Themes, Symbols, and Key Quotes

George Orwell's Animal Farm is a political allegory about revolution and power. Through the tale of a group of farm
animals who overthrow the owner of the farm, Animal Farm explores themes of totalitarianism, the corruption of
ideals, and the power of language.

Political Allegory

Orwell frames his story as a political allegory; every character represents a figure from the Russian Revolution. Mr.
Jones, the original human owner of the farm, represents the ineffective and incompetent Czar Nicholas II. The pigs
represent key members of Bolshevik leadership: Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin, Snowball represents Leon
Trotsky, and Squealer represents Vyacheslav Molotov. Other animals represent the working classes of Russia:
initially passionate about revolution eventually manipulated into supporting a regime that was just as incompetent
and arguably more brutal than the previous one.

Totalitarianism

Orwell argues that any revolution led by a small, conspiratorial group can only degenerate into oppression and
tyranny. He makes this argument through the allegory of the farm. The revolution begins with firm principles of
equality and justice, and initially, the results are positive, as the animals get to labor for their own direct benefit.
However, as Orwell demonstrates, revolutionary leaders can become as corrupt and incompetent as the government
they overthrew.

The pigs adopt the human ways they once fiercely opposed (drinking whiskey, sleeping in beds), and they make
business deals with farmers that benefit them alone. Meanwhile, the other animals see only negative changes in their
lives. They continue to support Napoleon and work harder than ever despite the decline in quality of living.
Eventually, the promises of heated stalls and electric light—what they've been working for all along—become
fantasy.

Animal Farm suggests that totalitarianism and hypocrisy are endemic to the human condition. Without education
and true empowerment of the lower classes, Orwell argues, society will always default to tyranny.

Corruption of Ideals

The pigs’ descent into corruption is a key element of the novel. Orwell, a socialist, believed the Russian Revolution
had been corrupted by power-seekers like Stalin from the start.

The animals' revolution is initially led by Snowball, the key architect of Animalism; at first, Napoleon is a secondary
player, much like Stalin. However, Napoleon plots in secret to seize power and drive Snowball away, undermining
Snowball's policies and training the dogs to be his enforcers. The principles of equality and solidarity that inspired
the animals become mere tools for Napoleon to seize power. The gradual erosion of these values reflects Orwell’s
criticism of Stalin as nothing more than a tyrant hanging onto power through the fiction of a communist revolution.
Orwell doesn’t reserve his vitriol for the leaders, however. The animals representing the people of Russia are
depicted as complicit in this corruption through inaction, fear, and ignorance. Their dedication to Napoleon and the
imaginary benefits of his leadership enable the pigs to maintain their hold on power, and the ability of the pigs to
convince the other animals that their lives were better even as their lives become demonstrably worse is Orwell’s
condemnation of the choice to submit to propaganda and magical thinking.

Power of Language

Animal Farm explores how propaganda can be used to control people. From the start of the novel, Orwell depicts the
animals being manipulated by common propaganda techniques, including songs, slogans, and ever-changing
information. Singing "Beasts of England" evokes an emotional response that reinforces the animals' loyalty to both
Animalism and the pigs. The adoption of slogans like Napoleon is always right or four legs good, two legs bad
demonstrates their unfamiliarity with the complex philosophical and political concepts underlying the revolution.
The constant alteration of the Seven Commandments of Animalism demonstrates how those in control of
information can manipulate the rest of a population.

The pigs, who serve as the leaders of the farm, are the only animals with a strong command of language. Snowball is
an eloquent speaker who composes the philosophy of Animalism and persuades his fellow beasts with the power of
his oratory. Squealer is adept at lying and spinning stories to maintain control. (For example, when the other animals
are upset about Boxer’s cruel fate, Squealer quickly composes a fiction to defuse their anger and confuse the issue.)
Napoleon, while not as smart or as eloquent as Snowball, is skilled at imposing his own false view on everyone
around him, as when he falsely inserts himself into the historical record of the Battle of the Cowshed.

Symbols

As an allegorical novel, Animal Farm is rife with symbolism. Just as the animals represent individuals or groups
from Russian history, the farm itself represents Russia, and the surrounding farms represent the European powers
that witnessed the Russian Revolution. Orwell’s choices about which objects, events, or concepts to highlight are not
driven by plot as in narrative fiction. Instead, his choices are carefully calibrated to evoke a desired response from
the reader.

Alcohol

Alcohol represents corruption. When Animalism is founded, one of the commandments is ‛No animal shall drink
alcohol.’ Slowly, however, Napoleon and the other pigs come to enjoy whiskey and its effects. The commandment is
changed to ‛No animal shall drink alcohol to excess’ after Napoleon experiences his first hangover and learns how
to moderate his whiskey consumption. When Boxer is sold to the Knacker, Napoleon uses the money to purchase
whiskey. With this act, Napoleon fully embodies the human qualities that the animals once revolted against.

