Animal Farm

DESCRIBE AN IMPORTANT CONFLICT OR DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN CHARACTERS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE TEXT. EXPLAIN WHY THIS CONFLICT OR DISAGREEMENT IS IMPORTANT.

Animal Farm is an allegory of the history of the Russian Revolution which failed to succeed and the excellent excuses used to overshadow the mistakes. The most important conflict in text is between the pigs, taking away all the milk and apples for themselves, and the animals that are deprived of their rights. The main idea in this conflict is that due to lack of education the animals do not retaliate, hence are left working harder. The constant threat of humans once again taking over animal farm leaves the animals to obey the pigs and be oppressed under their authority.

The animals discovered, to their outrage, that the pigs have been taking away all the milk and apples for themselves. They decided to protest against this injustice, however, Squealer explained that the pigs need the milk and apples in order to think well, and since they are the brainworkers, it was in every ones best interest to let the pigs eat the apples and drink the milk. Squealer would then threaten the animals by saying that if the pigs are deprived this; Mr. Jones will come back and take over the farm. This prospect frightened the animals and they agreed to forgo the milk and apples in the interest of the collective good.

To the pigs’ credit, they did try to teach the other animals the basics of reading and writing, but the most animals proved unable or unwilling. The result was a dangerous imbalance in knowledge, as the pigs became the sole guardians and interpreters of Animal Farm’s guiding principles. The animal’s attitude of easily picking up slogans without critically thinking or questioning enabled the pigs to institute their own oppressive regime. The animals themselves may be partially responsible for this power imbalance; they show little true initiative to learn. The pigs mix their intelligence with ruthless guile and take... [continues]

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