Describe the Steps by Which the Pigs Come to Power in Animal Farm, and How They Maintain It. Relate the Events in Animal Farm to the Russian Revolution and Communism.

Animal Farm is a political and allegorical novel written by George Orwell (born Eric Blair) in 1945. The book reflects events after the Second World War that lead up to the Russian revolution in 1917, and some of the events after it. As a fable it features animals as the main characters, and has a moral. There is a sense of satire wit, since human habits are criticised, and irony is a very strong aspect of the book. Many of the characters represent historical individuals.

The animals on the farm first decide to rebel as old Major, who represents Karl Marx, inspires the animals with a speech, describing his dream. In his dream, he see’s what life is really like for the animals on the farm, and describes it to them. He thinks their lives are “...miserable, laborious and short.”, and see’s that man “...is the answer to all our problems” The reason old Major thinks this is because of the way Mr. Jones, the farmer, treats his animals. He is a drunkard, and often forgets to feed the animals. He does not realise the needs of his animals, similar to the way Tsar Nicholas II does nothing about the social and economic problems in Russia before the revolution. Mr. Jones is similar:

“His men were idle and dishonest, the fields were full of weeds, the buildings wanted roofing, the hedges were neglected, and the animals were underfed.”
Animal Farm

Jones and Tsar Nicholas II are both expelled from their social positions because of the way they treat their animals/subjects. This causes the animals to become impatient, and they go to find food for them selves.

“At last they could stand it no longer. One of the cows broke in the door of the store-shed with her horn and all the animals began to help themselves from the bins.”
Animal Farm

Animalism is similar to communism, in both the ways that in theory everybody is equal, but then greed takes over. The reason old Major symbolizes Karl Marx is that Marx wrote and told people about communism in his manifesto, The Communist Manifesto. Old Major also spreads his message through his speech. Also, both idealists died before their proposals were carried out. Old Major is very influential, as he is “...highly regarded on the farm...” In his speech, he informs the animals of his dream, and tells them about the ideals of Animalism. He also warns them that they must not become like man, or they will be just as bad as him.

‘“...do not adopt his vices. No animal must ever live in a house, or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol, or smoke tobacco, or touch money, or engage in trade. All the habits of Man are evil. ...no animal must ever tyrannise over his own kind. ... No animal must ever kill any other animal. All animals are equal.’”
Old Major, Animal Farm

Here, old Major says that the animals must not act as man does, so as not make the mistakes he has done. This is ironic, as later in the book the pigs behave exactly like this. They gradually give themselves privileges, such as keeping the milk and apples for themselves, claiming them to be essential to their diet.

“‘Comrades!" he cried. "You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege... Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig.... The whole management and organisation of this farm depend on us. .... It is for YOUR sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! ...Surely, comrades,” ... "surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?’”
Squealer, Animal Farm

Squealer claims that the pigs need the apples by bamboozling the animals with posh words and ‘facts’; i.e. nothing has been “proven by science”. He also uses shock value in a similar way to old Major, and also rhetorical questions. In Chapter 2, Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer “elaborated old Major's teachings into a complete system of thought...” They simplify this into seven simple commandments.

“THE SEVEN COMMANDMENTS

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.”

Animal Farm

As the book progresses, the pigs become more and more powerful and greedy, and edit the seven commandments to suit their taste. The pigs start walking on two legs (“It was a pig walking on his hind legs.”), wear clothes (“...the pigs took Mr. Jones's clothes out of the wardrobes and put them on...”), drink alcohol (“...the pigs came upon a case of whisky in the cellars of the farmhouse...”), and order the death of ‘traitors’. At the end of the book, only one commandment remains.

“All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”
Animal Farm

This is because the pigs are in charge, and although they say everyone is equal, it is not so. Even very early in the book, in Chapter 3, the pigs start to be more equal than the others. They don’t work in the fields, but “...direct and supervise the others.” This is because of “...their superior knowledge...”, and so “...it was natural that they should assume leadership.” Squealer “...was a brilliant talker... and... was somehow very persuasive. The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white.” He represents Molotov, who was Stalin’s right hand man. He also represents Pravda, the Soviet paper, and the propaganda used by Stalin. Squealer is Napoleons spin doctor, and uses propaganda to impress the animals. He is said to be The animals are too stupid to argue with him, all except Benjamin, who does nothing about the unjustness.

“Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. He refused to believe either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. Windmill or no windmill, he said, life would go on as it had always gone on--that is, badly.”
Animal Farm

Napoleon and Snowball often argue, and eventually become enemies, both fighting for power. They have long debates and arguments, “...but of all their controversies, none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill.” Snowball wants to build a windmill on a hill in the farm, and works out plans for it. Of course, Napoleon, who has “...a reputation for getting his own way” immediately goes against the idea of the windmill. “Napoleon... argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production, and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death.” Squealer sides with Napoleon, using his influence to ruin Snowballs speeches.

