Old Major – A pig. He creates the ideas behind Animalism and inspires the
other animals to rebel. As a prize boar, Old Major has lived a relatively
privileged life among the animals. This privileged life has given him the time to
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PLOT SUMMARY
CHARACTERS
George Orwell Animal Farm
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think about and understand fully the ways that humans exploit and enslave
animals. Old Major's ideas inspire the animals' revolution, though Old Major
dies before the revolution occurs. Old Major symbolizes both Karl Marx and
Vladimir Lenin, the fathers of Communism.
Napoleon – A pig. One of Old Major's main disciples. A "fierce-looking
Berkshire boar," Napoleon prizes power over ideas, unlike Snowball,
Napoleon's other main disciple. Napoleon is cowardly, shrewd, calculating, and
selfish. While he fully supports the revolution against Mr. Jones, he cares
more about his own power than he does about the ideals of the revolution. His
selfishness leads him to build a totalitarian government based on terror and
lies that gives him more power over the other animals than Mr. Jones ever
had. Napoleon symbolizes Stalin, who led the Soviet Union from 1930 until his
death in 1953.
Snowball – A pig. Alongside Napoleon, one of Old Major's main disciples.
Snowball is a more lively, original, and intelligent pig than Napoleon, but he is
less shrewd in the ways of power. Snowball values the ideals of the revolution
more than Napoleon does, though at times Snowball does seem willing to
sacrifice the principle of animal equality for his own personal comfort. In the
end, despite Snowball's bravery in supporting the revolution, his political
naiveté is no match for Napoleon's cunning. Snowball symbolizes Trotsky, a rival
of Stalin exiled from Russian and assassinated on Stalin's orders in Mexico in 1940.
Squealer – A pig. Short and fat, Squealer is a terrific speaker who prioritizes
his personal comfort above all else. Whenever the pigs violate the tenets of
Animalism, Squealer persuades the other animals that the pigs are actually
acting in everyone's best interest. Squealer represents the Soviet press, which
Stalin controlled throughout his rule.
Minimus – A pig who writes propaganda poems and songs praising Napoleon
and Animal Farm. Minimus represents the takeover of art by propaganda in a
totalitarian state that aims to control what its citizens think.
Boxer – A horse. Strong and hardworking, Boxer is extremely honorable,
though not so intelligent. Boxer believes deeply in the revolution, so much so
that he thinks the Animal Farm leader, who also leads the revolution, must be
virtuous and wise. One of Boxer's favorite sayings is "Napoleon is always
right." Boxer has the strength to overthrow Napoleon's dictatorship, but not
the wit to realize that it is a dictatorship. Boxer devotes all his strength to
supporting Napoleon, yet when that strength finally fails him, Napoleon
betrays him. Boxer symbolizes the male working class and peasants of the Soviet
Union.
Clover – A horse. Clover is a gentle, motherly, and powerful mare, who
supports the revolution, but becomes dismayed by the direction it takes under
Napoleon. Yet she has neither the will nor the personality to resist the pigs.
She becomes a witness to the corruption of the revolution as it turns into a
totalitarian state, though she only vaguely understands that something has
gone wrong. Clover symbolizes the female working class and peasants of the Soviet
Union.
Mollie – A vain horse who loves sugar and wearing pretty ribbons in her mane,
Mollie never much cares about the revolution. She abandons Animal Farm and
puts herself into service for another human well before totalitarianism even
takes hold on the farm. Mollie symbolizes the selfish and materialistic
middle-class.
Benjamin – A donkey. Guided by a skeptical philosophy that life will always be
difficult and painful, Benjamin is not surprised when the pigs corrupt the
revolution and transform Animal Farm into a totalitarian state. Though
Benjamin's skepticism proves to be correct, it also makes him powerless.
Alone among the other animals, Benjamin seems to understand what's going
on, but he does nothing to stop it. In the end, his inaction comes back to haunt
him when his dear friend Boxer is betrayed and killed. Benjamin represents
those who were aware of Stalin's unjust and oppressive policies but did nothing to
try to stop them.
The Dogs – Jessie, Bluebell, Pincher, and the nine attack dogs provide the pigs
with the brute force necessary to terrorize the other animals. In return, the
dogs receive special privileges. The dogs don't rule, but they live comfortably.
The dogs symbolize the Soviet secret police.
Moses – A tame raven who constantly speaks about a beautiful place called
Sugarcandy Mountain where all animals go when they die. Moses represents
organized religion.
The Sheep – Dumb animals who believe whatever propaganda is told to them
and follow orders. The sheep represent the duped citizens of a totalitarian state.
Muriel – A goat. One of the few animals other than the pigs and dogs who
becomes fully literate.
Mr. Jones – The owner of Manor Farm, and once a strict and fierce master,
Mr. Jones has in recent years become drunk, careless, and ineffective, though
he remains as casually cruel and arrogant as ever. Mr. Jones symbolizes the
Russian Tsar in the early 20th century.
Mr. Frederick – The owner of the neighboring farm of Pinchfield. A vicious,
cruel, and calculating man, Frederick symbolizes the Fascist Germans.
Mr. Pilkington – The gentleman owner of the neighboring farm of Pilkington.
A man who prefers recreation to farm work, Pilkington represents the Allies
before World War II, particularly the British.
Mr. Whymper – The human that the pigs use as their connection to the
outside world, Whymper symbolizes capitalists who got rich doing business with
the USSR.