FREE ESSAY ON CHARCTERS IN ANIMAL FARM

CHARCTERS IN ANIMAL FARM

Symbolism/Interpretation
The novel Animal Farm is a satire on the Russian revolution, and therefore full of
symbolism. General Orwell associates certain real characters with the characters of the
book. Here is a list of the characters and things and their meaning: 
Mr Jones: Mr. Jones is Orwell's chief (or at least most obvious) villain in Animal Farm.
Of course Napoleon is also the major villain, however much more indirectly. Orwell says
that at one time Jones was actually a decent master to his animals. At this time the farm
was thriving. But in recent years the farm had fallen on harder times and the opportunity
was seen to revolt. The world-wide depression began in the United States when the stock
market crashed in October of 1929. The depression spread throughout the world because
American exports were so dependent on Europe. The U.S. was also a major contributor to
the world market economy. Germany along with the rest of Europe was especially hit hard.
The parallels between crop failure of the farm and the depression in the 1930's are
clear. Only the leaders and the die-hard followers ate their fill during this time
period. Mr. Jones symbolises (in addition to the evils of capitalism) Czar Nicholas II,
the leader before Stalin (Napoleon). Jones represents the old government, the last of the
Czars. Orwell suggests that Jones (Czar Nicholas II) was losing his edge. In fact, he and
his men had taken up the habit of drinking. Old Major reveals his feelings about Jones
and his administration when he says, Man is the only creature that consumes without
producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough
, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets
them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving
and the rest he keeps for himself. So Jones and the old government are successfully
uprooted by the animals. Little do they know, history will repeat itself with Napoleon
and the pigs. 
Old Major: Old Major is the first major character described by Orwell in Animal Farm.
This pure-bred of pigs is the kind, grand fatherly philosopher of change an obvious
metaphor for Karl Marx. Old Major proposes a solution to the animals desperate plight
under the Jones administration when he inspires a rebellion of sorts among the animals.
Of course the actual time of the revolt is unsaid. It could be the next day or several
generations down the road. But Old Major's philosophy is only an ideal. After his death,
three days after the barn-yard speech, the socialism he professes is drastically altered
when Napoleon and the other pigs begin to dominate. It's interesting that Orwell does not
mention Napoleon or Snowball anytime during the great speech of old Major. This shows how
distant and out-of-touch they really were; the ideals Old Major proclaimed seemed to not
even have been considered when they were establishing their new government after the
successful revolt. It almost seems as though the pigs fed off old Major's inspiration and
then used it to benefit themselves (an interesting twist of capitalism) instead of
following through on the old Major's honest proposal. This could be Orwell's attempt to
dig Stalin, who many consider to be someone who totally ignored Marx's political and
social theory. Using Old Major's seeming naivety, Orwell concludes that no society is
perfect, no pure socialist civilisation can exist, and there is no way to escape the evil
grasp of capitalism. (More on this in the Napoleon section.) Unfortunately when Napoleon
and Squealer take over, old Major becomes more and more a distant fragment of the past in
the minds of the farm animals. 
Napoleon: Napoleon is Orwell's chief villain in Animal Farm. The name Napoleon is very
coincidental since Napoleon, the dictator of France, was thought by many to be the
Anti-Christ. Napoleon, the pig, is really the central character on the farm. Obviously a
metaphor for Stalin, Comrade Napoleon represents the human frailties of any revolution.
Orwell believed that although socialism is good as an ideal, it can never be successfully
adopted due to uncontrollable sins of human nature. For example, although Napoleon seems
at first to be a good leader, he is eventually overcome by greed and soon becomes
power-hungry. Of course Stalin did too in Russia, leaving the original equality of
socialism behind, giving himself all the power and living in luxury while the common
peasant suffered. Thus, while his national and international status blossomed, the
welfare of Russia remained unchanged. Orwell explains, Somehow it seemed as though the
farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer--except, of course
for the pigs and the dogs. The true side of Napoleon becomes evident after he slaughters
so many animals for plotting against him. He even hires a pig to sample his food for him
to make certain that no one is trying to poison him. Stalin, too, was a cruel dictator in
Russia. After suspecting many people in his empire to be supporters of Trotsky (Orwell's
Snowball), Stalin systematically murders many. At the end of the book, Napoleon doesn't
even pretend to lead a socialist state. After renaming it a Republic and instituting his
own version of the commandments and the Beasts of England, Comrade Napoleon quickly
becomes more or less a dictator who of course has never even been elected by the animals.

