In this blog post, we’ll explore, one by one, how George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ illustrates how ignorance and power combine to give rise to dictatorship, through key scenes and the symbolism of its characters.

Prologue: A Warning Revealed in a Single Sentence

“All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.” This single sentence encapsulates the core warning that George Orwell’s satirical novel ‘Animal Farm’ seeks to convey.
The story of how the animals, having driven out their owners, attempt to run the farm themselves through a revolution—only to have that revolution exploited and corrupted by greedy pigs—is a blatant satire of the Soviet Union during the Stalin era. However, Orwell’s perspective is not limited to a specific era. He focused on the recurring structures of power inherent in human nature and desire, which is why this novel continues to resonate with so many people even today.
Orwell himself said, “I write because there is a lie I want to expose and a truth I want people to pay attention to. My starting point is always the recognition of injustice.” His experience participating in the Spanish Civil War and witnessing totalitarianism firsthand linked his writing to political purposes, which is why he emphasized that even the claim that “art is unrelated to politics” is itself a political stance.
Through his work, Orwell warns of the consequences of ignorance and powerlessness. In his novel, he demonstrates that the people must always remain vigilant, monitoring and criticizing their leaders, and that blind loyalty ultimately breeds dictatorship and corruption. The power of this novel lies in its ability to make us ask ourselves whether the reality we live in is inside or outside the farm.

“Animal Farm”: Description of the Work and the Significance of the Characters

Overview of the Work and Political Background

“Animal Farm” is a satirical novel by George Orwell published in 1945. It depicts the animals on Jones’s farm rebelling against their poor treatment, driving out their owner, and taking over the farm themselves—only to see the farm gradually descend into corruption under the dictatorship of the very leaders who spearheaded the revolution.
Many of the events and character portrayals reflect the 1917 Russian Revolution and the realities of the Soviet Union during the Stalin era. Although Orwell once held leftist views, he was critical of Stalin and Soviet totalitarianism, and after the Spanish Civil War, he became skeptical of Soviet-centered communism. In a preface, he wrote that the Soviet myth must be shattered to rebuild the socialist movement, and the course of history has since proven that he had early on discerned the flaws in the Soviet system.
However, this does not mean the work should be read solely as an anti-communist manifesto. Orwell infused the work with contempt and derision for totalitarianism in general, and this satire can be applied to any form of dictatorship that suppresses freedom of expression and exploits its people. For this reason, ‘Animal Farm’ is read as a universal warning that transcends political criticism of a specific era.
Interestingly, this novel was also widely circulated as anti-communist propaganda in the United States and elsewhere. Although Orwell’s intention was not merely anti-communism, the work was often interpreted as a “critique of Stalin’s dictatorship.” At the time, Orwell was also fascinated by anarchist tendencies, and his wartime diaries reveal political cynicism and skepticism.
One passage from Orwell’s diary illustrates the confusion of sentiment at the time. He wrote, “One could hardly find an example of more vulgar morals and sentiment than in our own time. In fact, we are all now, to a greater or lesser extent, pro-Stalinists. This loathsome murderer has suddenly become one of us, and his exile and the like have been abruptly forgotten.”

