Things are getting increasingly worse, just as I pictured. This chapter was particularly horrible, because not only is there a dramatic food shortage that the animals are trying desperately to cover up, but Napoleon was able to convince a number of animals to 'confess' to being in cahoots with Snowball secretly, and they are killed by the dogs. The pigs tell even more lies, especially about the Battle of Cowshed. This leads to more suspicion amongst the animals, but no one besides Boxer would speak up against it. His only attempt was easily shot down by Squealer, who told lie after lie to make Snowball look like a traitor and Napoleon look like a hero.
Boxer is working harder and harder, thinking that the food shortage must be because of the animals themselves. I have a really strong feeling that something terrible is going to happen to him that will really paralyze the farm.
Also, as the pigs gain more power, they become more cruel and harsh towards the other animals, taking what they can salvage for themselves to eat or sell. The animals are near starvation, and have to perform back breaking labor in order to finish the windmill.
I feel like they might never finish the windmill, that things will keep happening to it. I think this is definitely the pigs' way to keep tabs on the animals, by keeping them going towards this cause in order to instill in them a feeling of unity. It seems to me like the pigs are beginning to be more and more like humans with every passing development. The trading, the selling of the eggs, and the dictatorship of Napoleon is just too human to overlook.
The conflict in this novel with the windmill is a very maddening one! It's as if Napoleon is careless as to what's happening, but at the same time you would think he would care considering all the time and money that is going into it. I feel as if the only reason he is having the windmill be built is to keep the animals busy. I mean, why would he go to the effort to try to build it again and again when he knows there is a high risk for even more time and money being wasted! It's quite ridiculous! Oh, and nice work, Vicki!
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