Squealer: Squealer is an intriguing character in Orwell's Animal Farm. He's first
described as a manipulator and persuader. Orwell narrates, He could turn black into
white. Many critics correlate Squealer with the Pravda, the Russian newspaper of the
1930's. Propaganda was a key to many publications, and since their was no television or
radio, the newspaper was the primary source of media information. So the monopoly of the
Pravda was seized by Stalin and his new Bolshevik regime. In Animal Farm, Squealer, like
the newspaper, is the link between Napoleon and other animals. When Squealer masks an
evil intention of the pigs, the intentions of the communists can be carried out with
little resistance and without political disarray. Squealer is also thought by some to
represent Goebbels, who was the minister of propaganda for Germany. This would seem
inconsistent with Orwell's satire, however, which was supposed to metaphor characters in
Russia. 
Snowball: Orwell describes Snowball as a pig very similar to Napoleon at least in the
early stages. Both pigs wanted a leadership position in the new economic and political
system (which is actually counterdictory to the whole supposed system of equality). But
as time goes on, both eventually realise that one of them will have to step down. Orwell
says that the two were always arguing. Snowball and Napoleon were by far the most active
in the debates. But it was noticed that these two were never in agreement: whatever
suggestion either of them made, the other could be counted to oppose it. Later, Orwell
makes the case stronger. These two disagreed at every point disagreement was possible.
Soon the differences, like whether or not to build a windmill, become to great to deal
with, so Napoleon decides that Snowball must be eliminated. It might seem that this was a
spontaneous reaction, but a careful look tells otherwise. Napoleon was setting the stage
for his own domination long before he really began dishing it out to Snowball. For
example, he took the puppies away from their mothers in efforts to establish a private
police force. These dogs would later be used to eliminate Snowball, his arch-rival.
Snowball represents Leo Dawidowitsch Trotsky, the arch-rival of Stalin in Russia. The
parallels between Trotsky and Snowball are uncanny. Trotsky too, was exiled, not from the
farm, but to Mexico, where he spoke out against Stalin. Stalin was very weary of Trotsky,
and feared that Trotsky supporters might try to assassinate him. The dictator of Russia
tried hard to kill Trotsky, for the fear of losing leadership was very great in the crazy
man's mind. Trotsky also believed in Communism, but he thought he could run Russia better
than Stalin. Trotsky was murdered in Mexico by the Russian internal police, the NKVD-the
pre-organisation of the KGB. Trotsky was found with a pick axe in his head at his villa
in Mexico. 
Boxer: The name Boxer is cleverly used by Orwell as a metaphor for the Boxer Rebellion in
China in the early twentieth century. It was this rebellion which signalled the beginning
of communism in red China. This communism, much like the distorted Stalin view of
socialism, is still present today in the oppressive social government in China. Boxer and
Clover are used by Orwell to represent the proletariat, or unskilled labour class in
Russian society. This lower class is naturally drawn to Stalin (Napoleon) because it
seems as though they will benefit most from his new system. Since Boxer and the other low
animals are not accustomed to the good life, they can't really compare Napoleon's
government to the life they had before under the czars (Jones). Also, since usually the
lowest class has the lowest intelligence, it is not difficult to persuade them into
thinking they are getting a good deal. The proletariat is also quite good at convincing
each other that communism is a good idea. Orwell supports this contention when he
narrates, Their most faithful disciples were the two carthorses, Boxer and Clover. Those
two had great difficulty in thinking anything out for themselves, but having once
accepted the pigs as their teachers, they absorbed everything that they were told, and
passed it on to the other animals by simple arguments. Later, the importance of the
proletariat is shown when Boxer suddenly falls and there is suddenly a drastic decrease
in work productivity. But still he is taken for granted by the pigs, who send him away in
a glue truck. Truly Boxer is the biggest poster-child for gullibility. 
Pigs: Orwell uses the pigs to surround and support Napoleon. They symbolise the communist
party loyalists and the friends of Stalin, as well as perhaps the Duma, or Russian
parliament. The pigs, unlike other animals, live in luxury and enjoy the benefits of the
society they help to control. The inequality and true hypocrisy of communism is expressed
here by Orwell, who criticised Marx's oversimplified view of a socialist, utopian
society. Obviously George Orwell doesn't believe such a society can exist. Toward the end
of the book, Orwell emphasises, Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer
without making the animals themselves any richer except, of course, the pigs and the
dogs. 