Major Characters and Their Symbolism

Written in the form of a fable, this novel emphasizes historical events and the figures who represent them rather than characterization. The following are the work’s major characters and their symbolism.
Old Major: An old boar who had fantastical dreams and was the first to instill revolutionary consciousness in the animals. He can be seen as an ideological archetype reminiscent of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.
Snowball: A clever and idealistic pig who demonstrated leadership in the early stages of the revolution but was ousted by Napoleon. His ideas are grand and forward-looking, but he is pushed aside by the power struggles of reality. Historically, he brings to mind Trotsky.
Napoleon: A cunning and power-hungry pig who, after eliminating Snowball, reigns as a dictator. He symbolizes Stalin and is a key figure illustrating how a revolution can degenerate into a dictatorship.
Squealer: Napoleon’s propaganda chief, who persuades the masses to justify illegal acts. He symbolizes the propaganda apparatus of a totalitarian regime.
Boxer: A sincere and hardworking cart horse who is devoted to the revolution but is ultimately betrayed by those in power. He represents the sacrifices and betrayals of the tenant farmers and the working class.
Mollie: A white mare who could not bring herself to give up trivial privileges like candy and ribbons and fled; she symbolizes the aristocracy who capriciously abandoned the revolution or those who prioritize personal gain.
Benjamin: A cynical donkey who neither supports nor opposes the revolution. He represents the human type characterized by indifference, cynicism, and resistance to change.
Moses: A crow who recounts the legend of Sugarcandy Mountain, symbolizing religious organizations. He offers illusions that provide solace from real-world oppression but has little impact on actual action.
Mr. Jones: The corrupt ruler from before the revolution, who, even after being ousted, prompts reflection on the causes and consequences of the revolution. Historically, he is associated with Emperor Nicholas II of Russia.
Muriel and Clover: Muriel, a goat skilled at reading and understanding, and Clover, a gentle mule, play the roles of prophet and comforter, respectively, representing ordinary citizens who witness change and loss.
Frederick, Pilkington, and Whymper: The neighboring farmers and the broker symbolize international relations and economic interests. Frederick, in particular, is a treacherous and cruel character who bears similarities to Nazi Germany, while Whymper reveals the greed of a third party who makes deals with the regime.
In this way, the characters reflect specific historical figures and events while simultaneously illustrating the mechanisms of power that can recur in any era and under any political system. The fact that the novel remains entirely plausible even when Napoleon is replaced with another dictator is precisely what gives this work its universality.
Ultimately, ‘Animal Farm’ transcends specific historical criticism to continually raise questions about power, propaganda, ignorance, and obedience. Because of these questions, the novel still resonates deeply with readers today, conveying the message that we must remain vigilant, criticize societal absurdities, and never lose the courage to stand up against injustice.
When Jones, the owner of Manor Farm, falls asleep drunk, the farm animals gather in the barn to listen to the dream story told by “Old Major,” the oldest of the animals.
Major denounces the reality that animals work solely for humans from birth to death, only to be slaughtered in the end, and asks why animals must live such lives. Major explains that even though the land of England is fertile and there is plenty of food, the reason the animals are hungry and exploited is that humans take everything the animals produce. He declares humans to be the enemy and argues that they must be driven off the farm. He condemns humans for taking the cows’ milk and the hens’ eggs to sell at the market, and even points out how they fatten the pigs only to send them to the slaughterhouse.
Major emphasizes to the animals that they must not imitate human habits. He declares that all two-legged creatures are enemies and that animals must not live in human houses, sleep in human beds, drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco. He also declares that trading like humans, as well as tormenting or killing fellow animals, must be prohibited. After teaching the animals the song “Beasts of England” and having them sing it together, he dismisses the assembly and passes away three days later. Following this, the animals plan a rebellion in accordance with Major’s last will and testament.
The pigs leading the rebellion are Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer. While Napoleon is aggressive and power-hungry, Snowball is rational and resourceful, and Squealer is a skilled orator who is adept at inciting the other animals. The other animals believe these pigs will bring them freedom, and whenever they have the chance, they gather in the barn to be taught Animalism as preached by the pigs. Gradually, more and more animals become enamored with the ideology of Animalism, frequently singing the songs Major taught them in chorus to fuel the spirit of rebellion.
The rebellion begins by chance. One day, when Jones fails to feed the animals all day, the hungry animals break into the food storehouse and loot the supplies. Jones rushes to the storehouse with his workers and swings his whip, but fueled by their long-simmering anger toward humans, the animals fight back and drive Jones and his workers off the farm. Only Moses, the raven who had sided with Jones, warns the animals not to trust the pigs before disappearing.
