Question

Who betrays Boxer's trust at the end of the novel?

• A. Squealer
• B. Napoleon
• C. The other animals
• D. None

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Napoleon

The Betrayal of Boxer in Animal Farm

• Animal Farm, by George Orwell, is an allegorical novella published in 1945. It reflects the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union.
• Boxer is portrayed as the most loyal, hardworking, and dedicated animal on the farm. His two personal maxims are "I will work harder" and "Napoleon is always right."
• Boxer represents the honest, hardworking, and often exploited proletariat (working class) of the Soviet Union, who were dedicated to the revolution's ideals but ultimately became victims of the regime.
• Napoleon, a large, fierce-looking Berkshire boar, emerges as the undisputed leader of Animal Farm after expelling Snowball. He represents Joseph Stalin, who consolidated power after Vladimir Lenin's death.
• Napoleon systematically undermines the original principles of Animalism, which were based on equality and freedom, and establishes a totalitarian dictatorship.
• The ultimate betrayal of Boxer occurs when he collapses from overwork and injury. Despite his years of tireless service and unwavering loyalty to Napoleon and the farm, Napoleon arranges for him to be sent to the knacker's yard (a slaughterhouse) to be turned into glue and other products.
• This act demonstrates Napoleon's ultimate cynicism and ruthless exploitation of the working class for his own benefit. The pigs lie to the other animals, claiming that Boxer is being sent to a veterinary hospital for treatment.
• The selling of Boxer for profit highlights the extreme corruption and moral decay of Napoleon's regime, where even the most devoted followers are discarded once they are no longer useful.
• This betrayal is a pivotal moment that underscores the complete abandonment of the revolutionary ideals and the establishment of a brutal, self-serving dictatorship under Napoleon. It symbolizes Stalin's purges and the disregard for the welfare of the common people.