Question #3 - Animal Farm (Extra Credit)

What is the mood of this novel? Do you find this novel saddens you in any way? Why?

The mood of this novel is very suspenseful and increasingly ominous. At the start of the book, the animals are very hopeful as they dream about a better future on their farm. The animals achieve this and are very happy. However, after this part of the book, the suspense starts to build. The first thing that triggers the reader's suspicion is when Napoleon sets himself above all others. Also, as he starts to decree laws that set him and the other pigs higher than the rest of the animals, the suspense starts to build even more. The mood also turns very menacing when Napoleon orders the dogs to kill anyone who opposes his ideas or laws. In my opinion, the most suspenseful part was when the pigs came out of the barn on two legs while carrying whips. This part was also very disturbing, because it gave a hint that the other animals were going to be beaten.

This novel does sadden me, but it also angers me, as well. It was very dejecting to me that the other animals did not notice they were being forced to do unequal amounts of work compared to the pigs. The saddest part of all, however, was how Boxer acted. Because he did not know he was being oppressed, he put all of his heart and soul into working for a leader who happened to betray him when he was dying. This part of the novel not only saddened me, it enraged me. To think that Napoleon would betray Boxer, who had supported him the most out of all the other animals, was absolutely appalling. That most unbelievable part, however, is that fact that everything that happened on Animal Farm happened in reality. While some people read this book, they might say, "How could those animals be so stupid?" We humans, however, are no different. We believe in other humans, believing they will give us a better life, even though there is proof all around us that this will never be so. Because of this message that the book gave, I found myself disgusted with how the human race allowed these events like these to happen again. It proved that the world had not learned from its past.