Rejoicing at having driven out the humans, the animals take over the farm, throw the reins, nose rings, and bits into the well, and gather Jones’s belongings to burn them. The next day, they vow never to enter Jones’s house under any circumstances. Napoleon and Snowball rename the farm “Animal Farm” and establish the Seven Commandments that all animals must follow. They insist that all animals must live according to the Seven Commandments.
Initially, there were some successes. When three cows began to produce milk, the pigs milked them and obtained five cans of milk. The animals discussed what to do with the milk, but the pigs drank it all while the other animals were out in the fields. As time passes, the animals harvest more hay than they did when Jones ran the farm, gaining a sense of pride and satisfaction. They designate Sunday as a day of rest and raise a flag representing Animal Farm.
Political tensions also grow rapidly. During barn meetings, Napoleon and Snowball frequently clash. While Snowball focuses on proposing practical measures to increase production and improve the farm, Napoleon—who offers few concrete policies—does nothing but oppose them. Napoleon secretly raises and cares for nine puppies born to Bluebell, a hen on the farm. Furthermore, whenever apples fall, the pigs claim priority; when the other animals voice their dissatisfaction, the pigs justify their privilege by explaining that they need special nutritional supplements because they work day and night conducting research for the farm. They threaten the animals by spreading propaganda that they should fear Jones’s return.
News of Animal Farm spreads throughout Britain via the pigeons, and neighboring farm owners grow anxious that Animalism might infringe upon their interests. As rumors spread, Jones and the neighboring farm owners gather their workers to raid Animal Farm. Snowball and Napoleon engage in battle to defend the farm, and Snowball is even shot while fighting bravely on the battlefield. Eventually, the humans retreat and the animals emerge victorious. The animals name this day the Battle of the Cowshed and award medals to Snowball and Boxer. Meanwhile, a white mare named Molly sets off for Foxwood Farm in search of sugar and ribbons.
As winter sets in, the barn debates grow more heated, and the animals split into factions supporting either Napoleon or Snowball. The sheep, in particular, support Napoleon and sometimes disrupt the meetings. Snowball proposes improving farming methods and building a windmill, arguing that generating electricity will improve their lives. Many animals welcome the idea of a windmill, but Napoleon strongly opposes it. Snowball does not give up; he moves to a hut to draw up blueprints and holds a presentation. Consumed by jealousy and resentment, Napoleon insults Snowball by urinating on his blueprints.
As the windmill debate reaches its peak, Napoleon unleashes nine dogs he had been secretly raising to attack Snowball’s supporters, and Snowball flees to the neighboring farm, chased by the dogs. With Snowball driven out, Napoleon declares that he will no longer hold public meetings and announces that all decisions will be made in secret. When animals opposed to the meetings criticize him for dictatorship, the hunting dogs threaten them. Afterward, Squealer goes around the farm, skillfully explaining and justifying Napoleon’s decisions.
Three weeks later, Napoleon announces that he will build the windmills. The animals were puzzled that Napoleon, who had once opposed the windmill, suddenly adopted the plan, but they agreed after being persuaded by Squealer. Building the windmill required machinery and tools, so Napoleon decided to sell haystacks and wheat to the humans in exchange for them. Many animals opposed trading with the humans, but Napoleon enforced this decision by having the dogs lead the way. Squealer persuades the farm animals through Napoleon’s propaganda, arguing that he himself must move into Jones’s house.
As construction on the windmill progresses, a major storm strikes, causing the half-built windmill to collapse. The animals are shocked, but Napoleon shifts the blame onto Snowball, accusing him of destroying the windmill, and rallies the animals to rebuild it. As winter deepens, the labor required for the windmill construction makes the animals’ lives even harder, and negative rumors about Animal Farm begin to circulate outside the farm. To quell these rumors, Napoleon invites the owner of another farm to visit and shows him the granaries filled with food. Nevertheless, the animals grow increasingly hungry.
One day, Squealer decides to sell 400 eggs laid by the hens at the market. The dissatisfied hens resist by smashing their eggs, and Napoleon brutally suppresses the rebellion. He orders his guard dogs to bite the rebellious hens to death. Afterward, rumors begin to circulate on the farm that Snowball had secretly entered, stolen something, broken a window, and fled. Napoleon accuses Snowball of being Jones’s spy, creating an atmosphere of fear.
When Boxer praises Snowball’s military exploits, Squealer warns everyone to be careful, claiming there is a spy among them. Afterward, four young pigs who had opposed Napoleon were torn to pieces by the dogs, and a hen, a goose, and a sheep were also executed. The dogs lunged at Boxer as well, but he fought them off with his hooves and protected the others. Witnessing animals killing other animals, many of the animals despaired, realizing that their cherished dream had crumbled.
The animals reaffirm the Seven Commandments posted in the barn. One of them was, “No animal shall kill another animal without cause.” Even after hearing that the executed animals were killed solely on the grounds that they had been in league with Snowball, the other animals begin to question whether their deaths were justified.