“At the meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches, but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times. He was especially successful with the sheep. ...It was noticed that they were especially liable to break into "Four legs good, two legs bad" at crucial moments in Snowball's speeches.”
Animal Farm

This is because the sheep are unaware to the horrors happening, yet continue to support napoleon. They represent the masses of Russia, and regularly interrupt Snowball, thus preventing him from gaining support. Eventually Snowball is driven out all together.

“But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and... uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before... At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs ...came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws. In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him... Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. Then he...slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more.”
Animal Farm

Once Sowball is driven out, Napoleon, who represents Stalin, has nothing in his way to stop him becoming leader. The dogs are the (now grown up) puppies of Jessie and Bluebell, who Napoleon took them from, “...saying that he would make himself responsible for their education” He then indoctrinates them, making them loyal solely to him. The dogs, who represent the Russian secret police, the KGB, scare the animals, and Squealer takes advantage of this.

“...Squealer, who happened to be passing at this moment, attended by two or three dogs, was able to put the whole matter in its proper perspective.”
Animal Farm

Snowball starts teaching the animals to read, but Napoleon “...claims that the education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up”, so takes the puppies However, snowball continues with the lessons, and “by the autumn almost every animal on the farm was literate in some degree.”

Benjamin could read as well as any pig, but never exercised his faculty. So far as he knew, he said, there was nothing worth reading... Clover learnt the whole alphabet, but could not put words together. Boxer could not get beyond the letter D... It was found that the stupider animals, such as the sheep, hens, and ducks, were unable to learn the Seven Commandments by heart. After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim...: "Four legs good, two legs bad." This, he said, contained the essential principle of Animalism. Whoever had thoroughly grasped it would be safe from human influences.”
Animal Farm

The reading is an important factor to the story, as only the more intelligent animals can read, and thus, are the only ones capable to stand up to Napoleon. Boxer struggles to read, and so, does not realise he is being exploited. He represents the working class, particularly, his heroic physical work, which represents the Stakhanovite movement. He was put forward as an example to the other workers, similar to the way Boxer is used as an example to the other animals.

“Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims, "I will work harder" and "Comrade Napoleon is always right"--maxims, he said, which every animal would do well to adopt as his own.”
Animal Farm

This shows that Napoleon seems to treat every animal equally, and is a very caring animal, but really he is just taking advantage of Boxer. However, when Boxer is injured, and can no longer work, Napoleon sends him off to the knacker's and deceives the other animals, saying that Boxer died peacefully in the hospital. This shows that Napoleon does not care for the animals once they cannot work; thus he is exploiting them. He tosses them aside, for they mean nothing to him. Although Benjamin realises what is going on, and tries to help boxer, Squealer easily persuades everyone else otherwise, another example of his propaganda.

‘"Fools! Fools!" shouted Benjamin... "Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?" ...Muriel began to spell out the words. But Benjamin pushed her aside... read: "'Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Willingdon. Dealer in Hides and Bone Meal. Kennels Supplied.' Do you not understand what that means? They are taking Boxer to the knacker's!"
...He (Squealer) fell silent for a moment, and his little eyes darted suspicious glances from side to side before he proceeded. It had come to his knowledge, he said, that a foolish and wicked rumour had been circulated at the time of Boxer's removal. Some of the animals had noticed that the van which took Boxer away was marked "Horse Slaughterer," and had actually jumped to the conclusion that Boxer was being sent to the knacker's. It was almost unbelievable, said Squealer, that any animal could be so stupid. Surely, he cried... they knew their beloved Leader, Comrade Napoleon, better than that? But the explanation was really very simple. The van had previously been the property of the knackers, and had been bought by the veterinary surgeon, who had not yet painted the old name out. The animals were enormously relieved to hear this”

Here we can see how easily Squealer changes the animals’ memories, and also how Benjamin can act accordingly if necessary. The pigs change the commandments, history, and the animal’s memories on several occasions, always to make their lives better, and often this make the other’s worse.

“...the pigs suddenly moved into the farmhouse and took up their residence there. Again the animals seemed to remember that a resolution against this had been passed in the early days, and again Squealer was able to convince them that this was not the case. It was absolutely necessary, he said, that the pigs... should have a quiet place to work in. It was also more suited to the dignity of the Leader (for of late he had taken to speaking of Napoleon under the title of "Leader") to live in a house than in a mere sty.
...Clover, who thought she remembered a definite ruling against beds, went to the end of the barn and tried to puzzle out the Seven Commandments which were inscribed there. ... unable to read more than individual letters, she fetched Muriel.
"Muriel... read me the Fourth Commandment. Does it not say something about never sleeping in a bed?" With some difficulty Muriel spelt it out. "It says, 'No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets,"...
Curiously enough, Clover had not remembered that the Fourth Commandment mentioned sheets; but as it was there on the wall, it must have done so.
Animal Farm

As the pigs grow greedier, the others suffer more. We can also see here that Napoleon is so sure of his leadership, that he is now called “leader”, not “Comrade”