Question

What was the original purpose of the rebellion against Mr. Jones?

• A. To get rid of the harsh conditions for animals
• B. To gain wealth and prosperity
• C. To overthrow the government
• D. None

Answer 1

Answer:

A. To get rid of the harsh conditions for animals

Understanding the Rebellion in 'Animal Farm'

• The novella 'Animal Farm' was written by George Orwell and first published in 1945.
• It is an allegorical and dystopian work, satirizing totalitarianism, particularly Stalin's Soviet Union.
• The rebellion at Manor Farm (later renamed Animal Farm) was primarily instigated by the animals' desire to escape the harsh and oppressive living conditions imposed by their human master, Mr. Jones.
• Mr. Jones is depicted as a cruel, drunken, and neglectful farmer who often forgets to feed the animals, overworks them, and abuses them.
• The animals suffered from malnutrition, overwork, lack of proper care, and the constant fear of being slaughtered once they were no longer useful.
• The immediate catalyst for the rebellion was Mr. Jones's extreme negligence: he got drunk and failed to feed the animals for an entire day, leading them to break into the food sheds out of hunger.
• The rebellion's philosophical foundation was laid by Old Major's dream and speech, which envisioned a society where animals were free from human tyranny and exploitation.
• Old Major's teachings, known as Animalism, promised a utopian future of equality, prosperity, and dignity for all animals.
• Thus, the original purpose was not merely to overthrow Mr. Jones, but to establish a society where animals could live in freedom and prosperity, free from human cruelty and exploitation. This was encapsulated in the initial Seven Commandments of Animalism.