Hamlet as a Tragic Hero

Of all the plays Shakespeare has written, “Hamlet” is his most celebrated play and the play’s main protagonist Hamlet is the most controversial and talked about character in the history of English literature.

Aristotle in his book “Poetics” outlines that a tragic hero is a noble-born with heroic attributes and whose destiny changes as a result of a tragic flaw (most of the time arising from the character’s own heroic attributes) that eventually causes the tragic hero’s awful downfall. The character, Hamlet, undoubtedly complies with the concept of a tragic hero based on these points and can be considered as a perfect tragic hero.

Hamlet is a high-born or a prince in the kingdom of Denmark. Hamlet has high philosophical thoughts as he was a student of philosophy and we witness his philosophical mind when Hamlet contemplates the principles of death and life. As a noble-born, Hamlet also knows sword skills which we can see in his duel against Laertes. Hamlet is also depicted as a diligent and clever person who is accepted among the public and will without a doubt make a potent monarch. Despite having all these heroic qualities, the ‘tragic flaw’ in his character eventually leads to his destruction and makes him a typical tragic hero.

According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must have a tragic flaw and Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his incapacity to take action or his indecisiveness. He is oftentimes upset by his own manners of ‘self-analysis’. This tragic flaw leads him to many unwanted outcomes. For example, when Hamlet had the opportunity to kill, the murderer of his father Claudius, Hamlet halts because Claudius was praying at that time. According to Hamlet, if he had killed him while praying, he would have advanced to heaven. Likewise Act III Scene VI, in conversation with his mother, Hamlet had murdered Polonius, suspecting that it was his uncle Claudius. Extremely grieved by the demise of his father, Ophelia killed herself. If we look at all these incidents from a wiser point of view, then we can say that had Hamlet killed Claudius earlier, Hamlet would have already avenged his father’s death. Accordingly, Polonius, whom Hamlet killed would have lived and also his daughter Ophelia and besides all these Hamlet would also be able to spend the rest of his life well. So Hamlet’s own tragic flaw leads to his downfall and this also makes him a tragic hero.

It might be argued that the personality of Hamlet’s character is not the only reason that is accountable for his downfall; external situations are also blameworthy for forming Hamlet a tragic hero. The arrival of the Ghost in the form of Hamlet’s father and its disclosure is an instance of fortune. There are many other incidents that happen in Hamlet’s life are by accident. The killing of Polonius, the attacking of pirates, and his returning to Denmark are nothing but an accident. So chance and fate affect not only the life of Hamlet but also the lives of the other characters. But this also does not mean that fate and chance are the only cause of Hamlet’s tragedy; ultimately it is he himself who is answerable for his tragedy.

In the end, we can say that the character of Hamlet as portrayed in the play and as advocated by the aforesaid qualities can be regarded as a tragic hero. Hamlet is not known for his bravery and goodness, he is such a hero who wanted to do something right but in the process, he keeps on making mistakes one after another. His ambitions and accomplishments are coordinated by defeats and misdeeds. Hamlet is a character in which virtue and evil coexist.

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda : Summary of Chapter-1 to 6

This book provides a first-hand account of the life and teachings of a yogi, offering a rare insider's perspective on the spiritual practices and experiences of Hindu saints, distinguishing it from other spiritual autobiographies written by observers or scholars. The book extensively documents various saints demonstrating supernatural abilities like levitation, materialization, and healing, emphasizing the possibility of transcending physical limitations through spiritual practice.

In the first chapter, Paramahansa Yogananda recounts vivid memories from his childhood, including a sense of his past lives, his inability to express himself as an infant, and his strong emotional and spiritual inclinations from a young age.

The author's parents, Bhagabati Charan Ghosh and his wife, were devoted disciples of the spiritual master Lahiri Mahasaya. They instilled a deep spiritual awareness in their children through their own practices and teachings from the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

The author's father was a strict disciplinarian, but also led a very simple and selfless life, refusing to take advantage of financial opportunities and instead focusing on spiritual practices and civic duties.

The author's father had a miraculous encounter with Lahiri Mahasaya, who appeared to him and his employee Abinash, leading them to become disciples of the master and receive his spiritual teachings.

The author recounts a powerful spiritual vision he had as a child, where he saw Himalayan yogis and experienced a divine light and presence. He also describes a miraculous healing from cholera through the power of Lahiri Mahasaya's photograph.

As a child, the author was able to manifest a boil on his arm through the power of his words, demonstrating the vibratory power of speech, which he later learned could be used for positive purposes.

The author describes two instances where his prayers for obtaining kites were miraculously answered, with the kites being blown towards him and entangled in a way that allowed him to easily capture them, much to the amazement of his sister.

In second chapter, the author's mother had a strong Indian sentiment for family continuity, and her greatest desire was the marriage of the author's elder brother, Ananta.

The author had a premonition of his mother's death while sleeping beside his father in Bareilly. His mother's apparition urged him to rush to Calcutta, but his father dismissed it as a hallucination.

After the author's mother passed away, his elder brother Ananta revealed that she had left a message for the author, which she had asked to be disclosed to him in one year.