Dogs: Orwell uses the dogs in his book, Animal Farm, to represent the KGB or perhaps more
accurately, the bodyguards of Stalin. The dogs are the arch-defenders of Napoleon and the
pigs, and although they don't speak, they are definitely a force the other animals have
to contend with. Orwell almost speaks of the dogs as mindless robots, so dedicated to
Napoleon that they can't really speak for themselves. This contention is supported as
Orwell describes Napoleon's early and suspicious removal of six puppies from their
mother. The reader is left in the dark for a while, but later is enlightened when Orwell
describes the chase of Snowball. Napoleon uses his secret dogs for the first time here;
before Snowball has a chance to stand up and give a counter-argument to Napoleon's
disapproval of the windmill, the dogs viciously attack the pig, forcing him to flee,
never to return again. Orwell narrates, Silent and terrified, the animals crept back into
the barn. In a moment the dogs came bounding back. At first no one had been able to
imagine where these creatures came from, but the problem was soon solved: they were the
puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately. Though not
yet full-grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves. They kept close to
Napoleon. It was noticed that they wagged their tails to him in the same way as the other
dogs had been used to do to Mr. Jones. The use of the dogs begins the evil use of force
which helps Napoleon maintain power. Later, the dogs do even more dastardly things when
they are instructed to kill the animals labelled disloyal. Stalin, too, had his own
special force of helpers. Really there are followers loyal to any politician or
government leader, but Stalin in particular needed a special police force to eliminate
his opponents. This is how Trotsky was killed. 
Mollie: Mollie is one of Orwell's minor characters, but she represents something very
important. Mollie is one of the animal who is most opposed to the new government under
Napoleon. She doesn't care much about the politics of the whole situation; she just wants
to tie her hair with ribbons and eat sugar, things her social status won't allow. Many
animals consider her a traitor when she is seen being petted by a human from a
neighbouring farm. Soon Mollie is confronted by the dedicated animals, and she quietly
leaves the farm. Mollie characterises the typical middle-class skilled worker who suffers
from this new communism concept. No longer will she get her sugar (nice salary) because
she is now just as low as the other animals, like Boxer and Clover. Orwell uses Mollie to
characterise the people after any rebellion who aren't too receptive to new leaders and
new economics. There are always those resistant to change. This continues to dispel the
believe Orwell hated that basically all animals act the same. The naivety of Marxism is
criticised socialism is not perfect and it doesn't work for everyone. 
Moses: Moses is perhaps Orwell's most intriguing character in Animal Farm. This raven,
first described as the especial pet of Mr. Jones, is the only animal who doesn't work.
He's also the only character who doesn't listen to Old Major's speech of rebellion.
Orwell narrates, The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by
Moses, the tame raven. Moses, who was Mr. Jones's especial pet, was a spy and a
tale-bearer, but he was also a clever talker. He claimed to know of the existence of a
mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain, to which all animals went when they died.
It was situated somewhere up in the sky, a little distance beyond the clouds, Moses said.
In Sugarcandy Mountain it was Sunday seven days a week, clover was in season all the year
round, and lump sugar and linseed cake grew on the hedges. The animals hated Moses
because he told tales and did no work but some of them believed in Sugarcandy Mountain,
and the pigs had to argue very hard to persuade them that there was no such place.. Moses
represents Orwell's view of the Church. To Orwell, the Church is just used as a tool by
dictatorships to keep the working class of people hopeful and productive. Orwell uses
Moses to criticize Marx's belief that the Church will just go away after the rebellion.
Jones first used Moses to keep the animals working, and he was successful in many ways
before the rebellion. The pigs had a real hard time getting rid of Moses, since the lies
about Heaven they thought would only lead the animals away from the equality of
socialism. But as the pigs led by Napoleon become more and more like Mr. Jones, Moses
finds his place again. After being away for several years, he suddenly returns and picks
up right where he left off. The pigs don't mind this time because the animals have
already realised that the equality of the revolt is a farce. So Napoleon feeds Moses with
beer, and the full-circle is complete. Orwell seems to offer a very cynical and harsh
view of the Church. This proves that Animal Farm is not simply an anti-communist work
meant to lead people into capitalism and Christianity. Really Orwell found loop-holes and
much hypocrisy in both systems. It's interesting that recently in Russia the government
has begun to allow and support religion again. It almost seems that like the pigs, the
Kremlin officials of today are trying to keep their people motivated, not in the ideology
of communism, but in the old-fashioned hope of an after-life. 
Muriel: Muriel is a knowledgeable goat who reads the commandments for Clover. Muriel
represents the minority of working class people who are educated enough to decide things
for themselves and find critical and hypocritical problems with their leaders.
Unfortunately for the other animals, Muriel is not charismatic or inspired enough to take
action and oppose Napoleon and his pigs. 
Old Benjamin Old Benjamin, an elderly donkey, is one of Orwell's most elusive and
intriguing characters on Animal Farm. He is described as rather unchanged since the
rebellion. He still does his work the same way, never becoming too exited or too
disappointed about anything that has passed. Benjamin explains, Donkeys live a long time.
