Chapter Eight: Summary and Analysis

With Napoleon’s increasing reclusiveness, Squealer has become more prominent in the farm. He is the chief manipulator, and often modifies the Commandments as he sees fit. By this time, however, the animals have become conditioned to accept Squealer’s version of events. Squealer’s propaganda makes it seem as if life in the farm is continuously improving. Meanwhile, Napoleon no longer lives in the farmhouse with the other pigs. He now resides in a separate, secluded quarter. If, in real life, St. Petersburg was renamed Stalingrad, in Orwell’s parallel, Napoleon’s birthday has become a public holiday for the farm animals. Napoleon has now also started drinking whisky, a habit Mr. Jones was notorious for and widely regarded as disagreeable by the animals. In other words, Napoleon has transitioned into a human-like state.

Away from the farm, Napoleon now deals with his neighbors. This is similar to how Stalin, as dictator of the Soviet Union, had scaled up political activity with neighboring states. Napoleon even starts a business with Mr. Frederick, who had previously earned the scorn of the animals for abusing their labor. Mr. Frederick can in fact be regarded as an allusion to Adolf Hitler. During this time, Napoleon attempts in vain to pit the neighbours against one another. However, Mr. Frederick fools Napoleon by giving him counterfeit currency.

The animals have constructed the windmill by now, but they can’t celebrate the occasion owing to a simultaneous unwelcome development: Mr. Frederick, the farm finds out, has allied with other men in a bid to take over Animal Farm. This can be compared to Hitler’s plan of taking over Europe. While Mr. Frederick is still unable to take over the farm, he is a little more successful than he was in his previous attempt. He gains possession of the large pasture, and he and his men also manage to destroy the windmill. This is understandably a tragedy for the animals. Besides its obvious material value, the windmill is symbolic of their cooperation and effort. Boxer is also seriously injured in this battle. Boxer, it must be noted, represents what humans would call “the proletariat.” His injury would turn out to be a serious blow for Animal Farm. Napoleon nonetheless declares victory and orders mandatory celebration, but the animals are in no mood for it.