Mother's Spiritual Connection with Lahiri Mahasaya: The author's mother had taken him as a baby to the home of her guru, Lahiri Mahasaya, who had blessed the author and predicted that he would become a yogi.

The author's mother had been entrusted with a silver amulet by a sage in the Punjab, which materialized in her hands during meditation and was to be passed on to the author at the appropriate time.

The amulet was imbued with spiritual significance, containing Sanskrit characters and representing the guidance of the author's past life teachers. The amulet's eventual disappearance was a prelude to the author's gaining a spiritual guru.

The author felt a strong pull towards the Himalayas, the abode of yogis and swamis, and attempted to run away to the holy hills, but was thwarted by his elder brother's ridicule.

In third chapter, Swami Pranabananda is described as an "exalted spiritual stature" and a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, who is referred to as the "greatest yogi" the narrator ever knew. Pranabananda has attained the ability to materialize an extra physical body and communicate with his disciples in distant locations, demonstrating his advanced spiritual powers.

Pranabananda explains that he receives two "pensions" - one from the railroad where he previously worked, and another "pension of fathomless peace" from his spiritual realization and communion with the Divine. This metaphorical "pension" refers to the state of profound inner peace and bliss he has attained through deep meditation.

The chapter describes several instances of Pranabananda's extraordinary abilities, such as summoning Kedar Nath Babu to his residence without using a messenger, outpacing him on foot despite Kedar Nath wearing sturdy shoes, and communicating with disciples in distant Calcutta. These demonstrations of his mastery over the physical world are presented as evidence of his spiritual attainment.

Pranabananda shares his personal experience of seeking Lahiri Mahasaya's help to achieve the "final irrevocable union" with the Divine, which he was unable to attain through his own intense meditation. Lahiri Mahasaya's intervention and blessing enabled Pranabananda to finally experience the state of constant divine communion he now enjoys, highlighting the crucial role of a spiritual master in one's spiritual journey.

The narrator, who is the son of Bhagabati, is initially awestruck by Pranabananda's miraculous abilities but does not feel inclined to accept him as his own spiritual teacher, as he is "destined to undertake [his] divine search through one particular guru - Sri Yukteswar." This suggests the narrator's focus on his own predetermined spiritual path, rather than being drawn to Pranabananda's extraordinary powers.

In chapter 4 the author, Mukunda, had planned a trip to the Himalayas with his friends Amar and Jatinda to seek a spiritual master. However, their plans were foiled by Mukunda's brother Ananta, who discovered their scheme and intervened to prevent their departure.

On their way to Hardwar, the boys encountered a police officer who recounted a remarkable story of a sadhu (holy man) whose severed arm had miraculously healed in the officer's presence, demonstrating the saint's spiritual powers.

When Mukunda sought divine guidance through prayer, a sadhu appeared and assured him that his true path in life was that of the renunciate, contradicting the advice of a pundit who had been enlisted by Ananta to dissuade Mukunda from becoming a monk.

Mukunda's father arranged for Swami Kebalananda, a disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, to become Mukunda's Sanskrit tutor. Kebalananda, rather than focusing on academic studies, shared insights about his guru's spiritual teachings and miraculous abilities.

Through Kebalananda's accounts, the reader learns about Lahiri Mahasaya's profound spiritual wisdom, his ability to guide disciples into deep states of meditation, and his performance of miraculous healings, all without ego or self-aggrandizement.

Kebalananda emphasizes that Lahiri Mahasaya considered the Kriya Yoga technique to be the most effective spiritual practice for self-realization and liberation, and that it would remain potent even after the guru's physical passing.

Chapter 5 starts with the description of the Sage at Kalighat Temple. This sage shared profound insights on the nature of truth, the ego, and compassion. He emphasized that true self-analysis leads to wisdom, while self-expression results in egotism. He also spoke about the importance of freeing oneself from delusions and turning to the Creator with humility.

Gandha Baba was a yogi who could materialize various fragrances and even fruits out of thin air. However, the author viewed such displays of miraculous powers as spiritually useless, as they were more for entertainment than for the pursuit of God.

The author distinguishes between the miracles performed by saints who are "awake in God" and the temporary phenomena of hypnotism, which can have negative psychological effects. True saints effect changes in the world through a will that is harmoniously attuned to the Creative Cosmic Dreamer.

The author had not yet found his destined guru during this period, despite encountering several sages and saints. He felt that his heart needed no tutor for its recognitions and would cry its own "Bravos!" when he finally met his true master.

The author suggests that his eventual guru would teach him the measure of a true man, not through ostentatious displays of power, but through the sublimity of his example alone.

In sixth chapter Paramhansa Yogadanad writes that the Tiger Swami was able to subdue tigers despite having a physically weak body in his youth. He explains that it was his indomitable mental willpower and determination that allowed him to overcome his physical limitations and become a powerful tiger tamer.

The Tiger Swami emphasizes the strong connection between the mind and the body. He states that the body is "literally manufactured and sustained by mind" and that outward physical frailty has its origins in the mind. He explains that by exerting mental control, one can overcome physical weaknesses.

The Tiger Swami suggests that there are many "kinds of tigers" that one must conquer, referring to the inner desires and passions that need to be tamed, rather than just physical tigers. He implies that true spiritual progress comes from mastering one's inner nature, not just physical feats.

