The Struggle for Control of the Farm: Napoleon vs. Snowball

Animal Farm

Focuses on the personal and political rivalry between the two pigs, which shapes the farm's future.

increasingupBearing stren­gth in each eventdowndecreasing
The Early CollaborationThe Early Collaboration
The Unstable Alliance The Joint Leadership Snowball and Napoleon together lead the farm, but they are never in agreement. Snowball is more popular, but Napoleon is more calculating. The Differences in Vision Snowball wants a progressive, technology-driven farm; Napoleon wants immediate control and security. Their methods clash. The Seeds of Conflict Every suggestion by one is opposed by the other. The farm becomes divided between their followers.
The Decisive ConfrontationThe Decisive Confrontation
The Coup The Moment of Victory Snowball's speech convinces the animals to vote for the windmill. Napoleon seems defeated. The Signal Napoleon utters a high-pitched whimper, and the nine dogs appear. They chase Snowball off the farm. The Aftermath Napoleon claims the windmill as his own idea and begins his dictatorship. The rivalry is resolved by force.
The Posthumous VictoryThe Posthumous Victory
The Erasure of the Enemy The Rewriting of History Napoleon accuses Snowball of every crime, from destroying the windmill to being a secret agent for Jones. Snowball's legacy is destroyed. The Scapegoat Snowball becomes a symbol of evil, used to justify the purges and the pigs' harsh rule. The animals' fear of Snowball is manipulated. The Final Erasure By the end, Snowball is forgotten. The only thing that remains is the lesson that power is won through ruthlessness.
the first months
the first winter, at the windmill vote
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