Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human
beings? Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. A1most overnight we could
become rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of
the human race! That is my message to you, comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when that Rebellion will
come, it might be in a week or in a hundred years, but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet,
that sooner or later justice will be done.
(Animal Farm, George Orwell, page 3)
Because of this there is obviously a conflict between the animals and humanity. This is even more clear when a direct physical conflict occurs between the animals and some humans.
As the human beings approached the farm buildings, Snowball launched his first attack. All the pigeons, to
the number of thirty−five, flew to and fro over the men's heads and muted upon them from mid−air; and
while the men were dealing with this, the geese, who had been hiding behind the hedge, rushed out and
pecked viciously at the calves of their legs. However, this was only a light skirmishing manoeuvre, intended
to create a little disorder, and the men easily drove the geese off with their sticks. Snowball now launched his
second line of attack. Muriel, Benjamin, and all the sheep, with Snowball at the head of them, rushed forward
and prodded and butted the men from every side, while Benjamin turned around and lashed at them with his
small hoofs. But once again the men, with their sticks and their hobnailed boots, were too strong for them;
and suddenly, at a squeal from Snowball, which was the signal for retreat, all the animals turned and fled
through the gateway into the yard.
(Animal farm, George Orwell, page 13)
Except for this conflict, there is also a very obvious external conflict between Napoleon and Snowball. Napoleon and Snowball disagrees in pretty much everything and pretty much argues about everything.
As usual, Snowball and Napoleon were in disagreement.
According to Napoleon, what the animals must do was to procure firearms and train themselves in the use of
them. According to Snowball, they must send out more and more pigeons and stir up rebellion among the
animals on the other farms. The one argued that if they could not defend themselves they were bound to be
conquered, the other argued that if rebellions happened everywhere they would have no need to defend
themselves.
(Animal farm, George Orwell, page 16)
Napoleon and Snowball both wants to appear as good leaders and obviously wants to take on the role as the leader of the society. Their arguing is very similar to the debating that goes on between politicians. Personally i think they are a metaphore for politicians, and what happens next pretty much proves my point. When the people is going to decide who will be their leader, Napoleon scares Snowball away with his well trained dogs and then takes on the role as the leader of the animals. This is obviously a metaphore to what happened in Soviet Russia 1922, when Stalin stole the power from Trotskij.
By the time he had finished speaking,
there was no doubt as to which way the vote would go. But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and,
casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball, uttered a high−pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard
him utter before.
At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass−studded collars
came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time
to escape their snapping jaws. In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him. Too amazed and
frightened to speak, all the animals crowded through the door to watch the chase. Snowball was racing across
the long pasture that led to the road. He was running as only a pig can run, but the dogs were close on his
heels. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. Then he was up again, running faster than
ever, then the dogs were gaining on him again. One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball's tail, but
Snowball whisked it free just in time. Then he put on an extra spurt and, with a few inches to spare, slipped
through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more.
(Animal farm, George Orwell, page 16)
There is also a couple of internal conflicts that is going on. First off, there is Mollie. Mollie seems to have liked how the farm was before the animals took over. Therefore, Mollie can't really decide what is right. To stay with the animals or to escape to the humans.
"Mollie," she said, "I have something very serious to say to you. This morning I saw you looking over the
hedge that divides Animal Farm from Foxwood. One of Mr. Pilkington's men was standing on the other side
of the hedge. And−I was a long way away, but I am almost certain I saw this−he was talking to you and you
were allowing him to stroke your nose. What does that mean, Mollie?"
"He didn't! I wasn't! It isn't true!" cried Mollie, beginning to prance about and paw the ground.
"Mollie! Look me in the face. Do you give me your word of honour that that man was not stroking your
nose?"
"It isn't true!" repeated Mollie, but she could not look Clover in the face, and the next moment she took to her
heels and galloped away into the field.
A thought struck Clover. Without saying anything to the others, she went to Mollie's stall and turned over the
straw with her hoof. Hidden under the straw was a little pile of lump sugar and several bunches of ribbon of
different colours.
(Animal farm, George Orwell, page 14)
Yet another internal conflict occurs when Boxer kicks a human that is trying to invade the farm. Boxer thinks he has killed the human and can't decide if it was right. Even if animals such as Napoleon says it was right, Boxer can feel that it wasn't morally right.
"He is dead," said Boxer sorrowfully. "I had no intention of doing that. I forgot that I was wearing iron shoes.
Who will believe that I did not do this on purpose?"
"No sentimentality, comrade!" cried Snowball from whose wounds the blood was still dripping. "War is war.
The only good human being is a dead one."
"I have no wish to take life, not even human life," repeated Boxer, and his eyes were full of tears.
(Animal Farm, George Orwell, page 13)
