Very Short Summary
England, early 20th century. After an inspiring speech by old Major, a prize boar, about the evils of human oppression, the animals of Manor Farm revolted against their human owner, Mr. Jones. They established their own farm, renaming it Animal Farm, and created seven commandments of Animalism.
Two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, emerged as leaders but constantly disagreed. When Snowball proposed building a windmill to modernize the farm, Napoleon used his trained dogs to chase Snowball away. Napoleon then took complete control, claiming the windmill was his idea all along. The animals worked harder than ever while the pigs moved into the farmhouse and began adopting human behaviors.
Over time, Napoleon became increasingly tyrannical. He used his dogs to eliminate supposed traitors, modified the seven commandments to suit his needs, and began trading with neighboring farmers. The pigs started walking on two legs, wearing clothes, and carrying whips. The other animals' lives grew harder while the pigs lived in luxury.
Finally, the pigs invited human farmers for dinner at the farmhouse. As the other animals watched through the window, they saw the pigs and humans playing cards and drinking together, celebrating their business partnership.
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again: but already it was impossible to say which was which.
The farm had come full circle, with the pigs becoming indistinguishable from the humans they had once fought to overthrow.
Detailed Summary by Chapters
Chapter titles are editorial.
Chapter 1. Old Major's Vision and the Seeds of Rebellion
On Manor Farm, owned by the frequently drunk Mr. Jones, the animals gathered one night to hear a strange dream from Old Major, a prize Middle White boar. The farm's oldest and most respected animal called for a secret meeting in the big barn after Mr. Jones went to bed.
In his powerful speech, Old Major outlined the miserable conditions of animal life under human rule. He explained how humans exploit animals, taking their produce while giving them only enough to survive. He declared that Man was the root cause of all animal suffering.
Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals.
Old Major then taught the animals a song called 'Beasts of England', which captured his revolutionary vision of a future where animals would be free from human domination. The song stirred great excitement among the animals, who sang it five times in succession before being interrupted by a shotgun blast from the awakened Mr. Jones. Three nights later, Old Major died peacefully in his sleep, but his revolutionary ideas lived on.
Chapter 2. The Rebellion Succeeds and Animalism is Established
Following Old Major's death, two young boars, Napoleon and Snowball, emerged as leaders. Along with Squealer, a persuasive pig, they developed Old Major's teachings into a system of thought called Animalism. They held secret meetings to spread these ideas to other animals, though they faced initial skepticism and resistance.
The Rebellion came sooner than expected when Mr. Jones, who had fallen into drinking and neglecting the farm, failed to feed the animals one day. The hungry animals broke into the store-shed, and when Jones and his men tried to drive them out with whips, the animals suddenly turned on them and drove them from the farm. Manor Farm, now renamed Animal Farm, belonged to the animals.
The animals established their own rules, writing Seven Commandments on the barn wall. These included fundamental principles such as 'Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy' and 'All animals are equal.' They began organizing their own labor system, with the pigs, being the cleverest animals, taking on supervisory roles.
Chapter 3. Progress and Prosperity Under Animal Leadership
The animals worked diligently to bring in the harvest, achieving greater success than Jones ever had. Boxer, the cart-horse, distinguished himself with his tremendous strength and dedication, adopting the personal motto 'I will work harder.' The harvest was the biggest in the farm's history, with no animal stealing so much as a mouthful.
The animals had assumed as a matter of course that these would be shared out equally; one day, however, the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room for the pigs.
The pigs revealed that they had learned to read and write from an old spelling book. Snowball worked to organize various animal committees and education programs, while Napoleon focused on the education of the young, taking nine puppies to raise privately. Meanwhile, the milk and windfall apples were reserved exclusively for the pigs, with Squealer explaining this was necessary for the pigs' brain work.
Chapter 4. The Battle of the Cowshed and Spreading Revolution
News of the rebellion spread to other farms, causing unrest among their animals. Mr. Jones, along with men from neighboring farms, attempted to retake Animal Farm. Under Snowball's tactical leadership, the animals successfully defended their farm in what became known as the Battle of the Cowshed. Snowball and Boxer were particularly heroic in the fight, though later accounts of their roles would be disputed.
Chapter 5. Snowball's Expulsion and Napoleon's Rise
Tensions grew between Napoleon and Snowball over farm policy, particularly regarding Snowball's plans to build a windmill. During a crucial vote on the windmill project, Napoleon suddenly revealed his secret weapon - the nine dogs he had raised from puppies, now grown into fierce beasts. The dogs chased Snowball from the farm, and he was never seen again. Napoleon then announced that Sunday meetings would end and a committee of pigs would make all decisions.
