Second Half of Animal Farm

Synopsis:

- In the second half of Animal Farm, Napoleon changes his mind about the windmill and decides the animals must work harder towards its completion. 

 -Napoleon is in full control of the farm, also joining him are the other pigs and the dogs which threaten the other animals to do as the pigs command.

- After a stormy night the windmill is completely destroyed and Napoleon perceives that snowball is to blame for everything.

-The seven commandments are secretly changed and the pigs take new traits and begin acting like humans (sleeping in beds).

-Napoleon demands eggs from the hens and milk from the cows for trading with neighbor farmers even though it is against the original seven commandments to do so, and all animals that do not abide by Napoleons rules are to be killed.

 -The years pass and Napoleon now wears clothing and has changed the farms name back to manor farm.

-The pigs begin walking on two feet and the sheep chant “four legs good, two legs better”.

-At the end of the story the pigs become friends with the farmers and as they play cards with them in the farm house, the animals cannot distinguish through the window which players are humans and which players are pigs.

Characters:

Napoleon: One of the leaders of the farm is a round and dynamic character. He is he antagonist in the novel because of actions against Snowball. Napoleon is a large, fierce- looking Berkshire boar. He is very stubborn and rules the animals in military way. Later in the story Napoleon breaks all seven commandments by walking on two feet, sleeping in beds and even making trades with other local farmers.

 Minimus: Minimus is Napoleons pig poet. He is a flat character.

Squealer: Squealer is a pig with the traits of a flat character and spreads news on the farm. Squealer often threatens the other animals and is very straight forward with what he says.

Mr. Frederick/Mr. Pilkington/Mr. Whymper: Are all neighboring farmers whom the animals detest (except the pigs). They are all flat characters.

Point of View

The story is told in third person and the narrator is omniscient. This allows the reader to see things from the point of view of the animals which creates an interesting view of the story by making the humans seem like savages. It has really given me a new look on farming in general and the maltreatment to animals that are used as products.

Setting

The story takes place in Manor Farm or newly named, Animal farm, which is in England. The setting does not take much effect on the story itself.

Writer’s style:

The writer’s style is very simple and factual. Orwell does not display any extreme detail so the story is not so much about how it is told but more just the story and facts themselves.

Statement of Themes:

The theme is all about power and use of power and leadership. This story uses irony in that sense because the pigs whom are the leaders tell the animals that every animal at the farm is equal even though the pigs are much more powerful and persuasive than everyone else. Anything the pigs say is fact and the animals do as they are told. One could also say that another theme is the abuse of language and the danger of class. Language, because the pigs use it to their advantage and class, because the pigs classify all the animals and use them for different jobs leaving some of the animals with less food and working harder than the others. We also discover more irony in the story when we realize the pigs slowly become exactly what they did not want to be, humans.