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Summary of Animal Farm Chapter 6

May 13, 2025

Animal Farm - Chapter 6 Summary

Key Themes:

  • Hard work and sacrifice
  • Leadership and manipulation
  • Changes in rules and commandments
  • Trade and interaction with humans

Hard Work and Sacrifice:

  • Animals worked diligently throughout the year despite challenges.
  • 60-hour work weeks became standard, with additional Sunday work as "voluntary" but with penalties for absence.
  • The windmill construction faced difficulties but all animals contributed, with heroic efforts from Boxer, the horse.
  • Animals were not worse off than before, though some shortages began to appear.

Building the Windmill:

  • Quarrying and transporting stone was arduous and time-consuming.
  • Boxer's dedication was central to progress; he worked extra hours out of a sense of duty.

Leadership and Manipulation:

  • Napoleon announced trade with humans to obtain necessary materials.
  • Engaging in trade and using money conflicted with earlier resolutions.
  • Squealer convinced the animals that no such resolutions ever existed, blaming Snowball for spreading lies.

Changes in Rules:

  • Pigs moved into the farmhouse, which the animals vaguely recalled was against the rules.
  • Squealer manipulated language to justify pigs sleeping in beds, claiming the rule was against sheets.
  • Animals were reassured by Squealer's explanations, often backed by the presence of dogs.

Trade and Interaction with Humans:

  • Mr. Whymper, a solicitor, was appointed as an intermediary for trade.
  • Animals felt uneasy about the dealings with humans but were reassured by Napoleon's leadership.

Windmill Destruction:

  • A violent storm destroyed the nearly half-built windmill.
  • Napoleon blamed Snowball for the destruction, portraying him as a traitor.
  • A reward was offered for Snowball's capture, dead or alive.

Reactions and Future Plans:

  • Animals were devastated by the loss but were motivated to rebuild the windmill immediately.
  • Napoleon's call to action emphasized determination and the continuation of plans.

Conclusion:

  • Chapter 6 highlights the manipulation of rules and the exploitation of animal labor under the guise of collective benefit. The leadership uses rhetoric and threats to maintain control and push their agenda.