Learn about who Muriel is in Animal Farm. Read her character analysis, discover her traits, explore who Muriel represents in Animal Farm, and see quotes from her.
Muriel in Animal Farm by George Orwell | Analysis & Quotes
Table of Contents
- Who is Muriel in Animal Farm?
- Muriel's Characteristics in Animal Farm
- Who does Muriel Represent in Animal Farm?
- Muriel's Quotes
- Lesson Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Muriel represent in regards to the Russian revolution?
Muriel represents an educated, willing worker who sees what is really happening during the Russian revolution but is afraid to speak out against it. She represents the citizen who ultimately realizes that Communism is not all it was advertised to be.
Did Muriel retire in Animal Farm?
No animal has ever reached the age of retirement in Animal Farm. Muriel dies at the story's conclusion and never sees the final commandment changed from all animals being equal to some animals are more equal than others.
Table of Contents
- Who is Muriel in Animal Farm?
- Muriel's Characteristics in Animal Farm
- Who does Muriel Represent in Animal Farm?
- Muriel's Quotes
- Lesson Summary
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At the start of Animal Farm by George Orwell, a pig named Old Major tells the other animals of Manor Farm, a farm owned by Mr. Jones, about his dream in which all animals live in freedom from their human owners. In response, the animals plan a revolution against Mr. Jones, a meeting which Muriel the goat attends; the plot is carried out after Mr. Jones forgets to feed them. Muriel assists the animals by kicking and headbutting the humans. After defeating Mr. Jones and forcing him to leave, the animals change the name of the farm to '"Animal Farm."' They establish the Seven Commandments of Animalism and paint them on the wall of the barn.
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.
Initially, the takeover is successful, but the pigs eventually start breaking Commandments, creating chaos for everyone. Napoleon, one of the pigs who led the rebellion, becomes an oppressive dictator who abuses and neglects the animals. Muriel, who is a goat in Animal Farm, has the unique ability to read, and she suspects the Commandments are being changed when she reads that the Fifth Commandment about animals being forbidden to drink alcohol is changed to them not being allowed to drink excessive alcohol. She reads the Commandments to Clover, the cart horse, and, although one of the original Commandments says that animals are not allowed to sleep in beds, it changed to animals not being allowed to sleep in a bed with sheets on it. Muriel, however, believes the Commandment has always forbidden sheets on animals' beds. Muriel reads the Sixth Commandment that was changed from animals not being permitted to kill other animals to allowing animals to kill other animals as long as they have probable cause to do so. Following this, the pigs continue to break the rules and alter the Commandments.
Forced to build a windmill, Muriel is commanded to haul stones, a job that is exhausting work for her and the other animals. Napoleon expands the farm, and the pigs begin walking and behaving like humans. The farm's name is switched back to '"Manor Farm."' The Seven Commandments of Animalism are now one Commandment that states, '"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others."' Years go by, and Muriel eventually dies. Living conditions for the animals continue to deteriorate under the rule of Napoleon. At the end of the novel, the pigs are in the house playing cards with the humans, and the animals watching them through the window are unable to distinguish the pigs from the people.
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Muriel in Animal Farm is a minor character but one with intelligence. Some of the other animals can read but only the Commandments. Muriel searches for and reads newspapers to expand her intellect. She is a white goat who can read, works diligently to the best of her ability, and follows any orders she is given. She is helpful to the other animals by reading the Commandments aloud to them. She is trusting and accepting, refusing to make waves with Napoleon when he mistreats the animals. Instead, she prefers to be quiet and do as she is told. She knows what she believes but chooses to alter her thoughts to agree with her environment rather than fight for her right to better living conditions.
The average educated worker in Stalin's Russia, who Muriel represents in Animal Farm, agreed with the prospect of his revolution in theory; however, in practice, those workers, much like Muriel in the novel, realized the atrocities that their leaders were committing but refused to take action against them. Like those who neglected to take action in Russia though they realized the necessity of standing up to corrupt leaders, Muriel is much more of a follower than a leader. For the most part, she is an observer on the sidelines of life. She will do whatever is requested of her, and she is helpful to the other animals if they need her. She prefers to keep the peace instead of voicing her opinions. While Muriel is educated and compliant, she lacks the necessary qualities of leadership that would enable her to help the other animals institute positive changes on the farm.
