What happened in chapter 7 of George Orwell’s classic novel “Animal Farm” is a pivotal moment that further solidifies the themes of power, corruption, and the betrayal of ideals. In this chapter, the animals of the farm, who had previously overthrown the oppressive human farmers and established their own utopian society, begin to witness the gradual decay of their ideals and the rise of tyranny within their ranks.
As the chapter opens, the animals are gathered in the barn for a meeting. Napoleon, the pig who has taken on a dictatorial role, addresses the crowd, declaring that he has decided to send the two oldest pigs, Snowball and Boxer, to the glue factory. This decision is met with shock and disbelief by the other animals, as Snowball and Boxer are revered figures who had played crucial roles in the revolution. The justification for their expulsion is vague and unclear, leaving the animals to question Napoleon’s motives.
Orwell uses this moment to highlight the corruption that has seeped into the leadership of the farm. Napoleon’s actions reveal his true nature as a power-hungry despot, willing to sacrifice the ideals of the revolution for his own gain. The betrayal of Snowball and Boxer is a stark reminder of the fragility of the utopian dream and the ease with which it can be destroyed by those who seek to control it.
As the chapter progresses, the animals are subjected to a series of propaganda campaigns designed to brainwash them into supporting Napoleon’s regime. The farm’s anthem, “Beasts of England,” is replaced with “Napoleon is Right,” and the animals are encouraged to sing the new anthem in unison. This manipulation of language and symbols serves to further solidify Napoleon’s hold on power and to erode the collective memory of the revolution’s original goals.
The chapter concludes with a chilling scene in which Napoleon and his henchmen, thepigs, are seen in a position of power, surrounded by the other animals who are too cowed and confused to resist. This image encapsulates the essence of the novel’s warning against the dangers of totalitarianism and the corrupting influence of power.
In summary, what happened in chapter 7 of “Animal Farm” is a pivotal moment that reveals the decline of the revolutionary ideals and the rise of tyranny within the animal society. It serves as a cautionary tale about the fragility of utopian dreams and the corrupting influence of power, making it a memorable and thought-provoking chapter in Orwell’s timeless masterpiece.