The Tiger Swami's father warns him that his tiger-taming activities will lead to his downfall, as the tigers will seek retribution. This prophecy comes true when the Tiger Swami is severely mauled by the tiger, leading to a near-death experience and a spiritual transformation.

The Tiger Swami's severe injuries and illness after the tiger attack lead him to renounce his worldly ambitions and seek a spiritual teacher. This near-death experience catalyzes his spiritual awakening and his decision to become a monk, dedicated to "subduing the beasts of ignorance" within the human mind.

The chapter emphasizes the importance of patience and perseverance in the spiritual journey. The Tiger Swami has to wait patiently to meet his spiritual teacher, and then undergoes a rigorous training process in the Himalayas to master the spiritual path.

This book provides an authentic account of the life and teachings of a yogi, offering a rare insider's perspective on the spiritual practices and experiences of Hindu saints. This distinguishes it from other spiritual autobiographies written by observers or scholars who lack this direct experience. Paramhansa Yogananda, was himself a disciple of the revered yogi Sri Yukteswar Giri. This allows him to share intimate details and insights about the daily life, wisdom, and spiritual attainments of his guru that would be inaccessible to an outside writer. The reader gains a unique window into the world of India's living saints - a world often shrouded in mystery and misconception for Westerners. Through Yogananda's vivid descriptions, we witness the extraordinary qualities and supernatural abilities of these advanced spiritual masters. This includes their impartiality, self-mastery, and ability to transcend the limitations of the physical body. The book conveys the profound spiritual realization and divine presence embodied by these yogis, which profoundly impacted all who encountered them.

Question-Answers of "Of Mice and Men"

1.      Why did Steinbeck choose the title Of Mice and Men?

Steinbeck chose the title Of Mice and Men after reading a poem called “To a Mouse” by Robert Burns, in which the poet regrets accidentally destroying a mouse’s nest. The poem resonates with several of Of Mice and Men’s central themes: the impermanence of home and the harshness of life for the most vulnerable. The struggles of the mouse whose home is destroyed parallels with the struggles of George, Lennie, and other migrant workers whose dreams of purchasing land are destroyed by the trials of the Great Depression. Their own fate is not so different from the poem’s mouse, or the dead mouse Lennie pulls from his pocket—the characters are destined for destruction beyond their control.

2.      What happened in Weed?

In the town of Weed, Lennie—a lover of soft things—touched a girl’s dress, became frightened when she started to “squawk,” and was accused of rape after the girl reported Lennie to the authorities. The men of Weed ran George and Lennie out of town, and the two escaped by hiding in an irrigation ditch until nightfall. This anecdote foreshadows the death of Curley’s wife, which happens as a result of a nearly identical misunderstanding. Because George observes first-hand the misunderstanding in Weed, he can be sure that Lennie is not guilty of deliberately murdering Curley’s wife (and so can the reader).

 

3.      Why does Carlson shoot Candy’s dog?

Carlson shoots Candy’s dog because it is old, sick, and no longer able to work as a sheep dog. Carlson says the dog “ain’t no good” to Candy, unable to see that the dog still has value as Candy’s friend and companion. This assertion reveals how in the world of migrant laborers, companionship is so rare and undervalued that many laborers don’t even recognize a loving relationship when they do see it. The shooting of Candy’s dog is also framed as a merciful act intended to prevent the dog’s suffering, which foreshadows George’s decision to shoot Lennie rather than let him be imprisoned or tortured by Curley.

 

4.      Why does Curley attack Lennie?

After Slim denies Curley’s accusation that he was hanging around Curley’s wife, Curley looks to take his anger out on an easier target, and chooses Lennie. Lennie is “smiling with delight” as he dreams about the future farm, ignorant that he has attracted Curley’s humiliated anger. By picking on Lennie, Curley demonstrates that he is willing to prey on the most vulnerable in order to maintain his dominance over the workers. Of Mice and Men suggests that this is one way that the property-owning classes uphold their power.

 

5.      Why does George kill Lennie?

George knows that if he doesn’t kill Lennie himself, Curley will torture and murder Lennie in a more inhumane way, making Lennie suffer for killing Curley's wife. George must choose between mercifully shooting the friend he loves with his own hands, or allowing Lennie’s inevitable lynching by a mob that does not care about Lennie’s fate. Of Mice and Men argues that on the bottom rung of the American economy, the destitute are left with only stark and terrible choices.

 

6.      Why does Lennie have a dead mouse in his pocket?

As the story begins, Lennie has a dead mouse in his pocket because he likes to pet soft things but doesn’t know his own strength and accidentally killed the mouse when he pet it too hard. When George realizes that Lennie has a dead mouse in his pocket, he asks him what he would “want of a dead mouse, anyways,” and Lennie explains that he “could pet it with [his] thumb while [they] walked along.” Even after George throws the mouse into the woods, Lennie finds it and tries to hide it once again, saying, “I wasn’t doin’ nothing bad with it, George. Jus’ strokin’ it.” The dead mouse introduces Lennie’s clear obsession with soft things and unintentional destruction of them, foreshadowing future events in the story.

