himself in the evenings by making cocks fight with splinters of razor-blade tied to their spurs. The animals’ blood boiled with rage when they heard of these things beingdone to their comrades, and sometimes they clamoured to be allowed to go out in a body and attack Pinchfield Farm, drive out the humans, and set the animals free. But Squealer counselled them to avoid rash actions and trust in Comrade Napoleon’s strategy.

Nevertheless, feeling against Frederick continued to run high. One Sunday morning Napoleon appeared in the barn and explained that he had never at any time contemplated selling the pile of timber to Frederick; he considered it beneath his dignity, he said, to have dealings with scoundrels of that description. The pigeons who were still sent out to spread tidings of the Rebellion were forbidden to set foot anywhere on Foxwood, and were also ordered to drop their former slogan of “Death to Humanity” in favour of “Death to Frederick.” In the late summer yet another of Snowball’s machinations was laid bare. The wheat crop was full of weeds, and it was discovered that on one of his nocturnal visits Snowball had mixed weed seeds with the seed corn. A gander who had been privy to the plot had confessed his guilt to Squealer and immediately committed suicide by swallowing deadly nightshade berries. The animals now also learned that Snowball had never—as many of them had believed hitherto—received the order of “Animal Hero, First Class.” This was merely a legend which had been spread some time after the Battle of the Cowshed by Snowball himself. So far from being decorated, he had been censured for showing cowardice in the battle. Once again some of the animals heard this with a certain bewilderment, but Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault.

In the autumn, by a tremendous, exhausting effort—for the harvest had to be gathered at almost the same time—the windmill was finished. The machinery had still to be installed, and Whymper was negotiating the purchase of it, but the structure was completed. In the teeth of every difficulty, in spite of inexperience, of primitive implements, of bad luck and of Snowball’s treachery, the work had been finished punctually to the very day! Tired out but proud, the animals walked round and round their masterpiece, which appeared even more beautiful in their eyes than when it had been built the first time. Moreover, the walls were twice as thick as before. Nothing short of explosives would lay them low this time! And when they thought of how they had laboured, what discouragements they had overcome, and the enormous difference that would be made in their lives when the sails were turning and the dynamos running—when they thought of all this, their tiredness forsook them and they gambolled round and round the windmill, uttering cries of triumph. Napoleon himself, attended by his dogs and his cockerel, came down to inspect the completed work; he personally congratulated the animals on their achievement, and announced that the mill would be named Napoleon Mill.

Two days later the animals were called together for a special meeting in the barn. They were struck dumb with surprise when Napoleon announced that he had sold the pile of timber to Frederick. Tomorrow Frederick’s wagons would arrive and begin carting it away. Throughout the whole period of his seeming friendship with Pilkington, Napoleon had really been in secret agreement with Frederick.

All relations with Foxwood had been broken off; insulting messages had been sent to Pilkington. The pigeons had been told to avoid Pinchfield Farm and to alter their slogan from “Death to Frederick” to “Death to Pilkington.” At the same time Napoleon assured the animals that the stories of an impending attack on Animal Farm were completely untrue, and that the tales about Frederick’s cruelty to his own animals had been greatly exaggerated. All these rumours had probably originated with Snowball and his agents. It now appeared that Snowball was not, after all, hiding on Pinchfield Farm, and in fact had never been there in his life: he was living—in considerable luxury, so it was said—at Foxwood, and had in reality been a pensioner of Pilkington for years past.

The pigs were in ecstasies over Napoleon’s cunning. By seeming to be friendly with Pilkington he had forced Frederick to raise his price by twelve pounds. But the superior quality of Napoleon’s mind, said Squealer, was shown in the fact that he trusted nobody, not even Frederick. Frederick had wanted to pay for the timber with something called a cheque, which, it seemed, was a piece of paper with a promise to pay written upon it. But Napoleon was too clever for him. He had demanded payment in real five-pound notes, which were to be handed over before the timber was removed. Already Frederick had paid up; and the sum he had paid was just enough to buy the machinery for the windmill.

