In Chapter 6 of Animal Farm, the pigs increasingly adopt human behaviors and practices, diverging sharply from the original principles of Animalism. As the winter sets in, the animals face severe food shortages, which are exacerbated by the pigs' decisions. Despite their hard work, the animals find themselves starving, while the pigs manipulate statistics to make it appear that food production is on the rise.

Napoleon, the leader of the pigs, makes the controversial decision to engage in trade with nearby human farms, a direct violation of the commandment that prohibits interactions with humans. He insists that this is necessary to procure supplies that the farm desperately needs. To facilitate this, Napoleon appoints Mr. Whymper, a human solicitor, as an intermediary. The pigs justify their actions by claiming that they are acting in the best interests of the other animals, though it becomes clear that their primary concern is maintaining their own power and comfort.

Amidst the struggle for survival, the pigs begin to enjoy privileges that further distance them from the other animals. They start sleeping in beds, which they had previously condemned as a symbol of human oppression. To rationalize this behavior, the pigs amend the commandments to state that "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets." This manipulation of language illustrates how those in power can distort truths to serve their interests.

As the pigs indulge in luxuries, the other animals work harder than ever to keep the farm running. Boxer, the hardworking horse, remains loyal and believes that working harder will solve their problems, embodying the blind loyalty of the working class. Meanwhile, the pigs, particularly Squealer, Napoleon’s spokesperson, use propaganda to convince the animals that their sacrifices are for the greater good, portraying any dissent as treasonous.

The chapter illustrates the deepening corruption of the revolutionary ideals that once united the animals. The disparity in living conditions between the pigs and the other animals grows increasingly stark, leading to a sense of betrayal among the latter. As the pigs continue to rewrite the commandments to justify their actions, it becomes evident that they are no longer the liberators they promised to be, but rather the oppressors they once overthrew. The chapter ends with the animals feeling confused and disillusioned, struggling to reconcile their hard work and suffering with the pigs' increasingly lavish lifestyle, marking a significant turning point in the narrative and reinforcing the theme of corruption of ideals.