The best explanation of Orwell’s purpose in writing Animal Farm, particularly in relation to the passage and the historical context of the Great Purge, is to explain to people the dangers of dictatorships and the loss of personal freedom.
In the passage, Clover reflects on how the animals' original hopes for a just and equal society have been subverted under a regime that resembles the oppression they sought to escape. This mirrors the broader themes in Orwell’s work, highlighting the betrayal of revolutionary ideals and the consequences of totalitarian rule. The presence of fear, violence, and the suppression of dissent in the passage underscores the dangers associated with dictatorial governance and the erosion of freedom, which were prominent during the Stalinist era.