Clover's Disillusionment

Traces Clover's journey from hopeful participant to silent witness of the revolution's betrayal.

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The Motherly Mare

Clover is a stout, motherly mare who has never quite recovered from her fourth foal. She is a devoted disciple of the pigs, attending all meetings and leading the singing. She protects the ducklings during Major's speech, showing her nurturing nature. She believes in the cause wholeheartedly.

First Signs of Doubt

When the pigs move into the farmhouse and sleep in beds, Clover is disturbed. She remembers a rule against beds, but Muriel reads the modified commandment ("with sheets"). Clover is uneasy but accepts the explanation. She begins to sense that things are not as they should be, but she lacks the language to articulate her unease.

The Mourning After the Executions

After the massacre of the traitors, the animals gather on the knoll. Clover looks at the beautiful farm and feels tears. She thinks that this is not what they aimed for; she had imagined a society of equality and protection. She cannot speak, but her heart is broken. She begins to sing Beasts of England mournfully, but it is abolished.

Boxer's Death and Final Resignation

Clover is devastated when Boxer is taken to the knacker. She tries to stop the van, but fails. She is powerless. She becomes old and rheumy-eyed, but continues to work. She no longer believes the propaganda, but she sees no alternative. She maintains a glimmer of hope, but it is a dim one.

The Final Revelation

Clover sees the pigs walking on their hind legs and carrying whips. She reads the final commandment with Benjamin's help: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." She understands the full extent of the betrayal. Yet she can only lead the animals to the window to watch the pigs and humans drink together. Her hope is extinguished.

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