Chapter Nine: Summary and Analysis

Readers can notice some more fundamental changes on the farm in this chapter. The animals struggle to rebuild the windmill. Boxer, who was seriously injured in the Battle of Windmill, is still one of the hardest workers on the farm. In his own life, Boxer sees a continuous degradation of his value as a laborer. Everyone but the pigs on the farm receive reduced rations, and they are constantly hungry. It feels as if the animals may have had a better standard of living with Mr. Jones.

The pigs, notably, enjoy a better standard of living now. There are several piglets in the farm, and a sizable portion of the resources are diverted for their nurturing. The pigs also wear a green ribbon, which can be seen as a way of asserting their superiority. Interestingly enough, they have also started brewing their own beer. This is ominous to the other animals not only because alcohol consumption was not approved of by Old Major but also since it reminds them of the drunk Mr. Jones and his neglect.

Napoleon declares Animal Farm to be a republic and declares himself its President, a dubious act since presidents are typically elected, not self-appointed. Napoleon also mandates the animals to organize parades and write songs in his honor.

Moses returns to Animal Farm in this chapter. Readers should recall that under Mr. Jones’ watch, Moses used to distract animals from their everyday misery by speaking highly of Sugarcandy Mountain. When Moses returns and Napoleon accepts his entry into the farm, it seems as if Napoleon is being forgiving. Napoleon, however, wishes to use Moses and his inclination toward religion to gain more control over the animals. This is clear given Marx’s critical view of religion. Religious hope, Marx would say, is a way of controlling people.

The reader also realizes that Boxer is treated poorly. This is perhaps the most troubling aspect of this chapter, of the entire novel even. Despite being severely injured, Boxer works really hard every day. In fact, he works himself to death. When Boxer becomes really ill, Squealer tells the animals that he will be taken to the hospital, which makes the animals rather uneasy. The hospital, after all, is run by humans, their enemies. However, Squealer convinces them that Boxer needs to be sent to the hospital to be cured. But the pigs’ plans for Boxer is perhaps the biggest deception in the entire novel. Instead of calling for an ambulance, the pigs call for a truck to the slaughterhouse. Benjamin who, by now, has learned how to read is able to make out that the sign on the vehicle does not say ambulance. He urges the animals to intervene and prevent Boxer from being taken. Once again, Squealer subdues the animals, and the truck carries Boxer away to the slaughterhouse. The pigs did not just exploit and wring every bit of value out of Boxer when he was alive; they also profited off his death. While it is hard to draw parallels here with Stalin’s atrocities, we can nonetheless see parallels in Hitler’s actions. Hitler, notably, had found ways for the government to benefit from the skin and hair of the people he’d ordered dead.