Question

Comrades,” he said quietly, “do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!” he suddenly roared in a voice of thunder. “Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity, thinking to set back our plans and avenge himself for his ignominious expulsion, this traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year.”

–Animal Farm,
George Orwell

What is the best inference about Napoleon’s motivation for blaming Snowball for destroying the windmill?

Napoleon wants to undermine Snowball and maintain control of the farm.
Napoleon thinks that the workers did a poor construction job, but he is afraid to say so.
Napoleon is correct that Snowball was responsible for the destruction of the windmill.
Napoleon knows that storms will occur again, but he does not want to discourage the workers.

Answer 1

Napoleon wants to undermine Snowball and maintain control of the farm.

He scapegoats Snowball to redirect blame, discredit a rival, and keep the animals loyal and fearful — a clear tactic to consolidate his power. The other choices are either factually incorrect or less supported by the text.