Summarization Chapter 9
After celebrating their so-called victory against Frederick, the animals begin building a new windmill.
Their efforts are again led by Boxer who, despite his split hoof, insists on working harder and getting
the windmill started before he retires.
Food supplies continue to diminish, but Squealer explains that they actually have more food and
better lives than they have ever known. The four sows litter 31 piglets; Napoleon, the father of all of
them, orders a schoolroom to be built for their education. Meanwhile, more and more of the
animals' rations are reduced while the pigs continue to grow fatter. Animal Farm is eventually
proclaimed a Republic, and Napoleon is elected President.
Once his hoof heals, Boxer works as hard as he can at building the windmill — until the day he
collapses because of a lung ailment. After he is helped back to his stall, Squealer informs them that
Napoleon has sent for the veterinarian at Willingdon to treat him. When the van arrives to take
Boxer to the hospital, however, Benjamin reads its side and learns that Boxer is actually being taken
to a knacker, or glue boiler. Clover screams to Boxer to escape, but the old horse is too weak to kick
his way out of the van, which drives away. Boxer is never seen again. To placate the animals, Squealer
tells them that Boxer was not taken to a knacker but that the veterinarian had bought the knacker's
truck and had not yet repainted the words on its side. The animals are relieved when they hear this.
The chapter ends with a grocer's van delivering a crate of whisky to the pigs, who drink it all and do
not arise until after noon the following day.