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What is the significance of removing Old Major's Skull, banning the term "Comrade," and changing the name of the farm to "Manor"?

These three actions occur in the closing pages of Animal Farm and are all out carried out by Napoleon during a conversation with Mr. Pilkington. For Napoleon, displaying Old Major's skull and referring to each other as "Comrade" represent nothing more than "strange" customs which ought to be "suppressed."


Furthermore, Napoleon also changes the name of Animal Farm back to Manor Farm, its name under Mr Jones:


Henceforward the name was to be known as...

These three actions occur in the closing pages of Animal Farm and are all out carried out by Napoleon during a conversation with Mr. Pilkington. For Napoleon, displaying Old Major's skull and referring to each other as "Comrade" represent nothing more than "strange" customs which ought to be "suppressed."


Furthermore, Napoleon also changes the name of Animal Farm back to Manor Farm, its name under Mr Jones:



Henceforward the name was to be known as 'The Manor Farm'—which, he believed, was its correct and original name.



These acts are highly significant for two reasons. Firstly, they are symbolic of Napoleon's transformation from ordinary pig to semi-human being. By doing away with these customs, Napoleon makes it clear that he desires to be like a human and to run the farm as a human would. He craves the respect and admiration of other humans, caring less and less about the opinions of the other animals.


Secondly, these acts are also symbolic of Napoleon's alienation in his quest for absolute power. Burying Old Major's skull, for instance, is an act which disrespects the boar's role in promoting the ideas of revolution and equality. Napoleon knows this but does it anyway, proving beyond all doubt that he runs the farm and that he really is "more equal than others."

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