In Chapters 8 and 9 of "Animal Farm," conditions on the farm are portrayed as increasingly bleak and oppressive for the animals, despite the initial ideals of the revolution.
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Scarcity and Hardship: The animals face severe shortages of food, and their suffering deepens. For instance, in Chapter 9, the animals are told that "There is no alternative. You must work harder," reflecting the relentless exploitation and the illusion of progress under the pigs' leadership.
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Deceit and Manipulation: The leadership manipulates information to maintain control. Napoleon and the pigs continue to distort the truth, and Squealer spreads propaganda, declaring, "Comrades! Do you know who is responsible for the difficulties we are facing? It is Snowball!" This illustrates how the pigs scapegoat Snowball to deflect blame from their own failures.
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Loss of Rights: The principles of Animalism are increasingly disregarded, and the commandments are altered to benefit the pigs. In Chapter 8, the slogan "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" epitomizes the betrayal of the original ideals of the revolution.
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Despair and Apathy: By Chapter 9, the animals have grown disillusioned but are too beaten down to resist. Boxer, the hardworking horse, epitomizes this despair when he says, "I will work harder," revealing his indoctrination and the bleakness of their situation as he pushes himself to the brink of exhaustion.
These quotes and observations highlight the deterioration of conditions on Animal Farm, marked by hardship, manipulation, and a stark deviation from their revolutionary ideals.