Meanwhile the timber was being carted away at high speed. When it was all gone, another special meeting was held in the barn for the animals to inspect Frederick’s bank-notes. Smiling beatifically, and wearing both his decorations, Napoleon reposed on a bed of straw on the platform, with the money at his side, neatly piled on a china dish from the farmhouse kitchen. The animals filed slowly past, and each gazed his fill. And Boxer put out his nose to sniff at the bank-notes, and the flimsy white things stirred and rustled in his breath.

Three days later there was a terrible hullabaloo. Whymper, his face deadly pale, came racing up the path on his bicycle, flung it down in the yard and rushed straight into the farmhouse. The next moment a choking roar of rage sounded from Napoleon’s apartments. The news of what had happened sped round the farm like wildfire. The banknotes were forgeries! Frederick had got the timber for nothing!

Napoleon called the animals together immediately and in a terrible voice pronounced the death sentence upon Frederick. When captured, he said, Frederick should be boiled alive. At the same time he warned them that after this treacherous deed the worst was to be expected. Frederick and his men might make their long-expected attack at any moment. Sentinels were placed at all the approaches to the farm. In addition, four pigeons were sent to Foxwood with a conciliatory message, which it was hoped might re-establish good relations with Pilkington.

The very next morning the attack came. The animals were at breakfast when the look-outs came racing in with the news that Frederick and his followers had already come through the five-barred gate. Boldly enough the animals sallied forth to meet them, but this time they did not have the easy victory that they had had in the Battle of the Cowshed. There were fifteen men, with half a dozen guns between them, and they opened fire as soon as they got within fifty yards. The animals could not face the terrible explosions and the stinging pellets, and in spite of the efforts of Napoleon and Boxer to rally them, they were soon driven back. A number of them were already wounded. They took refuge in the farm buildings and peeped cautiously out from chinks and knot-holes. The whole of the big pasture, including the windmill, was in the hands of the enemy. For the moment even Napoleon seemed at a loss. He paced up and down without a word, his tail rigid and twitching. Wistful glances were sent in the direction of Foxwood. If Pilkington and his men would help them, the day might yet be won. But at this moment the four pigeons, who had been sent out on the day before, returned, one of them bearing a scrap of paper from Pilkington. On it was pencilled the words: “Serves you right.”

Meanwhile Frederick and his men had halted about the windmill. The animals watched them, and a murmur of dismay went round. Two of the men had produced a crowbar and a sledge hammer. They were going to knock the windmill down.

“Impossible!” cried Napoleon. “We have built the walls far too thick for that. They could not knock it down in a week. Courage, comrades!”

But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill. Slowly, and with an air almost of amusement, Benjamin nodded his long muzzle.

“I thought so,” he said. “Do you not see what they are doing? In another moment they are going to pack blasting powder into that hole.”

Terrified, the animals waited. It was impossible now to venture out of the shelter of the buildings. After a few minutes the men were seen to be running in all directions. Then there was a deafening roar. The pigeons swirled into the air, and all the animals, except Napoleon, flung themselves flat on their bellies and hid their faces. When they got up again, a huge cloud of black smoke was hanging where the windmill had been. Slowly the breeze drifted it away. The windmill had ceased to exist!

At this sight the animals’ courage returned to them. The fear and despair they had felt a moment earlier were drowned in their rage against this vile, contemptible act. A mighty cry for vengeance went up, and without waiting for further orders they charged forth in a body and made straight for the enemy. This time they did not heed the cruel pellets that swept over them like hail. It was a savage, bitter battle. The men fired again and again, and, when the animals got to close quarters, lashed out with their sticks and their heavy boots. A cow, three sheep, and two geese were killed, and nearly everyone was wounded. Even Napoleon, who was directing operations from the rear, had the tip of his tail chipped by a pellet. But the men did not go unscathed either. Three of them had their heads broken by blows from Boxer’s hoofs; another was gored in the belly by a cow’s horn; another had his trousers nearly torn off by Jessie and Bluebell. And when the nine dogs of Napoleon’s own bodyguard, whom he had instructed to make a detour under cover of the hedge, suddenly appeared on the men’s flank, baying ferociously, panic overtook them. They saw that they were in danger of being surrounded. Frederick shouted to his men to get out while the going was good, and the next moment the cowardly enemy was running for dear life. The animals chased them right down to the bottom of the field, and got in some last kicks at them as they forced their way through the thorn hedge.