 

7.      How is Lennie different from the other men?

From the first pages of the novella, Steinbeck makes it clear that Lennie is different. Despite his large size, he comes across as childlike, and George seems to have to take care of him. For example, George warns Lennie not to drink too much water and has to repeatedly remind him where they are heading, saying, “So you forgot that awready, did you? I gotta tell you again, do I?” It is not until later in the story when George confides in Slim that readers learn some clues about Lennie’s “differences.” George says, “He ain’t no cuckoo . . . He’s dumb as hell, but he ain’t crazy . . . I knowed his Aunt Clara. She took him in when he was a baby and raised him up.” Even though there is never a specific diagnosis given to Lennie, he seems to have a different intellectual ability than the other adult men just as Slim describes when he says, “He’s jes’ like a kid, ain’t he.

 

8.      Why do George and Lennie travel together?

George and Lennie travel together because they have known each other since they were children and a natural friendship developed over time. George explains their history when he confides in Slim, saying, “Him and me was both born in Auburn. I knowed his Aunt Clara. She took him in when he was a baby and raised him up. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin’. Got kinda used to each other after a little while.” George explains to Slim that even though Lennie can be a challenge, their friendship and companionship make life better for both of them.

9.  Why does Lennie kill Curley’s wife?

Lennie kills Curley’s wife because of his inability to control his own strength and emotions. However, Lennie doesn’t simply kill her—several unfortunate events lead to her death. First, Curley’s wife insists on talking with Lennie even after he warns her that he “ain’t supposed to” because “George’s scared [he’ll] get in trouble.” Then Curley’s wife invites Lennie to pet her soft hair, but when he gets too rough, she “jerked her head sideways, and Lennie’s fingers closed on her hair and hung on.” Finally, when Curley’s wife yells at Lennie to let go, he panics in fear that George will get mad and not let him tend the rabbits, so he puts his hand over her mouth. The more Curley’s wife struggles and yells, the angrier and more scared Lennie becomes, leading him to shake her harder until “she was still, for [he] had broken her neck.”

 

10.  Why is Crooks’s room set apart from the others?

Race is the central reason why Crooks has his own room set apart from the other men at the ranch. When Lennie visits Crooks’s room trying to make friends, Crooks keeps his guard up and explains the situation, saying, “You got no right to come in my room . . . You go on get outta my room. I ain’t wanted in the bunk house, and you ain’t wanted in my room.” When Lennie persists and asks why Crooks is not allowed in the bunkhouse, Crooks presents the clear racial reasoning when he says, “ʼCause I’m black. They play cards in there, but I can’t play because I’m black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me.” This segregation presents the larger topic of racism and social position throughout this story as Crooks is ultimately “put in his place” just as the ranch workers have their place in the lowly bunkhouse.

 

11.  What does Slim do at the ranch?

Slim’s job at the ranch is a jerkline skinner, the head mule driver, and “the prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders.” Aside from Slim’s specific job at the ranch, he is looked up to by all, making him a leader in his work and among the men: “There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love.” Slim holds an unchanging, respected role at the ranch.

 

12.  Do George and Candy still plan to buy the dream farm after Lennie’s death?

George and Candy give up on the plan to buy the dream farm once they realize that Lennie has killed Curley’s wife and his future is bleak. Without Lennie, the hope of the dream of escaping their difficult life as ranchers is washed away. After desperately trying to hold on to the possibility of still pursuing the dream of owning land, Candy asks, “‘You an’ me can get that little place, can’t we, George? . . . Can’t we?’ Before George answered, Candy dropped his head and looked down at the hay. He knew.” George explains that he only believed they would buy a farm one day because Lennie liked to hear about it so much.

13. Character-sketch of Lennie.

Lennie is George’s friend and the two travel together. Lennie has a mental disability, making him dependent upon George to manage day to day life in the difficult environment in which they live and work.

Lennie is physically very strong, but cannot control himself, leading to escalating acts of accidental violence through the book. He is obsessed with stroking soft things, such as animal fur. This starts with mice, which he kills, then leads to his puppy, which he also kills, before the tragic death of Curley’s wife when he strokes her hair. He does not mean to cause harm but is not aware of his own physical power.

Lennie is very innocent and sweet-natured; he always means well and is focused on simple pleasures, which his dream with George reminds the reader of. He lacks awareness of social conventions and so does not feel the same racism and prejudice against women that many of the other male characters feel. Lennie is happy to talk to Crooks and Curley’s wife, despite them being rejected by the other characters on the ranch.

Lennie only gets angry or aggressive when he feels that his friendship with George is threatened. For example, when Crooks suggests that George might abandon Lennie, Lennie reacts angrily, worried that Crooks is threatening violence against his friend.

14.    Character-sketch of George Milton

George is a protective man, who has been caring for his friend Lennie for a long time. The two men are not related but have been friends since they were children, so as well as enjoying his company, George also feels responsible for his welfare. George often talks to Lennie about their dream.

Due to Lennie’s mental disability, George has to take responsibility for him and finds this stressful and frustrating at times, due to Lennie getting into trouble. This results in outbursts of anger towards Lennie at certain points in the novel, although George regrets these quickly.