Through Squealer's persuasive explanations, Napoleon convinced the animals that Snowball had actually been a traitor working for Jones all along, and that the windmill had been Napoleon's idea from the start. The animals, though confused, accepted these explanations, especially when the dogs growled threateningly.
Chapter 6. Napoleon's Consolidation of Power
Life became harder as the animals worked to build the windmill while maintaining regular farm work. Napoleon announced that Animal Farm would begin trading with neighboring farms for necessary materials, despite this seemingly contradicting earlier resolutions. The pigs moved into the farmhouse and began sleeping in beds, leading to concerns about the Fourth Commandment. Squealer explained that the rule only prohibited beds with sheets, and the animals reluctantly accepted this interpretation.
No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets... No animal shall drink alcohol to excess... No animal shall kill any other animal without cause... The commandments were written on the tarred wall in great white letters.
The windmill was destroyed in a storm, but Napoleon blamed it on Snowball's sabotage. He ordered the windmill rebuilt with thicker walls, while simultaneously reducing the animals' food rations. The animals worked even harder, believing Napoleon's leadership would see them through their difficulties.
Chapter 7. Confessions, Executions and Further Corruption
A terrible series of confessions and executions began as Napoleon moved against alleged conspirators. Various animals confessed to being in league with Snowball and were immediately killed by Napoleon's dogs. The remaining animals were shocked by this bloodshed among themselves, but Boxer maintained his faith in Napoleon, adding 'Napoleon is always right' to his personal motto.
If she herself had had any picture of the future, it had been of a society of animals set free from hunger and the whip, all equal, each working according to his capacity, the strong protecting the weak.
The animals were deeply troubled by these events, remembering a different vision of their society. The song 'Beasts of England' was banned, replaced by a new anthem praising Napoleon. The commandments continued to be mysteriously altered to justify the pigs' actions.
Chapter 8. The Battle of the Windmill and Further Betrayals
Napoleon engaged in complex negotiations with neighboring farmers Frederick and Pilkington over the sale of a pile of timber. After appearing to favor Pilkington, Napoleon suddenly sold the timber to Frederick, who paid with forged banknotes. Frederick then led an armed attack on Animal Farm, during which the windmill was destroyed with explosives. Though the animals eventually drove the humans off, many were killed or wounded, and the windmill lay in ruins.
Despite their losses, Napoleon declared it a victory and awarded himself medals. The pigs discovered a case of whisky in the farmhouse cellar and drank heavily. When Napoleon appeared to be dying from alcohol poisoning, he decreed that drinking alcohol would be punishable by death. However, he recovered and later had the commandment changed to prohibit drinking 'to excess.'
Chapter 9. Boxer's Fate and the Pigs' Further Corruption
As years passed, most animals worked harder while food rations decreased. Only the pigs and dogs lived in comfort. Boxer worked tirelessly toward rebuilding the windmill, even after injuring himself. When he collapsed while working, the pigs arranged to sell him to a horse slaughterer, claiming he was being sent to a veterinary hospital.
Boxer's face did not reappear at the window. Too late, someone thought of racing ahead and shutting the five-barred gate; but in another moment the van was through it and rapidly disappearing down the road.
Benjamin, who could read as well as any pig, discovered the truth when he read the writing on the van: 'Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler.' Despite the animals' desperate attempts to save him, Boxer was taken away. Squealer later announced that Boxer had died in the hospital, praising Napoleon's generosity in paying for expensive medicines. The pigs used the money from selling Boxer to buy themselves another case of whisky.
Chapter 10. The Complete Transformation of Animal Farm
Years passed, and the original ideals of the Rebellion faded from memory. The farm prospered, but only the pigs and dogs enjoyed the wealth. Napoleon, now a mature boar of twenty-four stone, ruled with absolute power. The pigs began walking on two legs, wearing clothes, and carrying whips. The Seven Commandments were replaced by a single maxim.
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
Finally, the pigs invited human farmers to visit Animal Farm, which they had renamed back to Manor Farm. During a dinner party, the other animals watched through the farmhouse windows as pigs and humans played cards and made speeches about their common interests. Looking from pig to man and man to pig, the animals could no longer tell the difference between them.