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Although Muriel can read, she does not speak often in Animal Farm. The following are quotations either spoken by or pertaining to her:
- '"Muriel, the goat, could read somewhat better than the dogs, and sometimes used to read to the others in the evenings from scraps of newspaper which she found on the rubbish heap."': The text emphasizes Muriel's unusual ability to read and her search for knowledge.
- '"Muriel read the Commandment for her."': Clover wanted Benjamin to read the Sixth Commandment to her. After his refusal, Clover asked Muriel to read it, and she obliged.
- '"It says, '"No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets."': Clover asked Muriel to read the Fourth Commandment to her to find out if it really said that animals were not permitted to sleep in beds.
- '"Why?"': Muriel questions Squealer after he tells her it is forbidden to sing '"Beasts of England,"' a song about rebellion.
- '"Years passed. Muriel was dead."': The end of the book describes the passage of time and the subsequent death of Muriel.
In '"Animal Farm"', written by George Orwell, the titular farm begins with the name '"Manor Farm"'. The book tells the story of how the farm is taken from Mr. Jones by the animals living there during a rebellion. After they gain their freedom, the animals develop the Seven Commandments of Animalism, a list of rules the animals are expected to obey. After Napoleon takes over the farm, he mistreats the animals, overworking and underfeeding them. Muriel, a white goat who can read, notices and informs the other animals that the Commandments are gradually being altered to allow the pigs to break the rules. Muriel is intelligent, quiet, introspective, and agreeable, though she is much more a follower than a leader. Although she is a secondary character who has died by the end of the book, Muriel is memorable for her pursuit of knowledge and her willingness to help others.
Video Transcript
Intelligent
Think of someone you know who is smart, ethical, and hardworking but does not have the capacity to lead others or make changes. On Animal Farm, that is Muriel. Muriel is the white goat that lives on the farm. She is one of the more intelligent animals as she is able to read. Only the pigs and Benjamin, the donkey, read better than she does. However, she either does not comprehend the gravity of the situation or she chooses not to act on the things she learns. Let's learn more about Muriel from George Orwell's Animal Farm.
Dependable
Muriel always does her share of the work and can be depended on in battle to do what she can. She is not the strongest or most dynamic animal, but she is solid. Clover, the cart horse, suspects that the Seven Commandments the animals agreed upon as the basis for Animalism are changing, but she's unable to read; Benjamin refuses to get involved, so she turns to Muriel.
Unsure of Herself
Muriel reads the altered Commandments; the Commandment that 'No animal shall sleep in a bed' has been changed to 'No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.' She and Clover seem to accept that it's their memories that are faulty rather than the reality of the pigs not following the agreed-upon rules.
Learning about Napoleon's decision to ban Beasts of England, the anthem that united the animals to rebellion, Muriel asks, 'Why?' but she does not argue when she is told that the song has outlived its purpose.
She stands by as 'No animal shall kill any other animal' is changed to 'No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.' Muriel seems to clue into what's happening on Animal Farm when 'No animal shall drink alcohol' is changed to 'No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.'
Helpless
At the point when Boxer, the hardest working animal on the farm, is sold to the glue factory, Muriel tries to read the side of the van, but it takes her too long to process. Benjamin has to step in and explain it to everyone.
Muriel dies before the final commandment 'All animals are equal' is changed to 'All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.'
Symbolism and Analysis
Muriel's symbolism is not as clear-cut as some of the other characters', but she most likely represents the minority of educated working class people who slowly began to realize that communism under Josef Stalin was not what they signed up for when they agreed to participate in the Russian Revolution. But what can she do about it? She's smart, but the leaders are smarter. She also lacks the natural leadership that would be necessary to make any real changes, so she stands by and watches their dreams disappear. Like many others, she works hard for very little and then dies in the end.
Lesson Summary
Muriel, the goat, is smart enough to know how to read, but not as smart as the pigs or Benjamin. It takes her a while to put the words together and even longer to make sense of them. She works to her capability both in the fields and in battle, but she's more of a subtle, background character than a plot-mover.
When Benjamin refuses to get involved, Muriel reads the Seven Commandments to Clover. At first, she seems to accept that it's her memory that's incorrect, but after several of the Commandments are changed, Muriel slowly begins to realize that something strange is happening. However, she doesn't really have the ability to do anything about it. She continues to work to her capacity until her death. Allegorically, Muriel represents an educated working class who slowly realize the gravity of a situation, but are powerless to alter the course of events.
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