George recognizes that his friendship with Lennie is special because men like George would not have had friendships due to moving around so much for work; it would have been very unusual for two men to travel around together due to work being scarce.

George is a small, quick-witted man; his intelligence contrasts with Lennie’s throughout the book; as does his size. George often has to think quickly in order to cover up for Lennie’s mistakes. Finally, he feels forced to shoot his best friend in order to protect him from Curley and the other men, who George believes would have tortured Lennie if they found him first.

15. Themes in the novel "Of Mice and Men"

There are different themes running through Of Mice and Men, all linked primarily to George and Lennie as the central characters of the novel. Their plan to own their own farm highlights the theme of dreams, which also involves Candy and Crooks, as well as Curley’s wife. George and Lennie’s unusual friendship introduces the idea of companionship, while also contrasting with the loneliness experienced by characters such as Curley’s wife, Crooks and Candy.

The theme of dreams is introduced at the start of the book through George’s description to Lennie of the farm that they hope one day to own together. They continue to discuss this throughout the text, with Candy also becoming involved and making it finally seem possible. This dream is very important to the men because it represents freedom and having control over their own lives, which they do not have while moving around looking for work.

Most of the characters on the ranch are lonely. George and Lennie stand out because their friendship means that they are not isolated and this is very unusual, making some others (like the Boss) suspicious of them. Steinbeck shows how the lifestyle that the men lead is very damaging to their relationships, making them lack compassion for others. The loneliest characters in the book are Candy, Crooks and Curley’s wife. All of these characters are different to the others on the ranch: Candy is older than the others; Crooks is the only black man; and Curley’s wife is the only woman. These factors make the characters isolated and the men on the ranch show no empathy towards them, instead making them more isolated by treating them badly.

Companionship in Of Mice and Men is primarily demonstrated through the friendship of George and Lennie, as there are no other meaningful relationships between people in the book. The unusualness of their bond is emphasized throughout the novel, particularly through the contrast with the other characters who are isolated and lonely. Apart from Slim, the men on the ranch find it difficult to understand why George and Lennie stick together.

Summary of Of Mice and Men

Two migrant workers, George and Lennie, have been let off a bus miles away from the California farm where they are due to start work. George is a small, dark man with “sharp, strong features.” Lennie, his companion, is his opposite, a giant of a man with a “shapeless” face. Overcome with thirst, the two stop in a clearing by a pool and decide to camp for the night. As the two converse, it becomes clear that Lennie has an intellectual disability, and is deeply devoted to George and dependent upon him for protection and guidance. George finds that Lennie, who loves petting soft things but often accidentally kills them, has been carrying and stroking a dead mouse. George angrily throws it away, fearing that Lennie might catch a disease from the dead animal. George complains loudly that his life would be easier without having to care for Lennie, but the reader senses that their friendship and devotion is mutual. He and Lennie share a dream of buying their own piece of land, farming it, and, much to Lennie’s delight, keeping rabbits. George ends the night by treating Lennie to the story he often tells him about what life will be like in such an idyllic place.

The next day, the men report to the nearby ranch. George, fearing how the boss will react to Lennie, insists that he’ll do all the talking. He lies, explaining that they travel together because they are cousins and that a horse kicked Lennie in the head when he was a child. They are hired. They meet Candy, an old “swamper,” or handyman, with a missing hand and an ancient dog, and Curley, the boss’s mean-spirited son. Curley is newly married, possessive of his flirtatious wife, and full of jealous suspicion. Once George and Lennie are alone in the bunkhouse, Curley’s wife appears and flirts with them. Lennie thinks she is “purty,” but George, sensing the trouble that could come from tangling with this woman and her husband, warns Lennie to stay away from her. Soon, the ranch-hands return from the fields for lunch, and George and Lennie meet Slim, the skilled mule driver who wields great authority on the ranch. Slim comments on the rarity of friendship like that between George and Lennie. Carlson, another ranch-hand, suggests that since Slim’s dog has just given birth, they should offer a puppy to Candy and shoot Candy’s old, good-for-nothing dog.

The next day, George confides in Slim that he and Lennie are not cousins, but have been friends since childhood. He tells how Lennie has often gotten them into trouble. For instance, they were forced to flee their last job because Lennie tried to touch a woman’s dress and was accused of rape. Slim agrees to give Lennie one of his puppies, and Carlson continues to badger Candy to kill his old dog. When Slim agrees with Carlson, saying that death would be a welcome relief to the suffering animal, Candy gives in. Carlson, before leading the dog outside, promises to do the job painlessly.

Slim goes to the barn to do some work, and Curley, who is maniacally searching for his wife, heads to the barn to accost Slim. Candy overhears George and Lennie discussing their plans to buy land, and offers his life’s savings if they will let him live there too. The three make a pact to let no one else know of their plan. Slim returns to the bunkhouse, berating Curley for his suspicions. Curley, searching for an easy target for his anger, finds Lennie and picks a fight with him. Lennie crushes Curley’s hand in the altercation. Slim warns Curley that if he tries to get George and Lennie fired, he will be the laughingstock of the farm.

