Mollie is
described as "the foolish, pretty white mare who (draws) Mr. Jones's trap." When the
animals are discussing the rebellion predicted by , Mollie asks if there will still be sugar and
wether she will still "be allowed to wear ribbons in (her) mane."rebukes her by
telling her that the ribbons she desires are "the badge of slavery." He tells her that
"liberty is worth more than ribbons." However, Mollie seems unconvinced, and soon
after the rebellion she is spotted on a neighboring farm, being fed sugar by a "fat
red-faced man" and wearing "a scarlet ribbon round her forelock."
Mollie arguably represents those among the working classes who prefer the life of
servitude they have become accustomed to over the independent life that they could have if they
were prepared to work for it. The life of servitude has its comforts, represented in Mollie's
case by the sugar and the ribbons, and many people, like Mollie, like to have rules to follow
and masters to serve because it means that they don't have to think for themselves. It is
sometimes comforting to have other people think for you and tell you what to do. And this is
certainly easier, if you are accustomed to it, than a life of liberty where you have to (perhaps
for the first time) think and act for yourself.
No comments:
Post a Comment