Animal Farm by George Orwell: Structure Analysis

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”(134) In other words even though every animal is born equal, there are some that still have more power then others. The sentence structure of the novel this quote is from follows a conventional narrative structure. The narrator tells its events in chronological order. Animal Farm in which this quote is from is by George Orwell. In order to discuss the structure this essay will talk about major conflicts that individuals still struggle with today, along with exposition, turning point, climax, and resolution.

The exposition of setting relates directly back to what that commandment has said. The setting of the story takes place in a farm in rural England. The farm is originally called the Manor farm but after the animals take over after the revolution, it is renamed the Animal Farm. All of the animals besides the pigs are put to hard work where they, have to solely provide for the farm. The barn where the story mainly takes place is another key because it is where the original seven commandments were made and by the end where only stood left. It also provides shelter for the animals. The exposition relates back to the one commandment by how the very setting of the book allows it to stand.

The exposition of mood changes through out the time spent on the farm. The mood also relates back to how some animals are more equal then others. In the beginning after the rebellion the mood is very cheerful and ambitious. The animals all have bi plans for the future and their outlook is very good. As time goes on their situation gets worse along with the mood. When Napoleon betrayed them and along with the destruction of the second windmill their mood greatly declines in a depressed way. They animals still push on with their morale low though. The farm has transformed into what they tried fight against since the very beginning. At the end of the book, when all the animals realize what has happened to them and how they have been mislead by their corrupted leader Napoleon, the mood is just utter misery. The overall mood of the book is dark and tense. Example of how the mood being dark and tense in the book is when Napoleon is forcing the animals to work in the fields. The darkness relates to how the exposition of mood goes back to the one commandment that in its own way is very dark its self.

A major conflict that takes place through the book is, the struggle of power. The power struggle is between the pigs Snowball and Napoleon. In the beginning, the way of life on the farm was to follow the seven commandments. Eventually after Snowball was overthrown by Napoleon the commandments slowly disappeared one by one and changed all the way till “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”(134) This took effect when Napoleon was the only one in power. During the time the commandments were slowly changing, Snowball was still “struggling” with Napoleon over power of the farm. Even though Napoleon said it was Snowball who destroyed the first Windmill, it was actually Napoleon. Napoleon wanted more power by putting the animals against Snowball even though it wasn’t him.

Another example of power and a way it shouldn’t be used is when the food was said to be only for the pigs. In the beginning, when there was milk and apples available, it was only met for the pigs. When the animals questioned why only the pigs were eating those resources they were told a lie. ”You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us… Yes, Jones would come back surely, Comrades,”(35-36) The pigs said that science has proven that apples and milk are necessary for the well-being of a pig. Also Jones would come back if they don’t get it. So they needed it think clearly and need it for a healthy system even though you can throw a big anything and it will eat it. They just lied and wanted the better food for them selves. This shows that with power you make anything go into your favor at the cost of others. The major conflict of power relates back to quote by how it was created over a struggle in power the way the farm was run.

Through the development of characters through out the novel, we were able to see how the quote relates to every animal of the farm. This also led to a major climax for horse Boxer. The strong male horse is viewed as peasant compared the pig Napoleon. When Boxer accidently killed a human he was in a deep sorrow about it and regretted it deeply. That was a major climax for the farm and Boxer. Because of the death of one of the humans, the humans stopped attacking the farm. It also gave a great confidence boost to rest of the animals. For boxer his Climax is when he realized what her did. As soon as he did he went into a deep sorrow, which took away his morale. Napoleon after the fact made him work long hard days in the fields and on the Windmill. He even fought and bled is own blood for him. In return Napoleon just sells him off one day for no reason for his own personal alcohol. The development of Boxer is key because his two mottoes were “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right.” That shows how determined he was for the cause and how much of a comrade he was. It’s just interesting how with just one easy kick, Boxer could of just killed Napoleon and ended his uprising to a dictator and a “human.” Sadly instead he just had to deal with how some animals were more equal then others, everyday with him at the bottom. The development of Boxer through out the novel relates back to the quote by how such a strong and powerful animal like Boxer is reduced to nothing by that that one commandment.

One Turning point that played a key role is when Napoleon evicts Snowball from the farm. When the animals were talking about the windmill, Napoleon put his plan into action. He changes the farm from a Republic trying to be established by the animals to his form of a Dictatorship with he as its leader. When snowball was about to win the vote in favor of him "At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous [...]dogs came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball who only sprung from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws." (53) This is when Napoleon started his rise to complete dictator. The first thing he announced after Snowball was run off is that meetings will come to a end and that for now on pigs make the disunions for the well being of the farm. This is also the start when the original seven commandments start slowly dropping and changing into one. The one that is left is “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”(134) This turning point when snowball runs off is key because its starts the rain of Napoleon.

Another key turning point is the battle of cowshed. It is key because the outcome of how humans stop mainly attacking the animals and how they got Jones gun. Snowball coordinated the defensive attack against humans they attacked farm. During the fighting Boxer killed a human, which caused the rest of them to run away. “ There was not an animal on the farm that did not take vengeance on them after his own fashion.”(42) The animals were so mad at the humans even the humble cat got involved with the fight. Also Mr. Jones gun had been found in the mud, which could be a symbol of power and freedom to the animals. Without a gun most humans have nothing in power so now that the animals have it the power shifted. Also they celebrate with the spoil of war by firing it off on days of celebration. It was a major change by how the animals taken the masculinity out of the farmers with the dropping of the gun. The symbol of a gun to a man feels very powerful and secure in their hands but if you take away the gun, most men become powerless and crumble. Since the gun stayed with the animals when the humans left in a symbolic way this a major change that stopped them from attacking. The way of how some things are powerful then others, can in this instance result in a revolution. This has happened by the hands of snowball against the humans and with Napoleon against his own comrades.

The resolution that relates back to that one commandment is how Napoleons dictatorship is complete. He doesn’t even bother to the hide the fact that the pigs have great advantages over other animals. He changes farm from what they originally fought for a animal farm back to what they originally had, the Manor farm. He also forms an alliance with nearby farms and enslaves the rest of the farm animals. The point being a criticism of Communism, where the ideal is that everyone in the society is equal, but that in practice, in the Soviet Union, some people are more equal than others. The conflicts are resolved by the use of violence and power showed by Napoleon. Any conflict on the farm is a reflection of this leadership. This means that all conflicts that are presented are ones that become ultimatums on political leadership, something that cannot be resolved in any way other than to further consolidate the rule of the Pigs. In this light, Orwell demonstrates that political authority that is centrally driven, without any other form of institutional limitation will have a tendency to resolve all conflicts through power. Napoleon certainly does this. He recognizes early on that if he can secure the power and enforcement ability to substantiate his own rule, then all conflicts can be resolved through political rule and in this, there can be no conflicting force to his own control and rule. This all relates back to what original seven commandments have morphed into under Napoleons rain.

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”(134) The exposition of setting, mood, and plot all affect why how some animals are more equal then others is negative. The major conflict of power and the turning point of Snowball being run off directly relates to why Napoleon being in power the way he is a negative thing. Finally how the resolution of how Napoleon dictatorship is complete is just wrong, the way he treats the animals and guides them is just the wrong way to lead. Overall saying that one is more equal then others is unfair and a bad way to go about life.