Saturday, February 20, 2016

In Chapter 5, is everything going in accordance to Major's dream and the commandments?

A political idealist, Old Major simplified things too much
when he declared in Chapter 1 that the animals were all good and the people evil. 
Obviously, in Chapter 5, there are desires in the animals that exist just as in people.
While Mollie, who accepts treats from the farmers and eschews work and wishes to be
pampered, runs off from the farm, Napoleon teaches dogs to defend him and threaten
others so that he can dictate what he wants. 


When the
animals hold meetings, Snowball and Napoleon argue.  As Snowball wins over the majority
with his inspiring speeches, the envious Napoleon secretly canvasses support for
himself. So, the animals become divided into two political factions.  Finally, on the
issue of a windmill things come to a head as Snowball's eloquent speech is interrupted
by Napoleon's shrill call to his attack dogs who chase Snowball from the farm.  After
this, the other animals are terrified; they creep silently back into the barn.  Taking
advantage of their fear, the dictatorial Napoleon climbs to the raised portion of the
floor with his dogs and announces that there will committees of pigs, there will be no
more debates.  When some of the pigs express disapproval, the dogs growl.  Then,
Squealer emerges as a propagandist and puts a spin upon the truth that favors
Napoleon.


Oddly enough, after Snowball has been gone for
three weeks, Napoleon announces that the windmill will be constructed.  Later, Squealer
"explains" that the plans for the windmill were not Snowball's, but were really
Napoleon's all along. Squealer tells the animals,


readability="8">

He had seemed to oppose the windmill, simply as a
manoeuvre to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad
influence.



Sadly, the ideal
of the animal farm is soon shattered by the power-hungry
Napoleon.

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