Animal Farm
(George Orwell)

Animal Farm is the story of animals overthrowing their masters to run their own farm. The novella opens as the animals of Manor Farm gather to hear Old Major, a prize-winning boar, make a final speech. He relates a dream where all animals are free from the tyranny of man. He dies three days later, but his words live on.

The pigs of the farm compose his words into a philosophy known as Animalism. One night, the animals revolt and run the farmer off his land, renaming it Animal Farm. The pigs formulate Seven Commandments to guide the conduct in Animal Farm. The principles of Animalism are based on the idea that all animals are equal.

Animal Farm prospers in its early years. Two pigs named Snowball and Napoleon arise as leaders and disagree on everything. When Snowball becomes too popular, Napoleon expels him.

Through the years, Napoleon seizes more power and luxury. He is a distant leader, using an articulate pig named Squealer as a liaison to the animals. Squealer uses the animals’ lack of intelligence and memory to constantly rewrite history in order to keep hold of power.

Life at Animal Farm becomes harder as the animals are forced to work like slaves for a little food. Meanwhile, the pigs eventually break every Commandment. They are able to convince the other animals that no rule was broken by rewriting the Commandments.

While the principles of Animalism aimed to set animals apart from the ill deeds of humans, in the end the pigs and man become indistinguishable.