Seminar Presentation: Animal Farm — How the Pigs Took Power

Right, everyone, let's get started, shall we?

好，各位，我們開始吧？

Martin is going to talk to us about Animal Farm.

Martin 今天要跟我們談《動物農莊》。

Thanks. Um, I'm a bit nervous, so bear with me.

謝謝。嗯，我有點緊張，請大家多多包涵。

Don't worry, take your time.

別擔心，慢慢來。

Okay... So, today I'll explain how the pigs took power.

好……那今天我來說明豬是怎麼奪得權力的。

It all starts with a dream.

一切都從一個夢開始。

Old Major, a wise old pig, dreams of a world without humans.

睿智的老豬 Old Major 夢見了一個沒有人類的世界。

Not long after he dies, the animals chase the farmer off the farm!

他死後沒多久，動物們就把農場主人趕出了農場！

It's a brilliant moment. Everyone is equal, and everyone is hopeful.

那是個美好的時刻。大家都平等，大家都滿懷希望。

Now, have you noticed what happens to the rules?

那麼，大家有沒有注意到那些規則後來怎麼了？

The animals paint seven commandments on the barn wall.

動物們在穀倉牆上寫下了七條戒律。

But the pigs quietly change them, one word at a time.

可是豬們偷偷地改掉它們，一次改一個字。

Ha, 'No animal shall sleep in a bed' suddenly gets 'with sheets'!

哈，「任何動物不得睡在床上」突然多了「鋪著床單」！

Wait, and nobody notices?

等等，居然沒人發現？

Well, most of the animals can't read very well.

嗯，大部分的動物都不太識字。

And Squealer just tells them they've remembered it wrong!

而 Squealer 只會跟牠們說是牠們記錯了！

This brings me to Boxer, the hardest-working horse on the farm.

這就要說到 Boxer，農場裡最勤奮的馬。

His answer to every problem is, 'I will work harder.'

遇到任何問題，牠的回答都是：「我要更努力工作。」

When he collapses, the pigs say he's going to hospital.

牠倒下後，豬們說要送牠去醫院。

But actually... they sell him to be killed.

但其實……牠們把牠賣去宰了。

Oh, that's awful. I nearly cried at that part.

唉，太慘了。看到那段我差點哭出來。

Can I ask something, though?

不過，我可以問個問題嗎？

Isn't the book really just about Russia and Stalin?

這本書其實不就是在講俄國和 Stalin 嗎？

Good question! That's definitely where it comes from.

好問題！它確實是從那段歷史來的。

Napoleon is Stalin, and Snowball is a bit like Trotsky.

Napoleon 就是 Stalin，Snowball 有點像 Trotsky。

But I'd argue it's about power in general.

但我認為它談的是權力本身。

Any leader can become the thing they replaced.

任何領導者都可能變成他們當初取代的那種人。

Hmm, okay... I hadn't thought of it that way.

嗯，好吧……我之前沒這樣想過。

And that's why the ending is so powerful.

這也是為什麼結局這麼震撼。

In the end, there's only one commandment left.

到最後，只剩下一條戒律。

'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.'

「所有動物一律平等，但有些動物比其他動物更平等。」

And the animals can't tell the pigs from the humans anymore!

動物們再也分不清誰是豬、誰是人了！

So, that's it from me. Thank you!

好，我就講到這裡。謝謝大家！

Well done, Martin! That was a really clear argument.

講得好，Martin！論證非常清楚。

Next time, just slow down a little at the start.

下次開頭的時候稍微放慢一點就好。

Ha, I will. Thanks, everyone!

哈，我會的。謝謝大家！