Chapter 2

           ThreenightslateroldMajordiedpeacefullyinhissleep. Hisbodywasburiedatthefootoftheorchard. 

           ThiswasearlyinMarch. Duringthenextthreemonthstherewasmuchsecretactivity. Major’sspeechhadgiventothemoreintelligentanimalsonthefarmacompletelynewoutlookonlife. TheydidnotknowwhentheRebellionpredictedbyMajorwouldtakeplace,theyhadnoreasonforthinkingthatitwouldbewithintheirownlifetime,buttheysawclearlythatitwastheirdutytoprepareforit. Theworkofteachingandorganisingtheothersfellnaturallyuponthepigs,whoweregenerallyrecognisedasbeingthecleverestoftheanimals. Pre-eminentamongthepigsweretwoyoungboarsnamedSnowballandNapoleon,whomMr.Joneswasbreedingupforsale. Napoleonwasalarge,ratherfierce-lookingBerkshireboar,theonlyBerkshireonthefarm,notmuchofatalker,butwithareputationforgettinghisownway. SnowballwasamorevivaciouspigthanNapoleon,quickerinspeechandmoreinventive,butwasnotconsideredtohavethesamedepthofcharacter. Alltheothermalepigsonthefarmwereporkers. ThebestknownamongthemwasasmallfatpignamedSquealer,withveryroundcheeks,twinklingeyes,nimblemovements,andashrillvoice. Hewasabrillianttalker,andwhenhewasarguingsomedifficultpointhehadawayofskippingfromsidetosideandwhiskinghistailwhichwassomehowverypersuasive. TheotherssaidofSquealerthathecouldturnblackintowhite. 

           ThesethreehadelaboratedoldMajor’steachingsintoacompletesystemofthought,towhichtheygavethenameofAnimalism. Severalnightsaweek,afterMr.Joneswasasleep,theyheldsecretmeetingsinthebarnandexpoundedtheprinciplesofAnimalismtotheothers. Atthebeginningtheymetwithmuchstupidityandapathy. SomeoftheanimalstalkedofthedutyofloyaltytoMr.Jones,whomtheyreferredtoas"Master,"ormadeelementaryremarkssuchas "Mr.Jonesfeedsus. Ifheweregone,weshouldstarvetodeath."