They had won, but they were weary and bleeding. Slowly they began to limp back towards the farm. The sight of their dead comrades stretched upon the grass moved some of them to tears. And for a little while they halted in sorrowful silence at the place where the windmill had once stood. Yes, it was gone; almost the last trace of their labour was gone! Even the foundations were partially destroyed. And in rebuilding it they could not this time, as before, make use of the fallen stones. This time the stones had vanished too. The force of the explosion had flung them to distances of hundreds of yards. It was as though the windmill had never been.

As they approached the farm Squealer, who had unaccountably been absent during the fighting, came skipping towards them, whisking his tail and beaming with satisfaction. And the animals heard, from the direction of the farm buildings, the solemn booming of a gun.

“What is that gun firing for?” said Boxer.

“To celebrate our victory!” cried Squealer.

“What victory?” said Boxer. His knees were bleeding, he had lost a shoe and split his hoof, and a dozen pellets had lodged themselves in his hind leg.

“What victory, comrade? Have we not driven the enemy off our soil—the sacred soil of Animal Farm?”

“But they have destroyed the windmill. And we had worked on it for two years!”

“What matter? We will build another windmill. We will build six windmills if we feel like it. You do not appreciate, comrade, the mighty thing that we have done. The enemy was in occupation of this very ground that we stand upon. And now—thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon—we have won every inch of it back again!”

“Then we have won back what we had before,” said Boxer.

“That is our victory,” said Squealer.

They limped into the yard. The pellets under the skin of Boxer’s leg smarted painfully. He saw ahead of him the heavy labour of rebuilding the windmill from the foundations, and already in imagination he braced himself for the task. But for the first time it occurred to him that he was eleven years old and that perhaps his great muscles were not quite what they had once been.

But when the animals saw the green flag flying, and heard the gun firing again—seven times it was fired in all—and heard the speech that Napoleon made, congratulating them on their conduct, it did seem to them after all that they had won a great victory. The animals slain in the battle were given a solemn funeral. Boxer and Clover pulled the wagon which served as a hearse, and Napoleon himself walked at the head of the procession. Two whole days were given over to celebrations. There were songs, speeches, and more firing of the gun, and a special gift of an apple was bestowed on every animal, with two ounces of corn for each bird and three biscuits for each dog. It was announced that the battle would be called the Battle of the Windmill, and that Napoleon had created a new decoration, the Order of the Green Banner, which he had conferred upon himself. In the general rejoicings the unfortunate affair of the banknotes was forgotten.

It was a few days later than this that the pigs came upon a case of whisky in the cellars of the farmhouse. It had been overlooked at the time when the house was first occupied. That night there came from the farmhouse the sound of loud singing, in which, to everyone’s surprise, the strains of ‘Beasts of England’ were mixed up. At about half past nine Napoleon, wearing an old bowler hat of Mr. Jones’s, was distinctly seen to emerge from the back door, gallop rapidly round the yard, and disappear indoors again. But in the morning a deep silence hung over the farmhouse. Not a pig appeared to be stirring. It was nearly nine o’clock when Squealer made his appearance, walking slowly and dejectedly, his eyes dull, his tail hanging limply behind him, and with every appearance of being seriously ill. He called the animals together and told them that he had a terrible piece of news to impart. Comrade Napoleon was dying!

A cry of lamentation went up. Straw was laid down outside the doors of the farmhouse, and the animals walked on tiptoe. With tears in their eyes they asked one another what they should do if their Leader were taken away from them. A rumour went round that Snowball had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon’s food. At eleven o’clock Squealer came out to make another announcement. As his last act upon earth, Comrade Napoleon had pronounced a solemn decree: the drinking of alcohol was to be punished by death.

