Snowball's expulsion

Snowball's expulsion occurred during a Sunday Meeting in the big barn, at the decisive moment when the vote on the windmill seemed about to go in his favor. After Snowball had delivered a passionate speech conjuring a future of electric light, hot water, and a three-day week, Napoleon rose and uttered a high-pitched whimper. At this signal, nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars burst into the barn and dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws. He fled out the door and across the long pasture, the dogs close on his heels. He slipped, recovered, and with an extra spurt slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more.

The dogs returned, and the animals discovered that they were the puppies Napoleon had taken from their mothers and reared privately—now huge, fierce creatures that wagged their tails at Napoleon as the other dogs had once wagged at Mr. Jones. Mounting the platform where old Major had once stood, Napoleon announced that the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end; in future all questions would be settled by a special committee of pigs presided over by himself. The animals were dismayed, but the sheep immediately broke into a tremendous bleating of 'Four legs good, two legs bad!' that lasted nearly a quarter of an hour and silenced any discussion.

Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement. He argued that leadership was a heavy responsibility and that Napoleon, who believed in equality, had taken it upon himself to prevent wrong decisions. When someone recalled Snowball's bravery at the Battle of the Cowshed, Squealer dismissed it, saying that loyalty and obedience were more important and that Snowball's part in the battle had been much exaggerated. He warned that without iron discipline, Jones would return. Boxer, after thinking it over, voiced the general feeling: 'If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right.' From then on he adopted the maxim 'Napoleon is always right.'

The expulsion of Snowball became the foundation of Napoleon's dictatorship. In the months that followed, Squealer systematically rewrote history: Snowball was declared to have been a traitor in league with Jones from the very beginning, and his role in the Battle of the Cowshed was recast as an attempt to lead the animals to defeat. Napoleon was credited with every success, and the windmill—originally Snowball's idea—was now claimed to have been Napoleon's creation all along. The regime's cult of personality grew; Napoleon was referred to as 'our Leader, Comrade Napoleon' and given titles such as Father of All Animals. The Commandments were later altered to justify the new order, and any dissent was met with violence. The expulsion thus marked the point at which the revolution began to devour its own.