Firstly, the establishment of the farm’s class system was the most vital part of how the pigs felt emboldened enough to rise to power how they did. From the first pig we are introduced to, named “Old Major,” we learn that he is a heavily respected figure amongst the other animals and how him simply having a dream is enough for everyone to gather to hear his words. From the clucking chickens in the homestead’s window beds to the cows and horses lying on thin layers of straw on the cold ground, huddled in by their smaller counterparts, the animals listened to what the dying boar had to say and allowed his words to instill in them. Here, not only were the foundations of Animalism formed in seven basic rules—all abbreviated to the slogan: four legs good, two legs bad, echoed constantly by the sheep)—but the formation of the farm’s class system or maybe even a continuation of the hierarchy established by Mr. Jones, the homesteader. In this system, pigs, the decorated animals that won awards at fairs and were much cleverer than the others, rested on top with their dogs as protectors and enforcers, the assiduous horses—particularly one valiant gelding named Boxer—below as they did the most work, and then the rest. The old boar’s death deepened this hierarchy as the pigs further established the rules of Animal Farm with the help of becoming more educated with Mr. Jones’ books and having the privilege to focus on that instead of farmwork like the others. This is the main reason why the class system was upheld, because if not for it, the pigs would not feel comfortable enough to disengage with their duties, focus on their education only, create a retinue of only pigs, and feel obligated to act as the new supervisors of the farm once Mr. Jones is chased out of the farm. As the animals become more self-sufficient from this act of seditious, it was very clear which groups got certain privileges and which did not under this new rule, the pigs enjoyed better food (more rations, “to feed their minds” as Squealer, the most clever pig, put it), living conditions (moving in Mr. Jones’ manor, because the rule against it was because of sheets specifically, not the beds itself) and luxuries of milk, apples and beer (with all disagreements quieted by clever coverups by Squealer). These small shifts were made possible because the already established hierarchy made it so easy for everything to work in their favor and to not be questioned. It legitimized the pigs’ leadership, organized labor to their advantage, and suppressed opposition from the other animals.

“The pigs did not actually work but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume that leadership.” (pg. 45)

“Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. Milk and apples (this has been proven by science, comrades) contain substances necessary to the well-being of a pig. We pigs are the brainworkers. The whole management of the farm depends on us…Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back!” (pg. 59)

Complacency within the non-pig animals is a direct result of the existence of the class system on the farm. This complacency manifested in a myriad of ways, mostly from their blind trust in leadership, constantly dismissing Napoleons, the cunning, leader pig’s actions—even an execution of their fellow animals who question his authority—accepting propaganda without much question—despite the obvious contradictions and power plays—and continuing their hard labor in building the windmill(s) despite worsening conditions. Throughout the book it is emphasized that the reason the animals think this way is mostly because of their lack of education compared to the pigs—something the pigs went out of their way to not enforce—and the incredulity way of thinking the pigs—who they have fought many battles with against humans and created Animal Farm together with—cannot possibly be abusing them similarly to Mr. Jones, all heightened due to the propaganda squealed by Napolean’s mouthpiece. This point reminded me a lot of activist Angela Davis’s quote, “We live in a society of imposed forgetfulness, a society that depends on public amnesia,” as just as the book Davis acknowledges how dominant power shapes public memory to ensure that marginalized voices stay quiet and their credibility is hushed so the status quo can be withheld. If this were a story where the non-pig animals revolted, challenging the erasure of the original commandments and following a consciousness where they would push back against passive acceptance would be key in that fight. Their tendency to trust without critical thinking, believing the pigs’ words over their own observations and memories, caused distrust in themselves to belittle their hopes for a better, more equal tomorrow, thus maintaining the pigs’ control of the farm. This is emphasized even more when all of the original characters die out or grow old, and their descendants, who have only lived under Napoleon's tyrannical rule, believe the memories of their seniors, once communal lives, were just utopian folklore told beyond their imagination.

“And since it was certainly true that nothing of the kind existed in writing, the animals were satisfied that they had been mistaken.” (pg. 108)

“The animals saw no reason to disbelieve him, especially as they could no longer remember very clearly what conditions had been like before the Rebellion.” (pg. 149)

Callowness or apathy (whether it be willful or unintentional) is what binds this tragic story together. It is the direct reasoning why the class system exists and why complacency festers within it. It is a quiet partner to oppression as it enables it to persist. The cynical donkey, Benjamin, and the nefarious pigs are both great representations of this willful, apathetic approach to oppression and how it can manifest in different ways, but still aid in the upholding of corrupt systems. Benjamin is a resounding representation of this apathetic approach, as his main line throughout the book was “Donkeys live a long time” or “None of you has ever seen a dead donkey,” mostly in response to the pigs’ “developments” on the farm. Both of these quotes signal to readers that due to his age, he has seen the cycle of oppression repeat itself, and because of how ineluctable the cycle seems, he feels as though there is no reason to fight back and to just endure, not even warning his farm friends of the danger. This passivity illustrates how knowledge without the will to resist is just as dangerous as ignorance; this willful act of apathy further allowed the pigs to consolidate power in their hands. The pigs are the main representation of how apathy lays the foundation for corruption to exist, and also how the unintentional (or willful on Benjamin’s part) apathy from the other animals allows them to continue. By controlling the narrative through propaganda and history rewrites, the pigs’ monopoly on literacy and leveraging the animals’ amnesia:internal distrust allowed apathy to fester and position all the actions that furthered themselves from animalism to seem justified. The slow descent of the pigs becoming more human-like—walking on two legs, drinking beer, engaging in money exchanges—and furthering the divide between pig and non-pig shows how their apathy deepened, changing the class system to be flattened to pigs on top and everyone else on the bottom. They no longer see themselves as revolutionaries who fought for the animals beside them but as rulers who govern over the other animals for their own material benefit, emulating the humans they once held such contempt for. The indifference towards the suffering of the other animals is a clear representation of how willful apathy is a key component and meticulous participant in the cycle of exploitation from both the pigs and Benjamin.

“He (Benjamin) refused to believe that either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. Windmill or no windmill, he said, life would go on as it had always gone—that is badly.” (pg. 85)

“None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant, except old Benjamin who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air and seemed to understand but would say nothing.” (pg. 175)

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” (pg. 225)

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is such a foundational read, and I understand why it was required reading in most of our ELA classes in middle/high school. The imperative themes of how corrupting class systems, complacency, and callowness aid in the creation of totalitarian systems through a nuanced, allegorical tale are so important as we watch the low descent in our own realities. Because Animal Farm is a direct parallel to the Russian revolution and creation of the Soviet Union, it is clear that Orwell is almost positioning himself as the figure who warns the masses of the repetition of cycles. The existence of the book is proof of what a person should do when they see oppressive systems being built, as he does the opposite of what Benjamin did by acknowledging the corruption through education and challenging society’s role in the upholding them.

Started: May 16th, 2026. Finished June 11th, 2026 (I took a lot of breaks and read other books/essays leave me alone lolz.)

Sixth read of 2026

Words from the story used in this report: contempt, incredulity, seditious, benightedness