way to makeOld Major's ideas a reality is by stirring up rebellions among the animals at other farms. Largely for selfish reasons, Napoleon profoundly disagrees; he just wants to defend the gains of the revolution at Animal Farm and nowhere else. This way he gets to have more power for himself, whereas he wouldn't be able to control the situation if other farms rose in rebellion against the hated human oppressor.

There are also huge differences between the two regarding policy. Snowball comes up with a bold idea for constructing a windmill. The idea is that the animals will be able to generate their own power, thus making them more independent. But Napoleon doesn't agree. He thinks that the animals would be better off attending to their present needs instead of concerning themselves too much with the future.

In reality, of course, Napoleon only dismisses the idea because it was Snowball who came up with it. That he's motivated purely by jealousy can be seen by his cynical support for the windmill project after Snowball has been driven from the farm.

The two primary conflicts in George Orwell's novel Animal Farm are between the animals and the humans and between the animals themselves. As the story opens, the animals decide that they want to drive the human farmer away and run Manor Farm on their own. Enthused by Old Major's ideas of breaking free from human control, the animals embrace Animalism (a new philosophy) and defeat Mr. Jones, the farmer.

The animals take over the farm, rename it "Animal Farm," and strive to make a success of their new venture. Mr. Jones tries to regain his farm, but the animals defeat him again in the Battle of the Cowshed. Later in the novel, the neighboring human farmers once again attack Animal Farm but are driven back a third time.

However, the human-versus-animal conflict is far from the only one in the novel. As time goes on, conflict arises between the animals, especially between the pigs Snowball and Napoleon. Napoleon wants to build a windmill, but Snowball argues against it. Napoleon uses his attack dogs to chase Snowball away, and he subdues the other animals through a combination of brainwashing and threats. The animals are no longer equal, and Napoleon turns completely into a tyrant and becomes more and more like a human being, even becoming the ally of the humans against the "common" animals and people.

One of the primary conflicts in Animal Farm arises in the differences between the animals and the humans. Old Major tells the other animals that animals are good and humans are evil, and that animals should avoid all human traits and interaction with them. Another conflict occurs in the power struggle between Napoleon and Snowball. Napoleon eventually has Snowball run off the farm, and he continues to spread propaganda against his foe--blaming him for many problems--long after he is gone. A third conflict comes when Mr. Frederick, who owns a nearby farm, buys firewood from the animals, but pays them in forged notes. Frederick's men attacks the animals the next day, and the windmill is destroyed.

One prominent theme is abuse of power, or, to put it another way, the corrupting influence of political power. The animals' revolution begins with the best of intentions, as expressed by Old Major in his speech. They wanted to achieve a better life and an authentic equality, free of the injustices characterized their lives under the humans. But no sooner is Animal Farm established than the pigs, who emerged as leaders of the rebellion, began to use their power to subvert the very principles of the revolution to make their lives better. At first, the corruption is subtle, beginning with the missing milk and apples. By the end of the book, though, the pigs have become so corrupted that the other animals cannoth distinguish them from the humans.

Another important theme is the control, or manipulation of, information. This is, in fact, one of the ways in which the pigs are able to consolidate their power. Squealer's speeches are full of glaring falsehoods, but the animals accept them even when they know better. His rewriting of Snowball's role in the Battle of the Cowshed is a particularly glaring example. But this theme is best reflected in the Seven Commandments, which change throughout the book to suit Napoleon's needs, with a minimum of incredulity from the other animals. Orwell's point is to demonstrate how thoroughly effective propagandists can manipulate the minds of people, determining the very nature of truth itself.

In general, I think the major themes of the book are these:

• It talks about how revolutions can turn into totalitarian governments.
• It talks about how leaders can take power away from the people by lies and propaganda.
• It talks about how people can let these things happen.

To me, this relates to the past in that it explains how the people of the Soviet Union were able to allow their country to get to be the way it was.  It could apply to Nazi Germany as well.

