Question

How does the novel end?

• A. The animals overthrow the pigs
• B. The animals continue to work hard under the pigs' rule
• C. The pigs and humans celebrate together
• D. None

Answer 1

Answer:

C. The pigs and humans celebrate together

The Chilling Conclusion of Animal Farm

• The novel Animal Farm, George Orwell's allegorical novella, concludes with a powerful and disheartening scene set in the farmhouse.
• In this final chapter, the pigs, who have steadily gained absolute power, host a dinner party for neighboring human farmers, including Mr. Pilkington of Foxwood and Mr. Frederick of Pinchfield, though primarily Mr. Pilkington.
• This gathering signifies the complete betrayal of the animals' initial revolutionary ideals and the horrifying transformation of the pigs into indistinguishable oppressors, mirroring the humans they overthrew.
• During the celebration, both pigs and humans give speeches, praising each other and expressing mutual respect, despite their past animosity.
• Napoleon, the pig leader, announces several changes: the red flag is removed, the custom of addressing each other as 'Comrade' is abolished, and the farm's name is reverted from 'Animal Farm' back to its original 'Manor Farm'. These changes symbolize the complete regression to the old oppressive order.
• The most iconic and disturbing moment occurs when the other animals, peering through the farmhouse window, observe the convivial scene inside. They can no longer distinguish between the faces of the pigs and the faces of the men. The famous line is: "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."

Key Themes and Allegory for Competitive Exams:

• Corruption of Power: The ending vividly illustrates how absolute power corrupts absolutely, transforming the revolutionary pigs into tyrants identical to the humans they replaced.
• Totalitarianism: The novel is a scathing critique of totalitarian regimes, particularly the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. Napoleon represents Stalin, while Snowball represents Leon Trotsky.
• Betrayal of Revolution: The conclusion highlights how revolutions can be hijacked and their noble aims subverted by new elites.
• Propaganda and Manipulation: Squealer, representing propaganda, played a crucial role in manipulating the animals' perception, leading to this grim outcome.
• Historical Context: Published in 1945, Animal Farm is an allegorical retelling of the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the early Soviet era.
• Orwell's Warning: The ending serves as a stark warning from George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair) about the dangers of unchecked power, the abuse of ideology, and the cyclical nature of oppression.