Animal Farm

Are Mollie's actions during the Battle of the Cowshed were justifiable?

Mollie, is a vain, lazy and stupid animal. She does not like the new life on Animal Farm. As she used to wear ribbons and eat sugar cubes and according to seven commandments it is forbidden.

From the beginning of the novel, Mollie is shown as a vain, privileged animal. She was interested in inspiring rather than selfless. Immediately following the rebellion, Mollie is awed by the beauty of Mrs. Jones’s ribbons rather than repel by the luxuries. She betrays animals by coming late to work, and leaving work early. But she never forgets her portion of food.

Before the battle of Cowshed, she was one of the most pampered animals on the farm. Although she did not openly protest the rebellion or its consequences, she did question the loss of her own creature comforts. She never wholeheartedly accepted the arguments about animal equality and slavery to humans. She never worked as hard as the other animals and found ways to start late and leave early. She was even found standing at the drinking pool admiring her reflection in the water. While touring the farmhouse, she was the only animal who was tempt by the display of “human decadence” rather than view the farmhouse as its contents as the display of the tyranny from which the animals had escaped. Also, following Clover’s confrontation, Clover investigates and discovers that Mollie has sugar and ribbons hidden under the straw in her stall.

No, Mollie's actions were not justifiable as she hid in the hay during the battle and all the animals were fighting for their rights against humans. Mollie's absence from battle underscores how she is really not as drawn to Animalism as the others. In many ways she has reason to resist. Her life under Mr. Jones was relatively good. She had a place of honour as his public horse; she was decorated with ribbons and rewarded with sugar cubes. If Jones and his family are the ruling class, Mollie represents the upper class, not herself a ruler but still one who benefits directly from the rulers. She is reluctant to lower her living standards for the ideals of Animalism. Like many members of the human upper classes who faced the upheavals of communist revolution in their countries, Mollie is not greedy or power hungry, but she's had a good life under the old system. Not cut out for hard physical labour, she has no reason to desire change or to risk herself to preserve the new order.