No, as the book illustrates, mankind is not the root of the animals' problems. The animals believe that by running farmer Jones and his men off the farm, they can establish a better, fairer, more humane system of governance. In the very beginning, this works well, though this will not last. The animals devise the Seven Commandments that state all animals are equal, that no animal will kill another animal, and that animals will live differently from humans: no sleeping in beds or drinking alcohol, for example. At first, they all work together in a beautiful harmony.
The absence of the humans doesn't end their problems, however, for their problems are rooted in the desire of some animals, particularly the pig Napoleon, to have power over the other animals. He plots and schemes and is willing to use lies and subterfuge to gain control. He lacks empathy and doesn't care who he hurts to get ahead. He uses the ideals of the revolution for his personal gain and corrupts others to do so. Unfortunately, many of the animals are too trusting and lacking in knowledge to know how to oppose him. As we see in the novel, until the animals can find a way to root out or restrain the evil within themselves, they will simply replicate the human system of domination and exploitation.
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