Animal Farm: Chapters 8-10 Summary and Analysis
Chapter 8: The Rise of Comrade Napoleon
Napoleon’s ego inflates, demanding to be addressed as “Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon.” Following the bloody executions, the animals discover a subtle alteration to the commandment: “No animal shall kill any other animal” now reads, “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.” As before, the animals attribute the change to their faulty memories.
The animals toil relentlessly to rebuild the windmill, enduring hunger and cold. Squealer, however, presents statistics that “prove” their conditions are far superior to those under Mr. Jones. Napoleon engages in complex negotiations for the sale of timber to either Mr. Frederick or Mr. Pilkington, manipulating the animals’ hatred based on the current negotiation.
Chapter 9: Napoleon’s Republic
Rebuilding the windmill continues. Food becomes increasingly scarce, with reduced rations for all except the pigs and dogs. In April, Animal Farm is declared a republic, and Napoleon becomes president in a unanimous vote, being the sole candidate.
The leadership unveils new “discoveries” about Snowball’s alleged complicity with Jones at the Battle of the Cowshed, claiming he fought openly for Jones and shouted, “Long live Humanity!”
The Fifth and Sixth Commandments are further altered: “No animal shall kill any other animal” becomes “No animal shall kill any other animal without reason,” and “No animal shall drink alcohol” becomes “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.”
Chapter 10: The Pigs Become Human
Years pass, and few animals remember the Rebellion’s origins. The new windmill is completed, used for milling corn rather than generating electricity. The farm appears richer, but only the pigs and dogs enjoy comfortable lives. Squealer justifies their privileged status by claiming they perform “very important work.”
The maxim evolves to: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Napoleon begins smoking a pipe, and the pigs subscribe to human magazines, listen to the radio, install a telephone, and wear human clothes salvaged from Mr. Jones’s wardrobe.
Boxer is sent to the knackers, disguised as a trip to the hospital. The animals initially believe Squealer’s lies about Boxer’s peaceful death in a hospital. The pigs and farmers resume their card games, and the other animals, peering through the window, can no longer distinguish between the pigs and the human beings.