None of you has ever seen a dead donkey. Although there is no clear metaphoric
relationship between Benjamin and Orwell's critique of communism, it makes sense that
during any rebellion there or those who never totally embrace the revolution those so
cynical they no longer look to their leaders for help. Benjamin symbolises the older
generation, the critics of any new rebellion. Really this old donkey is the only animal
who seems as though he couldn't care less about Napoleon and Animal Farm. It's almost as
if he can see into the future, knowing that the revolt is only a temporary change, and
will flop in the end. Benjamin is the only animal who doesn't seem to have expected
anything positive from the revolution. He almost seems on a whole different maturity
lever compared to the other animals. He is not sucked in by Napoleon's propaganda like
the others. The only time he seems to care about the others at all is when Boxer is
carried off in the glue truck. It's almost as if the old donkey finally comes out of his
shell, his perfectly fitted demeanour, when he tries to warn the others of Boxer's fate.
And the animals do try to rescue Boxer, but it's too late. Benjamin seems to be finally
confronting Napoleon and revealing his knowledge of the pigs' hypocrisy, although before
he had been completely independent. After the animals have forgotten Jones and their past
lives, Benjamin still remembers everything. Orwell states, Only old Benjamin professed to
remember every detail of his long life and to know that things never had been, nor ever
could be much better or much worse hunger, hardship, and disappointment being, so he
said, the unalterable law of life. 
Rats & Rabbits: The rats and the rabbits, who are regarded as wild animals, somehow
represent the socialist movement, the so-called Menscheviki. In the very beginning of the
book the animals vote if rats and rabbits should be comrades. 
Pigeons: The pigeons symbolise Soviet propaganda, not to Russia, but to other countries,
like Germany, England, France, and even the United States. Russia had created an iron
curtain even before WWII. The Communist government raved about its achievements and its
advanced technology, but it never allowed experts or scientists from outside the country
to check on its validity. Orwell mentions the fact that the other farmers became
suspicious and worried when their animals began to sing Beasts of England. Many Western
governments have gone through a similar problem with their people in this century. There
was a huge Red Scare in the United States in the 20's. In the 1950's in the United
States, Joseph McCarthy was a legislative member of the government from Wisconsin. He
accused hundreds of people of supporting the Communist regime, from famous actors in
Hollywood to middle-class common people. The fear of communism became a phobia in America
and anyone speaking out against the government was a suspect. 
Farm buildings: The farm stands for the Kremlin. In the early days of the USSR there were
sightseeing tours trough the Kremlin. Later it became the residence of Stalin; 
Windmill: The Windmill for example stands for the Russian industry, that has been build
up by the working-class (Clover...) 
Fredericks: Stands for Hitler. There also has been an arrangement and secret deals.
(allusion to Fritz) 
Foxwood: Foxwood farm is representing England. 
Pinchfield: Pinchfield symbolises Germany. 
Destruction of the Windmill: This destruction is a symbol for the failure of the Five
Year Plan
_________________________________
: what does Animal Farm have to do with the Russian Revolution? Who do the characters
represent? 
Characters 
1. Old Major, Marxism (Lenin)
2. Jones, Czar Nicholas II
3. Moses, Organized Religion (Russian Orthodox Church)
4. Animal Rebellion, Russian Revolution of 1912
5. Napoleon, Stalin
6. Snowball, Trotsky
7. Squealer, Pravda
8. Napoleon's dogs, Secret Police
9. Foxwood Farm (Pilkington), England (Churchill)
10. Pinch field Fram (Fredrick), Germany (Hitler)
11. Battle of Cowshed, Anti-Revolutionary Invasion of Russia
12. Battle of Windmill, Battle of Stalingrad (German Invasion of Russia During WWII)
13. Final scene (meeting of men and pigs), Teheran Conference
14. Animals other than pigs and dogs, the proletariate
15. Building of the windmill, five-year plan
16. Old Major's skull, Lenin's body
17. Chasing away Jones, disposal of Czar and family
18. Animal Fram, Russia/ USSR
19. Confessions and executions, blood purges of 1936-38
20. Selling of the wood, Nazi-Soviet pact
21. Pigeons sent to incite other rebellions, Cummunist Internetionale
22. Four pokers reject Napoleon's ideas, White Russian
23. Mollie the cart horse, the bourgeoisie
24. Mr. Whymper (broker), foreign agents of the Comintern
25. Napoleon takes over the farm, Stalin becomes a dictator
26. Hoof and horn on flag, hammer and sickle