Animal Farm is an allegorical novella that satirizes the Russian Revolution and the rise of totalitarianism. The story is set on a farm where the animals, led by the pigs, overthrow their human owner, Mr. Jones, in order to create an egalitarian society where all animals are equal. The rebellion is inspired by Old Major, an old and wise boar who urges the animals to rebel against their human oppressors and live free from exploitation.
After Mr. Jones is driven out, the animals, led by the pigs Napoleon and Snowball, take over the farm and rename it « Animal Farm. » They establish a set of rules based on the idea that « all animals are equal, » but quickly, the pigs begin to assume more power. Snowball is eventually driven out by Napoleon, who uses attack dogs to intimidate and eliminate his rivals.
Napoleon consolidates his control over the farm, and while the animals continue to work hard, their living conditions deteriorate. The pigs manipulate language, changing the commandments they originally set to suit their needs, such as « All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. » As the pigs adopt human behaviors—walking on two legs, drinking alcohol, and living in the farmhouse—they betray the original ideals of the rebellion.
By the end of the story, the animals realize that they are no better off than they were under Mr. Jones, and the farm has become a dictatorship under the pigs, who have fully adopted the tyrannical behaviors of their former human masters.