By the evening, however, Napoleon appeared to be somewhat better, and the following morning Squealer was able to tell them that he was well on the way to recovery. By the evening of that day Napoleon was back at work, and on the next day it was learned that he had instructed Whymper to purchase in Willingdon some booklets on brewing and distilling. A week later Napoleon gave orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard, which it had previously been intended to set aside as a grazing-ground for animals who were past work, was to be ploughed up. It was given out that the pasture was exhausted and needed re-seeding; but it soon became known that Napoleon intended to sow it with barley.

About this time there occurred a strange incident which hardly anyone was able to understand. One night at about twelve o’clock there was a loud crash in the yard, and the animals rushed out of their stalls. It was a moonlit night. At the foot of the end wall of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written, there lay a ladder broken in two pieces. Squealer, temporarily stunned, was sprawling beside it, and near at hand there lay a lantern, a paint-brush, and an overturned pot of white paint. The dogs immediately made a ring round Squealer, and escorted him back to the farmhouse as soon as he was able to walk. None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant, except old Benjamin, who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air, and seemed to understand, but would say nothing.

But a few days later Muriel, reading over the Seven Commandments to herself, noticed that there was yet another of them which the animals had remembered wrong. They had thought the Fifth Commandment was “No animal shall drink alcohol,” but there were two words that they had forgotten. Actually the Commandment read: “No animal shall drink alcohol TO EXCESS.”

Read more of Animal Farm

Animal Farm – Chapter 1 Animal Farm – Chapter 2 Animal Farm – Chapter 3 Animal Farm – Chapter 4 Animal Farm – Chapter 5 Animal Farm – Chapter 6 Animal Farm – Chapter 7 Animal Farm – Chapter 8 Animal Farm – Chapter 9 Animal Farm – Chapter 10

For a broad summary of the novel and an analysis of its key themes,  click here . For an overview of the novel’s key characters and what they represent,  click here .

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Animal Farm

George orwell, everything you need for every book you read..

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on George Orwell's Animal Farm . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Animal Farm: Introduction

Animal farm: plot summary, animal farm: detailed summary & analysis, animal farm: themes, animal farm: quotes, animal farm: characters, animal farm: symbols, animal farm: theme wheel, brief biography of george orwell.

Historical Context of Animal Farm

Other books related to animal farm.

• Full Title: Animal Farm
• When Written: 1944-45
• Where Written: England
• When Published: 1945
• Literary Period: Modernism
• Genre: Allegorical Novel
• Setting: A farm somewhere in England in the first half of the 20th century
• Climax: The pigs appear standing upright and the sheep bleat, “Four legs good, two legs better!”
• Antagonist: Napoleon specifically, but the pigs and the dogs as groups are all antagonists.
• Point of View: Third Person

Extra Credit for Animal Farm

Tough Crowd. Though Animal Farm eventually made Orwell famous, three publishers in England and several American publishing houses rejected the novel at first. One of the English editors to reject the novel was the famous poet T.S. Eliot, who was an editor at the Faber & Faber publishing house. One American editor, meanwhile, told Orwell that it was “impossible to sell animal stories in the U.S.A.”

Red Scare. Orwell didn’t just write literature that condemned the Communist state of the USSR. He did everything he could, from writing editorials to compiling lists of men he knew were Soviet spies, to combat the willful blindness of many intellectuals in the West to USSR atrocities.

Back to: Animal Farm by George Orwell

After the killings, the animals remembered that one animal killing the other was strictly prohibited in the sixth commandment. Clover and Muriel went on to read and found the sixth commandment to be, “ No animal shall kill any other animal without cause. ”

The animals worked even harder than the previous year. After all, building a windmill with thicker walls was not an easy task.

Squealer now dealt with everyday affairs as Napoleon was rarely seen. He was now addressed by Squealer as “ our Leader, Comrade Napoleon “. Even a poem titled ‘Comrade Napoleon’ was composed by Minimus, the poet.

Snowball was rumored to be hiding in the Pinchfield farm. It was also circulated that Mr. Frederick was planning to destroy the windmill. Three hens were executed for conspiring against Napoleon. He was given extra security.

