The rebuilding of the mill takes two years. The work is even harder than
before because the walls have to built even thicker. The food problem is more
serious than ever and Napoleon arranges a deal to sell 400 eggs to buy grain.
When the hens try to rebel, their food rations are cut and nine of them die.
Soon all of them cooperate.
Again Snowball is blamed for this uprising and every other unrest that occurs.
Even when four young pigs complain about the meetings being abolished and
three dogs attack them following Napoleon's orders, Snowball is blamed for
this bloody incident. To everyone's surprise, there are other rebellious occurrences
where the animals who are involved make confessions to being involved with
Snowball and are ultimately killed. These killings continue and the bodies
just seem to pile up.
The animals are mystified by these murderous killings and still remember
how Snowball was decorated with honors for his heroic acts in the war. Once
again, Squealer convinces the animals that they were deceived into thinking
that Snowball was brave and that it was really Napoleon who acted heroic and
not Snowball.
One day, Jones attacks the farm and although the animals defend it well,
the windmill is once again destroyed. The pigs decide to rebuild the mill
again, and they cut down the food ration even further.
Review:
The use of propaganda becomes the key instrument to keep the animals in line.
Squealer spreads one lie after another and is able to confuse everyone so
that the truth is forgotten. This is similar as to what happened in Russia
when the media was taken over by the Bolshevik regime.
Also, since usually the lowest class has the lowest intelligence, it is not
difficult to persuade them into thinking they are getting a good deal. The
proletariat is also quite good at convincing each other that communism is
a good idea
The use of the dogs begins the evil use of force which helps Napoleon maintain
power. Later, the dogs do even more dastardly things when they are instructed
to kill the animals labeled"disloyal." Stalin, too, had his own
special force of "helpers".
Mollie characterizes the typical middle-class skilled worker who suffers
from this new communism concept. No longer will she get her sugar (nice salary)
because she is now just as low as the other animals, like Boxer and Clover.
Orwell uses Mollie to characterize the people after any rebellion who aren't
too receptive to new leaders and new economics.
The Windmill stands for the Russian industry, that has been build up by the
working-class. Its destruction is a symbol for the failure of the Five Year
Plan.
Pinchfield symbolizes Germany and Foxwood farm is represents England.
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