Animal Farm Group

Question:

glittergirlz
glittergirlz
Student
High School - 9th Grade

Why is it easy for the pigs to establish dominance over the other animals in Chapter 2 of "Animal Farm"?

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Posted by glittergirlz on Sunday December 7, 2008 at 6:55 PM and tagged with animal farm, chapter 2, dominance, pigs.

Answers:

  1. susanr2
    susanr2 Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The pigs establish dominance b/c they are smarter than the other animals and they develop a solution to the unhappiness the other animals feel, thereby creating a sense of unity and trust. They answer all the questions brought to them and keep the focus on the "bad" humans rather than the fact that they themselves (the pigs) are now ruling over the other animals

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/animal/

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    Posted by susanr2 on Sunday December 7, 2008 at 9:26 PM

  2. parkerlee
    parkerlee Teacher

    eNotes Editor

    The other animals (with the exception of Muriel) are illiterate and well, to put it bluntly, quite stupid. Not only do they have problems learning the alphabet, but they are incredibly naïve. They allow the pigs to take over because they are naturally more intelligent and are, most probably, Old Major's offspring. Their attention is quickly diverted from the essential, even when discrepancies in "equality" arise.

    The pigs are also quick to subjugate the other animals under the menace that if they don't do everything they say, "Jones will come back."

    The use of intimidation to gain and maintain control crescendoes with the arrival of Napoleon's dogs, then a series of "confessions" and executions in Napoleon's political purge.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/animal/summary

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    Posted by parkerlee on Monday December 8, 2008 at 7:51 AM