Question

What does Napoleon declare after Boxer's death?

• A. He will build a monument for Boxer
• B. Boxer's last words glorified Napoleon
• C. He will mourn Boxer privately
• D. None

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Boxer's last words glorified Napoleon

Understanding Boxer's Death and Napoleon's Manipulation in Animal Farm

• Boxer's Character and Significance

  • Boxer, a strong and dedicated carthorse, symbolizes the loyal and hardworking proletariat (working class) in Soviet Russia, who were exploited by the totalitarian regime.
  • His personal maxims, "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right," highlight his unwavering devotion and blind faith in the ruling pigs, despite their increasingly oppressive actions.

• The Betrayal of Boxer

  • After years of arduous labor for the Animal Farm, Boxer collapses from overwork during the construction of the windmill.
  • Despite the animals' belief that he is being sent to a veterinary surgeon, Napoleon sells Boxer to a knacker (horse slaughterer) to be made into glue and other products. This act underscores the pigs' ultimate betrayal of the revolution's initial ideals and their callous disregard for their most loyal follower.

• Squealer's Propaganda and Deception

  • Upon Boxer's disappearance, the clever propagandist Squealer swiftly fabricates a story to cover up the truth.
  • He claims that the van taking Boxer away was mistakenly labeled as belonging to the knacker but was actually a repurposed ambulance bought by the veterinary surgeon. This narrative serves to quell the animals' suspicions and maintain the pigs' authority.

• Napoleon's Calculated Declaration

  • Following Squealer's initial deception, Napoleon stages a memorial banquet in Boxer's honor.
  • During this event, Napoleon falsely declares that he was at Boxer's bedside during his final moments, a claim no other animal could verify.
  • He then invents Boxer's supposed "last words," stating that Boxer whispered, "Forward, Comrades!" and "Long live Animal Farm! Long live Comrade Napoleon!"
  • This fabricated declaration is a shrewd act of psychological manipulation, designed to reinforce Napoleon's image as a revered leader and to inspire continued hard work and loyalty from the remaining animals, even after his heinous act of selling Boxer.

• Allegorical and Thematic Significance

  • The entire episode of Boxer's exploitation and disposal, followed by Napoleon's deceptive glorification, serves as a powerful allegory for Joseph Stalin's brutal treatment of his most dedicated but uncritical supporters during the Soviet era.
  • It illustrates the insidious nature of propaganda and how a totalitarian regime can twist truth and exploit the loyalty of its citizens for its own benefit.
  • The incident is a pivotal moment that exposes the complete moral decay of the pigs and the utter failure of the Animal Farm revolution to deliver on its promise of equality and freedom.