Animal Farm: A dystopian critique on human society

Old Major a prize-winning boar gathers the animals of the Manor Farm for a meeting in the big barn. He tells them of a dream he has had in which all animals live together with no human beings to oppress or control them. He tells the animals that they must work toward such a paradise and teaches them a song called “Beasts of England” in which his dream vision is lyrically described. The animals greet Major’s vision with great enthusiasm. When he dies only three nights after the meeting three younger pigs—Snowball Napoleon and Squealer—formulate his main principles into a philosophy called Animalism. Late one night the animals manage to defeat the farmer Mr. Jones in a battle running him off the land. They rename the property Animal Farm and dedicate themselves to achieving Major’s dream. The cart-horse Boxer devotes himself to the cause with particular zeal committing his great strength to the prosperity of the farm and adopting as a personal maxim the affirmation “I will work harder.”