        The next night, most of the men go to the local brothel. Lennie is left with Crooks, the lonely, Black stable-hand, and Candy. Curley’s wife flirts with them, refusing to leave until the other men come home. She notices the cuts on Lennie’s face and suspects that he, and not a piece of machinery as Curley claimed, is responsible for hurting her husband. This thought amuses her. The next day, Lennie accidentally kills his puppy in the barn. Curley’s wife enters and consoles him. She admits that life with Curley is a disappointment, and wishes that she had followed her dream of becoming a movie star. Lennie tells her that he loves petting soft things, and she offers to let him feel her hair. When he grabs too tightly, she cries out. In his attempt to silence her, he accidentally breaks her neck.

Lennie flees back to a pool of the Salinas River that George had designated as a meeting place should either of them get into trouble. As the men back at the ranch discover what has happened and gather together a lynch party, George joins Lennie. Much to Lennie’s surprise, George is not mad at him for doing “a bad thing.” George begins to tell Lennie the story of the farm they will have together. As he describes the rabbits that Lennie will tend, the sound of the approaching lynch party grows louder. George shoots his friend in the back of the head.

When the other men arrive, George lets them believe that Lennie had the gun, and George wrestled it away from him and shot him. Only Slim understands what has really happened, that George has killed his friend out of mercy. Slim consolingly leads him away, and the other men, completely puzzled, watch them leave.

Summary of Animal Form

Old Major calls a meeting of all the animals in the big barn. He announces that he may die soon and relates to them the insights he has gathered in his life. Old Major tells the animals that human beings are the sole reason that “No animal in England is free” and that “The life of an animal is misery and slavery.” Therefore, the animals must take charge of their destiny by overthrowing Man in a great Rebellion. He relates his dream of rebellion.

 

Old Major dies soon after the meeting, and the other animals prepare for the Rebellion under Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer's leadership. One night, Mr Jones passes out drunk, creating the perfect opportunity for the animals to rebel. They are so hungry that they break into the store shed. When Jones and his men try to whip them into submission, the animals run them off the farm. Snowball changes the name of the farm to “Animal Farm” and comes up with the Seven Commandments, which are to form the basis of Animalism. They are:

1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.

2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.

3. No animal shall wear clothes.

4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.

5. No animals shall drink alcohol.

6. No animal shall kill any other animal.

7. All animals are equal.

 

The pigs milk the cows, and then the animals go out to begin the harvest. When they return, the milk has disappeared mysteriously. The first harvest is a great success. The animals adhere to the tenets of Animalism happily and with good results. Each animal works according to its ability and gets a fair share of food.

Every Sunday, Snowball and Napoleon lead a meeting of all the animals in the big barn. The pigs are the most intelligent animals, so they think up resolutions for the other animals to debate. Soon after, the pigs set up a study centre for themselves in the harness room. Snowball embarks on various campaigns for social and economic improvement. Napoleon opposes whatever Snowball does. Because most of the animals lack the intelligence to memorise the Seven Commandments, Snowball reduces them to the single maxim, “Four legs good, two legs bad.” The sheep take to chanting this at meetings.

As time goes by, the pigs increase their control over the animals and award themselves increasing privileges. They quell the animals’ questions and protests by threatening Mr Jones’s return. During this time, Napoleon also confiscates nine newborn puppies and secludes them in a loft to “educate” them.

By late summer, Snowball’s and Napoleon’s pigeon messengers have spread news of the Rebellion across half of England. Animals on other farms have begun lashing out against their human masters and singing the revolutionary song “Beasts of England.” Jones and other farmers try to recapture Animal Farm but fail. The animals celebrate their victory in what they call “The Battle of the Cowshed.”

The animals agree to let the pigs make all the resolutions. Snowball and Napoleon continue to be at odds and eventually clash over the windmill. Snowball wants to build a windmill in order to shorten the work week and provide the farm with electricity, but Napoleon opposes it. Napoleon summons nine fierce dogs (the puppies he trained) to run Snowball off the farm. Napoleon announces that Sunday meetings will cease and that the pigs will make all the decisions in the animals’ best interest. At this point, Boxer takes on his own personal maxims, “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right.” In the spring, Napoleon announces plans to build the windmill, claiming that it was his idea all along—rewriting history.

 

Building the windmill forces the animals to work harder on Sundays. Shortages begin to occur, so Napoleon opens up trade with the human world. Through Squealer, he lies that no resolutions against interaction with humans or the use of money had ever been passed. Napoleon enlists Whymper to be his intermediary, and the pigs move into the farmhouse. Squealer assures the animals that there is no resolution against this, but Clover and Mureil discover that one of the resolutions has been changed to: “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.” Squealer convinces her that there was never a resolution against beds at all. One night, strong winds shake the farm, and the animals awake to discover the windmill destroyed. Napoleon blames Snowball and sentences the expelled pig to death.

 

In the winter, as conditions become worse on Animal Farm, Napoleon deceives the human world into thinking Animal Farm is prospering. He signs a contract for a quota of four hundred eggs per week, inciting a hen rebellion that results in several deaths. Around the same time, Napoleon begins negotiating with Fredrick and Pilkington to sell Animal Farm’s store of timber. He also spreads propaganda against Snowball, claiming that Snowball was always a spy and a collaborator while Napoleon was the true hero of the Battle of the Cowshed, and Squealer warns against Snowball’s secret agents.

