RITUALS

Old Major began the tradition of hosting a meeting when he first discussed his dream and the future rebellion. It was meant to unify the animals, to bring them together under their common purpose. It eventually became a symbol of democracy; each animal had say in the way in which the farm was managed, even if most could not take advantage of the opportunity.

"[Napoleon] announced that from now on the Sunday morning meetings would come to an end. They were unnecessary, he said, and a waste of time. In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be handled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself." (Page 68)

After the pigs came into power, and Snowball was forced into exile, Napoleon banned the ritual meetings because it placed power into the hands of others and gave the animals the opportunity to disagree with him. Napoleon wanted to transform the system of government on the small farm to a sort of dictatorship in which absolute power rested within the his own hands, but the meetings prevented the practice from being installed, and were therefore ended.

Meetings