Did Snowball Actually Destroy the Windmill?
The question of whether Snowball truly sabotaged the windmill is one of the most debated moments in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Consider this: on the surface, the narrative appears straightforward: after the brutal expulsion of Snowball, the pigs attribute every setback to him, and the first major calamity—the collapse of the windmill—is laid squarely at his feet. Yet a closer reading of the text reveals a far more complicated picture, one in which the windmill’s destruction is as much a product of political maneuvering, poor planning, and collective illusion as it is a direct act of sabotage And that's really what it comes down to. Still holds up..
The Windmill’s Origin and Snowball’s Role
When Old Major’s vision of an animal utopia is first put into motion, the Windmill becomes the central symbol of progress. Snowball, the more articulate and inventive of the two pig leaders, champions the project during the early debates. He argues that the windmill will:
- Reduce labor for all animals
- Generate electricity and other modern conveniences
- Free the farm from dependence on human technology
It is Snowball who draws the plans, organizes the committees, and passionately rallies the other animals around the idea. Even after Napoleon’s expulsion of Snowball during the “Battle of the Cowshed,” the windmill remains an unfinished, vulnerable structure—its foundations still laid, its walls only partially erected And it works..
The Collapse: What the Text Tells Us
On the night the windmill is finally completed, a violent storm tears it down. The animals are devastated. In the immediate aftermath, Squealer—the chief propagandist—addresses the farm:
“The windmill was not a success. It was Snowball who destroyed it. And we know this because the windmill fell down. He crept into the farm at night and sabotaged it. The proof is there, if you look closely No workaround needed..
Squealer’s claim is never challenged in the narrative. The animals, already conditioned by Napoleon’s regime to accept authority without question, accept the explanation at face value. On the flip side, the text gives us several clues that suggest the truth is more ambiguous:
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No Physical Evidence of Sabotage
The only “evidence” presented is the windmill’s collapse. No broken equipment, no hidden tools, no eyewitness accounts of Snowball sneaking in are mentioned. The damage is attributed entirely to the storm, not to any mechanical tampering No workaround needed.. -
Snowball’s Absence
By the time the windmill is finished, Snowball has been forced into exile. He is described as living “in a corner of the pasture” and is never seen near the farm again. There is no narrative thread showing him returning to the farm to cause damage. -
Napoleon’s Convenience
The collapse conveniently serves Napoleon’s political agenda. It provides a scapegoat for the failure of a project that Napoleon himself opposed during the early debates. By blaming Snowball, Napoleon can:- Discredit his rival without having to admit his own lack of support for the windmill.
- Rally the animals around a common enemy, strengthening his control.
- Reallocate resources toward rebuilding the windmill, which becomes a new symbol of the regime’s resilience.
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The Weather as a Real Threat
The novel repeatedly emphasizes the precariousness of the farm’s infrastructure. The animals lack the technical expertise to build a durable windmill, and the project is driven more by enthusiasm than engineering skill. The storm is a plausible, natural cause for the collapse.
Squealer’s Propaganda: How the Story Is Shaped
Squealer’s role in the windmill narrative is crucial. He is the mouthpiece for Napoleon’s regime, and his job is to rewrite history in a way that preserves the pigs’ authority. The accusation against Snowball is not a spontaneous claim; it is a carefully constructed myth designed to:
- Justify Repression – By framing Snowball as a traitor, the pigs can justify his earlier expulsion and the continued crackdown on dissent.
- Shift Blame – The animals’ own failure to protect the windmill (through ignorance, overwork, or poor planning) is hidden behind a convenient villain.
- Create a Narrative of Unity – Blaming an external enemy fosters a sense of solidarity among the animals, who see themselves as the righteous defenders of the farm.
Squealer’s rhetoric is consistently emotional and simplistic. He never offers concrete proof, relying instead on repetition and the animals’ willingness to trust the party line. This technique mirrors real‑world propaganda, where a single, dramatic accusation can override rational analysis.
Alternative Interpretations: Who Really Destroyed the Windmill?
While the novel never gives a definitive answer, several scholars and readers have proposed alternative explanations:
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Napoleon’s Secret Sabotage
Some argue that Napoleon himself ordered the windmill’s destruction to eliminate a symbol of Snowball’s legacy. By tearing it down, he could rebuild it under his own authority and claim credit for a “new” windmill. -
Collective Negligence
The farm’s limited resources and the animals’ overwork could have led to shoddy construction. The windmill might simply have been structurally unsound, and the storm was the final blow. -
The Power of the Storm
Orwell emphasizes the harshness of the climate. The windmill, built without modern engineering, may not have been able to withstand the forces of nature. The collapse is a tragic outcome of hubris rather than sabotage. -
The Fog of Memory
As time passes, the animals’ memories become muddled. The story of Snowball’s sabotage may be a distortion that solidifies over the years, a myth that becomes “truth” in the collective consciousness.
The Broader Lesson: Myth vs. Reality
The question of Snowball’s guilt is ultimately less important than the function of the accusation. Orwell uses the windmill episode to illustrate how authoritarian regimes manufacture enemies to justify their actions. The “destroyed windmill” becomes a tool for:
- Control – By maintaining an external threat, the pigs keep the animals focused on a common cause.
- Revisionism – History is rewritten to suit the needs of those in power, erasing inconvenient facts.
- Self‑Perpetuation – Each failure is blamed on the enemy, ensuring that the regime never has to confront its own shortcomings.
The animals’ acceptance of the story is a commentary on the ease with which people can be manipulated when they lack access to information or the means to question authority Small thing, real impact..
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Did Snowball ever return to the farm after his exile?
No. The novel makes it clear that Snowball is never seen again on the farm. He lives in a distant corner of the pasture and is only mentioned in propaganda That's the whole idea..
2. Is there any textual evidence that Snowball destroyed the windmill?
No. The only “evidence” is the windmill’s collapse, which is attributed to a storm in the narrative. No physical proof of sabotage is presented The details matter here..
3. Why does Napoleon blame Snowball?
Because blaming Snowball serves Napoleon’s political interests: it discredits a rival, unites the animals against a common enemy, and hides the regime’s own failures.
4. Could the windmill have been poorly built?
Yes. The animals lack technical expertise, and the construction is driven more by enthusiasm than engineering. The storm may have simply overwhelmed a weak structure.
5. What does the windmill represent in the novel?
The windmill symbolizes both hope for a better future and the gap between utopian ideals and reality. Its destruction highlights the fragility of ambitious projects when they are
The storm, therefore, marked not just an end but a turning point—a moment when the forces of nature and human ambition collided, underscoring Orwell’s warning about the dangers of unchecked power.
Understanding this dynamic deepens our appreciation for the narrative’s structure, revealing how Orwell uses the windmill’s fate to critique the manipulation of truth and the fragility of memory. The animals’ journey reflects a universal struggle: between vision and compromise, between collective hope and the realities of leadership.
In the end, the conclusion lies in recognizing that Orwell’s message is timeless. It reminds us that stories shape our understanding, and that the strength of a society often depends on how it confronts the truth behind its myths.
Conclusion: Orwell’s portrayal of the storm and the windmill serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of critical thinking and the resilience of truth in the face of distortion.