 

Four days later, Napoleon holds an assembly in which he makes several animals confess to treachery and then has the dogs execute them. The dogs try to get Boxer to confess, but leave him alone when they cannot overpower him. Afterwards, Clover and some other animals huddle together on a hill overlooking the farm. They reminisce about Animalism’s ideals and consider how much they differ from the violence and terror of Napoleon’s reign. They sing “Beasts of England,” but Squealer informs them that the song is useless now that the Rebellion is completed and that it is now forbidden. The new anthem begins with the lyrics: “Animal Farm, Animal Farm, / Never through me shalt thou come to harm!”

Another commandment is changed to read: “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.” Clover and Muriel convince themselves that the commandment has always been this way. Squealer begins reading the animals' statistics regularly to convince them that production is increasing. Napoleon seldom appears in public. The animals now call him “our Leader, Comrade Napoleon.” They attribute all misfortunes to Snowball and all success and luck to Napoleon. Napoleon continues to negotiate with the farmers and eventually decides to sell the timber to Mr Pilkington. At last, the windmill is finished and named “Napoleon Mill.” Soon after, Napoleon announces that he will sell the timber to Frederick, quickly changing his allegiance and disavowing his earlier vilification of Frederick. Napoleon says that Pilkington and Snowball have been collaborating. Frederick pays for the timber in fake cash, and the next morning, Frederick and his men invade the farm and blow up the windmill. The animals manage to chase the humans off, though many die or are injured in what they call “The Battle of the Windmill.”

 

After the battle, the pigs discover a case of whisky in the farmhouse. They drink to excess and soon, Squealer reports that Napoleon is dying and, as his last action, has made the consumption of alcohol punishable by death. But Napoleon recovers quickly and then sends Whymper to procure manuals on brewing alcohol. Squealer changes another commandment to “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.”

 

Napoleon plans to build a schoolhouse for the thirty-one young pigs he has parented. Towards the end of the winter, Napoleon began increasing propaganda to distract the animals from inequality and hardship. He creates special “Spontaneous Demonstrations” in which the animals march around and celebrate their triumphs.

In April, Napoleon declares the farm a Republic and is elected unanimously as President. The animals continue to work feverishly, most of all Boxer. One day, Boxer collapses while overexerting himself. Napoleon promises to send him to the hospital. A few days later, a horse-slaughterer takes Boxer away in his van. The animals are none the wiser until Benjamin reads the lettering on the side of the van. A few days later, Squealer reports that Boxer died in the hospital despite receiving the best possible care. He claims that Boxer’s last words glorified Animal Farm and Napoleon. Napoleon promises to honour Boxer.

 

Years go by, and though Animal Farm’s population has increased, only a few animals that remember the Rebellion remain. Conditions are still harsh despite technological improvements. The pigs and dogs continue to do no manual labour, instead devoting themselves to organisational work. One day, Squealer takes the sheep out to a deserted pasture where, he says, he is teaching them a song. On the day the sheep return, the pigs walk around the yard on their hind legs as the sheep chant, “Four legs good, two legs better.” The other animals are horrified. Clover consults the barn wall again. This time, Benjamin reads to her. The Seven Commandments have been replaced with a single maxim: “All animals are equal / but some animals are more equal than others.”

 

        The pigs continue the longstanding pattern of awarding themselves more and more privileges. They buy a telephone and subscribe to magazines. They even wear Jones’s clothing. One night, Napoleon holds a conciliatory banquet for the farmers. Pilkington makes a speech in which he says he wants to emulate Animal Farm’s long work hours and low rations. Napoleon announces that the farm will be called “Manor Farm” again, the animals will call each other “Comrade” no longer, and they will no longer march ceremoniously past Old Major’s skull (a practice he denies understanding). He also declares that the farm’s flag will be plain green, devoid of the symbols of the Rebellion. As the animals peer through the windows to watch the humans and pigs play poker, they cannot distinguish between them. 

Question- Answers of Animal Form

1.      Define an allegory. Is Animal Form an allegory?

An allegory is a story in which the events and characters represent something beyond themselves. The characters and events of Animal Farm represent the real people and events of the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. Orwell wrote Animal Farm because he wanted to tell the true story of the Russian Revolution in a way anyone could understand, even if they didn’t know all the historical details. However, Animal Farm is not only an allegory of Russian history. The novella also makes a broader argument about the nature of political power and oppression in general.

 

2.      What is Animalism?

Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer develop Old Major’s idea that animals have a right to freedom and equality into “a complete system of thought” which they call Animalism. The central beliefs of Animalism are expressed in the Seven Commandments, painted on the wall of the big barn. However, as the pigs seize more and more power, they change the Commandments painted on the barn, until Animalism is reduced to a single principle, which is virtually the opposite of Old Major’s original idea: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”

3.      How does Napoleon seize power?

Napoleon trains nine puppies to be loyal to him: when they are fully grown, he uses the dogs to chase Snowball, his main rival, off the farm. Napoleon justifies his takeover by telling the other animals that Snowball was a traitor secretly working for the human farmers. Squealer makes confusing and manipulative arguments to convince most of the animals that Napoleon is telling the truth, while fear of Napoleon’s dogs keeps any doubters from speaking out.

