Boxer's death is a tragedy because it represents the ultimate betrayal of the working class by a totalitarian regime and highlights the devastating consequences of blind faith and exploitation.
Here's a breakdown of why Boxer's demise is so poignant:
-
Exploitation and Betrayal: Boxer, the strong and loyal workhorse, dedicates his life to the ideals of Animal Farm, constantly repeating "I will work harder." He embodies the naive and dedicated proletariat. The pigs, representing the ruling class, exploit his strength and unwavering loyalty for their own gain. His death, orchestrated through sending him to a glue factory instead of a hospital, is a blatant act of betrayal.
-
The Crushing of Idealism: Animal Farm begins with the promise of equality and freedom. Boxer's unwavering belief in these ideals, even as the farm descends into totalitarianism, is ultimately his downfall. His death signifies the crushing of those original ideals and the complete corruption of the revolution.
-
Loss of Hope and Agency: Boxer's inability to see through the pigs' deception, combined with his physical decline, leaves him powerless. His cries of warning to the other animals as he is being taken away are ignored, illustrating the farm's descent into apathy and the loss of agency among the working animals. His death is a symbol of hopelessness.
-
The Cycle of Oppression: Boxer's fate underscores the cyclical nature of oppression. Despite fighting for a better life, the animals simply replace one set of oppressors (Mr. Jones) with another (the pigs). Boxer's death demonstrates that without critical thinking and resistance to power, the working class will always be vulnerable to exploitation.
-
A Bitter Indictment of Totalitarian Rule: Orwell uses Boxer's fate as a harsh critique of totalitarian regimes. Boxer's death serves as a symbol of how such regimes exploit and discard the very people they claim to represent. It highlights the inherent inequality and cruelty of such systems.
In essence, Boxer's death is tragic because it represents the death of hope, the ultimate betrayal of the working class, and the cyclical nature of oppression under totalitarian rule. He is a symbol of the exploited, the naive, and the ultimately expendable.