The Windmill

The windmill represents the attempt to modernize Russia and the general incompetence of Stalin’s regime. Snowball
initially proposes the Windmill as a way of improving the farm’s living conditions; when Snowball is driven off,
Napoleon claims it as his own idea, but his mismanagement of the project and the attacks from other landowners
mean the project takes far longer to complete than expected. The final product is of inferior quality, much like many
of the projects undertaken by the Soviets post-revolution. In the end the Windmill is used to enrich Napoleon and
the other pigs at the expense of the other animals.

The Commandments

The Seven Commandments of Animalism, written on the barn wall for all to see, represent the power of propaganda
and the malleable nature of history and information when the people are ignorant of the facts. The commandments
are altered throughout the novel; each time they are changed indicates that the animals have moved even further
away from their original principles

Key Quotes

The following Animal Farm quotes are some of the most recognizable examples of political satire in English
literature. The novel, which tells the story of farm animals who organize a revolution, is an allegory for the Russian
Revolution and the regime of Joseph Stalin. Discover how Orwell creates this political allegory and conveys themes
of corruption, totalitarianism, and propaganda with the following analysis of key quotes.

The Summary of Animalism

"Four legs good, two legs bad." (Chapter 3)

After Snowball establishes the Seven Commandments of Animalism, he composes this statement ("Four legs good,
two legs bad") in order to simplify Animalism's concepts for the other animals. Simple, xenophobic statements such
as this one are a trademark of dictators and fascist regimes throughout history. Initially, the expression gives the
animals a common enemy and inspires unity among them. Over the course of the novel, the slogan is distorted and
reinterpreted to suit the needs of the powerful leaders. "Four legs good, two legs bad" is general enough that
Napoleon and the other pigs can apply it to any individual or situation. Eventually, the expression is changed to
"four legs good, two legs better," demonstrating that the farm animal's revolution has led to the same oppressive
social system they initially sought to overthrow.

Boxer's Mantra

"I will work harder!" (Chapter 3)

This statement—Boxer the workhorse’s personal mantra—demonstrates the sublimation of the self under the
concept of the greater good. Boxer’s existence becomes wrapped up in his efforts to support the Farm. Any setback
or failure is blamed on his own personal lack of effort. This quotation demonstrates how concept of communal
effort, upon which Animalism was founded, gets perverted into a self-destructive commitment to endless toil. Under
Napoleon's totalitarian reign, failure has nothing to do with the leadership; instead, it's always blamed on the
common working animal’s lack of faith or energy.

The Attack on Snowball

“At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came
bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape
their snapping jaws.” (Chapter 5)

Napoleon enforces his rule through propaganda, misinformation, and a cult of personality, but he initially seizes
power through violence, as depicted in this quotation. This scene takes place just as Snowball's eloquent, passionate
ideas are winning the debate over the Windmill. In order to wrest power away from Snowball, Napoleon unleashes
his specially-trained dogs to drive Snowball away from the Farm.

This violent episode mirrors the way power was seized from Leon Trotsky by Joseph Stalin. Trotsky was an
effective speaker, and Stalin drove him into exile and relentlessly attempted to assassinate him decades before
finally succeeding in 1940.

In addition, Napoleon's dogs demonstrate the way violence can be used as a means of oppression. Whereas
Snowball works hard to educate the animals and improve the Farm, Napoleon trains his dogs in secret and then uses
them to keep the animals in line. He focuses not on developing an informed and empowered populace, but rather on
using violence to enforce his will.

Napoleon's Ban on Alcohol

"No animal shall drink alcohol to excess." (Chapter 8)

After Napoleon drinks whiskey for the first time, he suffers a hangover so terrible that he believes he is dying. As a
result, he forbids the animals from drinking any alcohol at all, because he believed it to be poison. Later, he recovers
and learns how to enjoy alcohol without making himself sick. The rule is quietly changed to this statement ("No
animal shall drink alcohol to excess"), but the fact that the alteration has ever happened is denied. The
transformation of this rule demonstrates how language is used to manipulate and control the animals according to
even the most trivial whims of the leader, Napoleon.

In the Soviet Union, Stalin’s style of dictatorship was notable for the extreme cult of personality he created, linking
himself personally to the success and health of the nation. With this quotation, Orwell shows how such an extreme
cult of personality is developed. Napoleon takes credit for every good event that takes place on the Farm, and he
makes loyalty to himself personally equivalent to support of the Farm. He encourages the animals to compete to be
the most loyal, the most dedicated, and the most supportive of the Farm and Animalism—and, thus, of Napoleon.