As for the present and the future, I would say that the theme of the government lying to the people could be important.  I am not saying that the government lies to us the way Napoleon and Squealer do in the book, but governments (as well as anyone in the public eye, like oil companies and car companies and banks) do try to spin the truth and that is something we must all look out for.

The overarching theme or meaning of Animal Farm is that a revolution will turn into tyranny very quickly if ordinary people (or in the case of the book, animals) don't pay close attention to what is going on. Closely related to that theme is a subject dear to Orwell's heart: language. He believed very strongly that words matter. Groups that want to grab power and oppress others are clever in their use of propaganda (distorting the truth) to deceive others and to serve their own ends.

From early on, but especially after Snowball is driven off, the pigs use language to grab unfair privileges for themselves. Squealer, however, always has a smooth explanation that sounds plausible on the surface. Nobody ever pushes back hard enough or challenges what is said in order to stop the pigs from taking what they want.

Another way the pigs set up a tyranny is through violence. Again, this happens because nobody is paying attention. Napoleon goes away with the puppies and by they time they return, he has trained them to be killer dogs loyal only to him.

Be careful about how language is used, the book warns. Look at words very closely to make sure they make sense. Push back against ideas that are absurd, even if they are made to sound reasonable. Be careful too not to let any one group amass too much potential for violence. All of this will help protect against tyrants.

There are many themes to explore through the reading of Animal Farm. One that doesn't seem to get enough attention is the effects of an uneducated populace. In the story, the pigs who usurp power are the ones who have educated themselves all the while insuring that the "commoners" don't have access to the same "educational" opportunities. As the story progresses, the reader gains insight as to what happens when information is perverted and disseminated to an uneducated public. This is an important cautionary tale for all democracies.

Another theme is that of fear and its use to keep those in power and those not in power, disenfranchised. Throughout the story, Orwell paints a vividly frighteningly picture of ruthless leaders who use fear, manipulation, and lies to control others and advance their plans. Again, this theme is a cautionary tale for those who value liberty and individualism to never cease to question authority.

Orwell's main messages:

1. All revolutions are betrayed eventually. The idealism they begin with will disappear and society will become corrupt.

2. Those who take power (the pigs) will take more and more and they will misuse it for their own selfish benefit.

3. Do not trust politicians. Boxer trusts Napoleon, but Napoleon sends him to his death.

4. Any political system will become corrupt if they (the politicians) are allowed to get away with it. Think of how the pigs gradually change all the commandments for their own benefit.

The novel is really an allegory about the Russian Revolution and the what happened in the Soviet Union up to 1945. If we add this perspective, we can say that Orwell's other message is

1. Stalin and the Communist Party (Napoleon and the pigs) betrayed the ordinary people of Russia in the name of equality. Stalin murdered millions of his countrymen - this is mirrored in the scene where many animals are slaughtered in the barn.

Have you studied the book as an allegory? If not - feel free to ask more questions!!

People in power tend to manipulate those underneath them: Napoleon took advantage of the other animals by forcing them to work even more than they did when Jones was there. He did this by using propaganda and Squealer's speeches that reported facts and figures.

Society should be careful of it's leadership and challenge leaders: We see Clover wonder several times if things are changing. We actually see the pigs change the rules as time goes on. If a leader was doing something wrong, they should be held accountable to do things right.

Society needs a balance of power: The animals thought that if they had the chance to run themselves, they could feel free and be happy. It turns out that because they didn't all share in the decisions, they were trampled on and taken advantage of.

One theme to Animal Farm is that power tends to corrupt those who wield it, especially if it is unchecked. We see this in the form of Napoleon, who is meant to represent the historical figure of Joseph Stalin. Napoleon, like Stalin, is able to dominate others to serve his own ends. The pigs, because of their superior intelligence, can take advantage of the other animals, and do.

Another theme is that revolutionary leaders will eventually come to resemble the leaders they sought to replace. Rulers, especially authoritarian ones, use similar techniques to keep their subjects in line, including the display of force (the dogs) and misinformation campaigns (Squealer). As the story develops, we see that the animals, except for the pigs and dogs, are no better off than they were under Farmer Jones.