Napoleon announced some trade deals with Mr. Pilkington. Mr. Frederick was now hated by all the animals as it was believed that he was cruel to animals on his farm.

The wheat crop was not great this year and as usual, Snowball was blamed for this. The construction of the windmill was finished and all the animals were happy. Napoleon congratulated all of them. The mill was named Napoleon Mill. 

The trade deals were now announced to be made with Mr. Frederick. All the animals were dumbstruck. All the previous accusations against Mr. Frederick were rendered untrue. Snowball was now believed to be hiding in Mr. Pilkington’s farm. The pile of timber was sold to Mr. Frederick for twelve pounds.

After three days, it was found out that the notes that Mr. Frederick gave were duplicate. Napoleon pronounced the death sentence upon Mr. Frederick. Mr. Frederick attacked Animal Farm.

The battle was tough. A cow, three sheep, and two geese died. The windmill was destroyed again. The animal won but the scene of Animal Farm left them disappointed.

Napoleon celebrated the victory, there were songs, speeches, and gifts on this occasion. Napoleon conferred a new decoration (The Order of the Green Banner) upon himself.

Squealer made a new announcement that Comrade Napoleon was dying, but he soon recovered. Alcohol was now prohibited in Animal Farm. But on the contrary, Napoleon planned to sow Barley in Animal Farm.

 A strange incident now occurred. On a moonlit night, a noise was heard, all the animal rushed outside. Squealer with a broken ladder and a bucket of paint was found to be lying in the foot of the wall where the seven commandments were written. He was immediately escorted back to a safe place.

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More on Animal Farm

Nothing's worse than leaders who break their own rules, but the pigs don't care. Find out more with our Animal Farm Chapter 8 summary and analysis.

Introduction See All

Summary see all, themes see all.

• Power: Leadership and Corruption
• Power: Control over the Intellectually Inferior
• Lies and Deceit
• Rules and Order
• Foolishness and Folly
• Dreams, Hopes, and Plans
• Cunning and Cleverness

Characters See All

• Napoleon (a pig)
• Snowball (a pig)
• Squealer (a pig)
• The nine dogs
• Boxer (a horse)
• Mollie (a horse)
• Benjamin (a donkey)
• Old Major (a pig)
• Clover (a horse)
• Moses (a raven)
• Mr. and Mrs. Jones (humans)
• Bluebell, Jessie, and Pincher (three dogs)
• Mr. Pilkington
• Mr. Frederick
• Mr. Whymper

Analysis See All

• What’s Up With the Title?
• What’s Up With the Ending?
• Tough-o-Meter
• Writing Style
• Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
• Narrator Point of View
• Booker's Seven Basic Plots Analysis
• Plot Analysis
• Three Act Plot Analysis

Quotes See All

• For Teachers
• Okay, wait, but wasn't there some rule about not killing other animals?
• Yeah, the animals thought so, too.
• It's weird, though: when they read the rules now, they're different: now rule 6 just says something along the lines of not killing without cause .
• Napoleon gets a new name, as "Napoleon" is not majestic enough. Now it is "Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon."
• He's also becoming a total snob about the amount and consistency of the foam on his cappuccinos. Okay, we made that last part up. But he totally would, if he drank cappuccinos.
• Napoleon sells timber to neighboring farmer Frederick, refusing to take payment by check (or rather, "cheque," since this is England), demanding cash instead.
• Oops. Turns out the money was fake. That Frederick—such a prankster.
• And then the humans attack again, this time dynamiting the windmill the animals were building.
• Did we mention they were rebuilding the windmill?
• Also, some bloodiness is involved in the battle, and Boxer is injured.
• The pigs celebrate their "victory" by dressing up in clothes (not allowed) and drinking alcohol (also not allowed) inside the farmhouse (you got it—not allowed).

