Chapter
VII – Terror, Purges, and Hardship
Notes
by Sheesh Pal Chauhan
A
Harsh Winter and Scarcity of Food
The
winter following the windmill’s destruction is bitterly cold and harsh. Food
supplies run dangerously low, and the animals face hunger for the first time
since the Rebellion. Rations are cut, except for the pigs and dogs, who
continue to receive adequate food. Despite the hardship, the animals are told
they must work harder than ever to rebuild the windmill.
The
Escalation of Anti-Snowball Propaganda
Napoleon,
through Squealer, intensifies the campaign against Snowball. He is accused of
secretly visiting the farm at night to sabotage their efforts. Snowball is also
blamed for every minor mishap—from broken tools to spoiled food. The animals,
though puzzled, begin to doubt their own memories, especially when Squealer
claims that Snowball had been in league with Mr. Jones from the start.
Confessions
and Executions
Napoleon
calls a public assembly where several animals are accused of helping Snowball
in his alleged schemes. The accused—hens, sheep, and even some pigs—confess
under pressure, though it is clear that many are innocent. They are executed on
the spot by Napoleon’s dogs. The sight terrifies the rest of the animals into
silence and obedience. This marks a chilling turn: the Rebellion’s ideals are
now being enforced through fear and bloodshed.
The
Hens’ Rebellion
Earlier
in the winter, the hens resist Napoleon’s decision to sell their eggs to
neighbouring farms for grain and supplies. They protest by flying up to the
rafters and smashing their eggs. Napoleon responds by cutting off their food
rations until several die from starvation. The surviving hens submit.
The
Revision of History
Squealer
continues rewriting the farm’s history, claiming Snowball fought alongside the
humans at the Battle of the Cowshed. Some animals faintly remember otherwise,
but their doubts are silenced by fear and propaganda. Boxer, troubled, resolves
that “Napoleon is always right,” adding this to his existing motto, “I will
work harder.”
The
Role of Fear
The
purges create an atmosphere of constant terror. The animals no longer speak
freely, and loyalty to Napoleon becomes the highest virtue. The original dream
of equality is overshadowed by survival.
Themes
in This Chapter
Political
Repression: Napoleon uses violence to eliminate dissent and secure absolute
power.
Propaganda
and Historical Revision: Lies become official truth,
erasing the real history of the Rebellion.
Corruption
of Revolutionary Ideals: The killing of animals by
animals violates the founding principles of Animalism, yet the victims’ deaths
are justified as necessary.
Foreshadowing
The
purges signal that Napoleon’s dictatorship will become even more entrenched,
and the dream of a free, equal society will be lost entirely.
Chapter
VIII – Absolute Power and Further Corruption
The
Commandments Altered
After
the executions in Chapter VII, some animals recall that the Sixth Commandment
read: “No animal shall kill any other animal.”
To
their surprise, the wording on the barn wall now includes the phrase “without
cause.” This subtle but significant change justifies Napoleon’s purges as
lawful under Animalism. The animals, though uneasy, convince themselves they
must have remembered it incorrectly.
Napoleon’s
Growing Cult of Personality
Napoleon
begins to distance himself from the other animals physically and symbolically.
He is rarely seen in public, and when he appears, it is with pomp and ceremony,
attended by fierce guard dogs and surrounded by signs of status. The animals
refer to him formally as “Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon,” and a poem in
his praise is written by Minimus, the farm’s poet.
Trade
and Deception
Napoleon
continues dealings with the neighbouring farms, especially Mr. Frederick of
Pinchfield and Mr. Pilkington of Foxwood. He plays the two against each other
to secure better terms for selling timber.
Eventually,
he chooses Frederick, believing him to be trustworthy. Soon after the deal, it
is discovered that Frederick has paid with forged banknotes. The loss enrages
Napoleon, who declares Frederick a traitor and calls for his capture.
The
Second Battle of the Windmill
Frederick
and his men launch a fierce attack on Animal Farm. Armed with guns, they drive
the animals back into the farmyard. The attackers blow up the windmill with
explosives, destroying months of hard work. Though the animals rally and drive
the men away, their victory feels hollow. They have lost the windmill entirely,
and many are injured.
Napoleon’s
‘Victory’ Narrative
Despite
the destruction, Squealer announces that the battle was a glorious success,
claiming the windmill’s loss is insignificant compared to the bravery shown.
Medals are awarded, including one to Napoleon himself, and the day is
celebrated with a banquet.
Luxury
for the Pigs
Around
this time, the pigs discover a cache of whisky in the farmhouse. They drink
heavily, and the next day, Squealer is found injured near the barn with a
suspicious ladder. The animals are told he had been working hard to revise the
farm’s records. Later, the Fifth Commandment—“No animal shall drink alcohol”—is
quietly altered to read: “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.”
Propaganda
and Control Intensified
Napoleon’s
use of propaganda deepens. Any problem is blamed on Snowball, and fear is
maintained through constant warnings about human treachery. The animals, worn
down by work and shortages, accept the official version of events without
question.
Themes
in This Chapter
Corruption
of Language and Law: Small changes to the Commandments allow Napoleon to
legalize his crimes.
Propaganda
and Personality Cult: Napoleon becomes the central
figure in a quasi-religious state ideology.
Illusion
of Victory: Losses are reframed as triumphs to maintain morale and obedience.
Foreshadowing
The
events suggest that the animals’ labor will continue to be exploited for the
pigs’ gain. The rebuilding of the windmill will be repeated, further draining
the animals without bringing them closer to the original dream of freedom.
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