4.      What does Boxer represent?

Within Animal Farm’s allegory of Soviet history, Boxer represents the Russian working class. Boxer does most of the work on the farm, and his strength and size give him a great deal of power. However, he is illiterate and trusting, which makes it easy for the pigs to trick him into submitting to their leadership. Orwell believed that something similar had happened to the Russian working class during the Soviet Revolution: the workers were powerful, and did all the work in the Soviet Union, but they were tricked and betrayed. 

 

5.      Why does Mollie leave Animal Farm?

Mollie leaves Animal Farm because she has never fully embraced its new way of life, and she prefers the benefits of being owned by humans. Of all the animals, Mollie has not risen to the demands of Animalism. She sneaks sugar and ribbons, shirks her duties, shows up late to work, and maintains contact with humans. After she leaves Animal Farm, pigeons see her in town, pulling a dogcart while a human strokes her nose and feeds her sugar. These details show that Mollie chooses to sacrifice her liberty for comfort.

6.      Why does Snowball want to build a windmill?

Snowball wants to build a windmill so it can power a machine to create electricity on the farm. Electricity will improve the animals’ comfort by supplying light and heat in their stalls. The electricity will also be used to power numerous machines that can perform the work the animals must do, providing them with more leisure time. With the windmill in operation, all the animals will have more time to relax and to “improve their minds with reading and conversation.”

7.      What is Snowball’s role at the Battle of the Cowshed?

Snowball is a hero at the Battle of the Cowshed, bravely leading the animals’ defensive operations to a decisive victory over Mr Jones, who tries to retake the farm. Employing what he learned from a book on war campaigns, Snowball launches a series of sham attacks designed to lull the farmers into thinking they’ve won, which end with the farmers running for their lives. After Snowball flees the farm, however, Napoleon and Squealer slowly distort this history. Squealer questions Snowball’s role and motives, suggests Snowball was a traitor, and eventually states that Snowball “had been openly fighting on Jones’s side” and “had actually been the leader of the human forces.”

8.      Why does Napoleon blame Snowball for everything that goes wrong on the farm?

Napoleon, aided by Squealer, uses Snowball as a scapegoat, which means that when something goes wrong, he blames Snowball. As Snowball is not present, Snowball can’t defend himself and reveal falsehoods in the accusations, essentially creating a situation in which all of Napoleon’s statements regarding Snowball are simply accepted as truth. This tactic means that Napoleon does not need to take responsibility for mistakes and misdeeds, and it also allows him to continue to receive the animals’ support and respect even when calamity occurs, as when the windmill collapses. Further, by casting Snowball in the role of the enemy, Napoleon ensures that his rival will never be able to return to the farm and challenge his leadership.

9.      How is the windmill destroyed?

The windmill is actually destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout the course of Animal Farm. The first windmill collapses in a storm, and the second windmill is blown up during the Battle of the Windmill. After the first windmill is destroyed, which Napoleon blames on Snowball’s sabotage, the animals begin reconstruction and make the walls much thicker. After the second windmill is fully built, Frederick attacks Animal Farm and takes down the structure with blasting powder. Undeterred, the animals begin rebuilding the windmill the next day.

 

10.  Why does Napoleon change the Seven Commandments?

Over time, Napoleon changes all of the Seven Commandments, which were created to keep the animals humble and on equal footing, to allow the pigs to enjoy prohibited privileges and comforts. For instance, when the pigs move into the farmhouse, Napoleon amends the commandment about not sleeping in a bed to read, “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.” Napoleon changes other commandments as well, so the pigs can wear clothes, drink alcohol, and even kill other animals. By the end of the book, the original commandments have been reduced to one statement that encapsulates the authoritarian nature of the farm: “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.”

 

11.  What does Boxer’s death represent?

Boxer’s death represents the exploitation of the working classes as well as the death of the idealism that led to the establishment of Animal Farm. Before his death, Boxer was Napoleon’s most loyal supporter, abusing his body in service to the farm and the windmill. Once he weakens and is no longer useful, the pigs don’t reward him with the promised peaceful retirement but sell him to a glue factory. Ironically, this fate is what Old Major predicted for Boxer under Mr Jones’s ownership: “You, Boxer, the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power, Jones will sell you to the knacker, who will cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds.” Instead of bringing about equality among animals, Napoleon has created a society in which the pigs have taken the place of humans in their corruption and self-interest.

12.  How does Squealer manipulate the animals so the pigs can better control them?

A persuasive speaker, Squealer uses language to make the other animals disbelieve what they have seen with their own eyes and to believe the lies he tells them. Sometimes Squealer encourages the animals to question their own recollections, such as when Napoleon violates the prohibition against trade: “Is it written down anywhere?” Squealer asks, causing the animals to be certain they are mistaken. Squealer explains why actions that appear to benefit the pigs actually help all the animals. When the pigs move into the farmhouse despite an earlier ban, he declares, “It was absolutely necessary... that the pigs, which were the brains of the farm, should have a quiet place to work in.” Squealer’s disingenuous and manipulative speech succeeds in making the animals distrust their own experiences.