The Windmill: A Symbol of Hope and Ruin

Follows the windmill from Snowball's visionary plan through repeated destruction and rebuilding, embodying the animals' labour and the pigs' manipulation.

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Snowball's Vision

Snowball unveils a detailed plan for a windmill that would generate electricity and revolutionize farm life, promising a three-day work week. The animals are captivated by the vision of luxury and leisure. Napoleon secretly opposes the plan, but the debate is cut short when he expels Snowball. The windmill becomes a symbol of the ideological split between progress and autocracy.

Napoleon Adopts the Windmill

After Snowball's expulsion, Napoleon announces that the windmill will be built, claiming it was his idea. The animals are confused but obedient. They begin the arduous labour of quarrying stone and dragging it up the hill. The work is backbreaking, but Boxer's strength and dedication keep the project alive. The windmill becomes a test of loyalty and endurance.

The Storm Destroys the Windmill

A fierce November gale blows down the half-built windmill. The animals are devastated, but Napoleon blames Snowball, accusing him of sabotage. The animals channel their grief into anger, and the rebuilding begins with renewed vigour, but the walls are made thicker. The windmill now represents not just progress but defiance against an imagined enemy.

The Windmill Destroyed by Explosion

Frederick's men mine the newly rebuilt windmill and blow it up during the Battle of the Windmill. The animals are horrified, but Napoleon declares victory and orders another reconstruction. The stones are scattered, and the task becomes even more daunting. The windmill's repeated destruction mirrors the cycle of hope and disillusionment.

The Completed Windmill Becomes a Mill

Years later, the windmill is finally finished, but it is used only for milling corn, not generating electricity. It brings profit, but the animals' dream of leisure is dead. The pigs now build a second windmill, still promising the dynamos, but the animals no longer believe. The windmill, once a symbol of liberation, has become a tool of exploitation.

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