Importance Of Self-Interest In George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'

Do These Ribbons Make Me Look Fat?
Selfishness and materialism have always been seen in a negative light by society as a whole. However, where would we be without it? One possibility would be that our society would stagnate, for no one would have the motivation to do anything greater out of self-interest. In Animal Farm by George Orwell, Mollie was interested in how the Rebellion would affect her more than anything else, but her selfishness allowed her an advantage. Before the Rebellion, she was the center of attention, afterwards she was unaccustomed to everyone being equal, and her selfishness and self-interest was really shown.
Before the Rebellion, Mollie was the center of attention. She had ribbons in her mane and a sugar cube in her

mouth at all times. Jaws would drop, heads would turn, and that’s just how she liked it. Its obvious she wants all the eyes on her from the very beginning, as seen when she first enters at Old Major’s meeting. “Mollie… came mincing daintily in, chewing a lump of sugar. She took a place near the front and began flirting her white mane, hoping to draw attention to the red ribbons it was plaited with” (Orwell 17). Her biggest concerns are those of how the Rebellion will affect her lifestyle. Some of the first questions she asks Snowball are “’Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?’” (Orwell 26) and “’And shall I still be allowed to wear ribbons in my mane?’” (Orwell 27). Once these requests were rejected, she became hesitant towards the Rebellion, more so than before as seen on page 27, “Mollie agreed, but she did not seem very convinced” (Orwell 27). All of these are examples of Mollie’s selfishness, but it truly shines once the Rebellion commences.