Animal Farm Chapter 8 Summary Study Group

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Animal Farm Chapters 8-10 Summary

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Newest Questions

Squealer has come up with statistics intended to back up the increase in food production in the farm. In spite of these statements, the events from the following year indicate that a lot of people are working hard yet the food rations are continuing to decrease. In these circumstances, it could be difficult to justify the increase in productions, unless some pigs are stealing or hoarding the food. Meanwhile, Napoleon is becoming more powerful as time advances. He has suddenly disappeared from the public, instead of letting Squealer to do most of the interaction with the public. Napoleon, again, does not hesitate to execute the individuals whom he things are threats to his rule.

The construction of the windmill is completed in August. Napoleon agrees to sell some timber to Frederick who promises to pay by check. However, Napoleon demands cash payment which Frederick agrees to do. When the payment is complete, Napoleon realizes that the money is counterfeit. Having realized that the human negotiator has betrayed him, Napoleon pronounces death upon him.

The following morning, Frederick and a group of 14 men gain entry and attempt a forceful takeover of the farm. While the group initially appears to be successful, the animals get enraged furiously drive the men out of the farm. The humans have destroyed the windmill, and that infuriates the animals. Squealer attempts to console the animals by telling them that they have emerged victorious. The encounter is later referred to as the Battle of Windmill.

A few days later, the pigs drink bottles of beer that they had discovered to have been left at the house that belonged to Jones. Having drunk a lot of the alcohol, Napoleon feels so bad that he thought he would die. He pronounces that drinking of alcohol is punishable by death. However, two days later, Napoleon ‘heals' from his situation and then he orders for the planting of barley on a small paddock. At the end of the chapter, Muriel is re-reading the contents of the fifth commandment, and for the first time he gets ‘informed' that "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess." Someone has changed the commandment.

The killings are getting too much, and some animals are getting concerned that there are blatant violations of the provisions of the sixth commandment which says that No animal shall kill any other animal." However, as has been the case in many cases, Napoleon changes the law to read that No animal shall kill any other animal without cause." With these changes, Napoleon receives the license to kill. The changes being made to the law are indications that Napoleon is determined to use force or violence to push his agenda.

As the reconstruction of the windmill resumes, starvation sets in as the animals lack food to eat, just as Napoleon had indicated during the debates. Squealer is at hand to provide figures ostensibly to justify the fact that Napoleon has done much as the leader of the farm to boost food production. Squealer says that there is sufficient food in the country and that "they would have sooner had fewer figures and more food." Squealer says that the animals have their grumbling stomachs to blame since according to them, there is sufficient food for all animals.

Having seized total control of the farm, Napoleon starts becoming a paranoid egomaniac. Napoleon has changed his character drastically. Firstly, he never appears in public, and when that happens, his arrival is heralded by a black cockerel. Additionally, Napoleon has changed rooms and now sleeps in a separate room that he does not share with the other pigs. Besides, on his birth days, Napoleon orders a gun to be fired and that he must be referred to as "Protector of the Sheep-fold." When the construction of the mill is complete, Napoleon names it as Napoleon Mill. Napoleon then orders to have all the animals to walk past him as he sleeps on the pile of money after he has sold the timber.

In spite of the boasting and feelings of self-importance, the other animals still find it fit to worship Napoleon. The animals are the poet pig is increasingly becoming creative in his choice of words for the praise of Napoleon. One of the lines of praise indicates that "Thou are the giver of / All that thy creatures love." These are very flattering terms used in worshipping Napoleon.

While it is evident that there is hunger and that the animals are starving, Napoleon mentions that the animals could be suffering from the different thing but not hunger.  He runs away from his earlier statement during the break that famine would invade the land when the animals dedicate a lot of their time to building the windmill. The turnaround, in this case, is a confirmation of the manner in which politicians use double-speech to confuse unsuspecting, confused and desperate members of the public. When the battle of the windmill is over, Boxer is wounded, and he cannot understand how that can be referred to as a victory. Squeal, in his typical fashion, explains that "The enemy was in occupation of this very ground that we stand upon. And now — thanks to the leadership of comrade Napoleon — we have won every inch of it back again!" Boxer replies that "Then we have won back what we had before." The final episode on drinking alcohol depicts the pigs as gluttonous. Napoleon changes the law on drinking alcohol to satisfy his needs.

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