Plot Summary

Construction of the windmill continues, but Napoleon rarely makes an appearance. Squealer praises Napoleon as a great leader and deifies him, while Napoleon makes money by selling timber to humans—but the money turns out to be counterfeit. Rumors that Napoleon had been swindled by the humans spread like wildfire across the farm, and shortly thereafter, Frederick and the workers who had purchased the timber attack the farm and blow up the windmill with explosives.
Witnessing the destruction of the windmill, the animals lose their composure and fight the humans, driving them off the farm once again. To celebrate their victory, the pigs throw a party and drink whiskey from the crates they found in Jones’s cellar. Meanwhile, Boxer—who had worked harder than anyone on the windmill’s construction—dreams of a comfortable life in retirement, trusting the promises made by the pigs.
As time passes, the pigs and dogs monopolize the food and privileges, while the other animals grow increasingly hungry. One day in April, Napoleon transforms Animal Farm into the “Animal Republic” and is elected its first president. One day, the aging Boxer collapses while working, and Squealer insists that Boxer must be admitted to a hospital run by humans, so he loads him onto a cart and takes him away from the farm.
Benjamin tells Boxer that he must never get on that cart—he warns that it is headed for the slaughterhouse. It is already too late for the animals to act, and Boxer is dragged off to the slaughterhouse. As time passes, the animals who remember the days when Jones ran the farm disappear one by one, while Napoleon and the pigs grow fatter and fatter and the other animals grow increasingly hungry.
One day, the animals see pigs walking on two legs instead of four and laughing. At first, many animals are startled, but they gradually grow accustomed to the sight. When the animals witness humans riding in carriages onto the farm, toasting the pigs, and pleading for reconciliation by asking them not to fight, they become confused as to whether humans are pigs or pigs are humans.

Theme and Interpretation

“Animal Farm” is a novel published by George Orwell in 1945. In the story, Napoleon is likened to Stalin following the Russian Revolution, while Snowball is often compared to Trotsky, who was exiled by Stalin. The novel uses allegory to show how a revolution can deviate from its ideals and degenerate into dictatorship and exploitation.
In the work, Marx is portrayed as a figure who sought to create an ideal state for workers during the Russian Revolution; the narrative depicts how, although the Russian Revolution ultimately succeeded, his successor, Stalin, implemented a totalitarian dictatorship to maintain power. Orwell condenses this process into the story of the animals.
The novel can be broadly divided into four parts: the animals’ rebellion and seizure of the farm; the battle against the humans; the construction of the windmill and the resulting conflicts; and the transition to—and eventual corruption of—the Animal Republic. The overall plot depicts the process by which the pigs gradually come to resemble human forms of government—particularly dictatorship and exploitation.
The animals’ rebellion stems from their desire to escape the oppression and exploitation of their owner, Jones. The rebellion is led by a group of pigs, who claim they will liberate the animals from the existing system created by humans. Interestingly, the rebellion begins not as a premeditated plan but rather as a spontaneous reaction driven by the primal instinct of hunger. Using hunger as the starting point carries strong symbolic significance.
Orwell identifies “exploitation” as the core cause of the rebellion. The animals prioritize escaping exploitation over ideology or lofty ideals. However, as the story unfolds, the pigs begin to exploit the other animals once again, even while championing their ideals. Through this process, Orwell demonstrates how idealism can become the foundation for dictatorship.
The “milk incident” serves as an early example of exploitation. The scene in which the pigs secretly drink the milk produced by three cows while the other animals are away at work reveals a sign that those leading the herd are first enjoying privileges and moving toward dictatorship.
Napoleon systematically maintains his power not only through simple physical oppression but also by employing tactics such as media manipulation and the creation of enemies. He establishes a dichotomy between animals and humans, branding “disloyal” members of the herd as traitors and punishing them, while purging opponents with dogs he has secretly trained. This series of scenes can be interpreted as a critique of military-led totalitarianism.
The conflict over the construction of the windmill is the novel’s central drama. The confrontation between Snowball and Napoleon splits the farm into two factions, and after Napoleon expels Snowball, a full-scale purge of the opposition and a reign of terror begin. As a result, the ruling pigs become increasingly corrupt, eventually becoming no different from the humans they once criticized.
Through this process, Orwell conveys the message that the illusion of an ideal revolution, coupled with the ruling class’s greed and lust for power, ultimately leads to the exploitation of all citizens. A warning that revolution does not end as a pure ideal but can lead to the repetition of power structures runs throughout the work.

Structure and Appreciation

“Animal Farm” excels not only in its themes but also in its structure. The author’s skill in using the simple form of a fable to concisely depict complex political developments and human psychology is exceptional. This is why, despite being an older work, readers discover new layers of interest the more they read it.
Through a chain of events and repetition, the work emphasizes how the same power structure keeps recurring. By observing the same problems reemerging in different guises, readers clearly witness the dynamics of revolution and power. This is precisely why the novel remains so compelling even today.
Finally, the scene where the animals cannot distinguish between humans and pigs reveals the work’s central irony. The revolution promised a new order, but ultimately produced a reality no different from that which existed before the revolution. This irony leaves a lasting impression on the reader.