See all the previous spoilers:
What I've read: Ch 10
Years have passed, old animals die, new animals are born. Some animals are purchased and brought onto the farm, and few--Clover, Benjamin, and others--remember what it was all like in the beginning of the rebellion. The pigs now walk on two legs, while the sheep bleat "four legs good, two legs *better.*" They wear clothes and the farm returns to its original title "Manor Farm." A new era of cooperation with humans has risen.
The story ends with the lower animals peering through the farmhouse windows at the pigs and humans dining together, drinking and playing cards, congratulating each other:
"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
And that's where it ends. Like, sorry, no hope for you. It is very much fitting for this chilling tale.
I quite enjoyed the story overall and am
amazed something so short packs a punch powerful enough to last for ages. But then this is Orwell at his best. I'd recommend it just for your reading pleasure. It's a good story even setting aside the allegorical references to real life inspirations.
How'd you like the story the first time you read it? What do you think of it today? Discuss, comment, spoil!
Image Credit: "penguin.animal.farm.shepard.fairey", available under by-nc-as 2.0
That review series brought back some of the most vivid scenes from the story.
ReplyDeleteI've only read it once, and some time ago, but I do remember quite liking Orwell's characterizations and the overall commentary (which really has become timeless).
Good review series, Gina.