Pigs vs. Other Animals: The Growth of Inequality

Follows the gradual establishment of a hierarchy in which the pigs and dogs enjoy privileges while the others suffer.

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The First Privilege: Milk and Apples

Soon after the Rebellion, the pigs begin to take the milk and apples for themselves, claiming they need them for their brainwork. The other animals feel uneasy but accept the explanation. This is the first crack in the principle of equality. The pigs are already separating themselves from the rest.

The Pigs Move into the Farmhouse

The pigs take over the farmhouse, sleeping in beds and using the kitchen and drawing room. The other animals remember a rule against beds, but it is reinterpreted. The pigs now have separate living quarters, reinforcing their superior status. The inequality becomes physical and spatial.

The Dogs as Enforcers

The nine dogs become Napoleon's personal guard, attacking anyone who questions him. They are fed well and enjoy privileges. The other animals fear them. The dogs represent the coercive power of the state. The pig-dog alliance is the backbone of the new aristocracy.

Ration Reductions and Double Standards

The pigs and dogs continue to receive full rations while the others face constant reductions. Squealer calls it "readjustment." The pigs also get beer, whisky, and other luxuries. The economic inequality is stark. The other animals work harder but eat less.

The Final Hierarchy

The pigs walk on two legs, carry whips, and wear clothes. They have their own schoolroom, a wireless, and a telephone. They are no longer animals but a new ruling class. The other animals are still in the fields, hungry and cold. The promise of equality is completely inverted.

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