Animal Farm by George Orwell Characters and their Representations of the Players in the Russian Revolution

Parody Orwell used his writing to comment on capitalism and communism – the discrepancies between their ideologies and their realities A parody is a humourous/satirical imitation of a person, event, piece of art/literature/music… Animal Farm is Orwell’s parody of the Russian Revolution and Communism in Russia

The Pigs

Napoleon Represents Joseph Stalin Becomes the sole leader of Animal Farm Rules like a dictator, which is contrary to the original intent of an animal-run society Uses nine dogs, that he personally trained, as his military/secret police Uses force to drive out his opponent and to instill fear in his subjects

Snowball Represents Leon Trotsky, who was Stalin’s partner during the Russian Revolution Is originally Napoleon’s partner, but is exiled from Animal Farm and eventually becomes Napoleon’s scapegoat Trotsky was exiled to Mexico and eventually assinated Passionate intellectual More honest about his intentions than Napoleon, but he still has faults

Squealer Inspired by Vyacheslav Molotov and the Russian paper Pravda Napoleon’s public speaker Twists language to excuse and justify Napoleon’s actions and decisions Represents the way in which politicians use language to complicate, confuse, and disorient

Minimus Represents admirers of Stalin Poetical pig who writes a song about Napoleon that will become the anthem after Beasts of England is banned

Old Major Represents Vladimir Lenin and Karl Marx Represents Marx in allegory and power of speech – evoke and inspire using words Inspiration that fuels rebellion Primarily a positive image

Pinkeye Representative of those who would do anything for their leader, regardless of the harm it may cause them Napoleon’s food taster His life is valued little by himself and by Napoleon

Piglets First generation of animals brought up under notion of animal inequality

Rebel Pigs Complain about Napoleon’s takeover Are later executed to set an example

The Humans

Mr. Jones Represents Csar Nicholas II, who was overthrown during the Russian Revolution Represents incompetent, autocratic capitalists

Mr. Pilkington Represents the Western Powers – Britain and United States Easy-going, crafty owner of Foxwood

Mr. Frederick Represents Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler Tough owner of Pinchfield

Tehran Conference Represented by card game Parties flattering and cheating each other simultaneously Conference between Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill – first meeting of the three big powers of the Allies in WWII

Mr. Whymper Loosely based on George Bernard Shaw who visited the USSR in 1931 and praised what he saw Represents Animal Farm to the human community

Other Animals

Boxer Represents the working class/proletariat Kind, loyal, dedicated, strong, but not very clever Blindly trusts leaders and does not, or perhaps cannot, see the corruption

Clover Represents the educated middle class who quietly accept the subversion of principles by the powerful Good, kind, nurturing

Mollie Represents the upper class Bourgeosie who fled from the USSR after the Revolution

Benjamin Represents skeptical people in and out of Russia who believed Communism would not help people of Russia Cynical about the revolution on Animal Farm

Moses Represents religion (particularly the Russian Orthodox Church), which conflicts with Communism

Muriel Represents intelligent labour She is able to read the edited commandments on the wall

Jesse and Bluebell Have puppies that Napoleon takes to raise as his secret police Napoleon uses these dogs to inspire fear

Hens Represents the Kulaks, who were landed peasants that were persecuted by Stalin Hens refused to give up their eggs; Kulaks resisted giving up their lands Both groups were starved to death as punishment

Dogs Represent the secret police/bodyguards (Cheka/NKVD/OGPU/MVD)

Sheep Represent the masses during Stalin’s reign Dumb animals following the proletariat – not thinking, just doing what they are told to do

The Cat Represents flaws in Animalism/Communism Unethical, silent rejections of the new order Unwilling to work, but encourages other to work Acts brave, but disappears at threats