Animal Farm: Characters

Key Characters in Animal Farm

1. Napoleon
2. Snowball
3. Boxer
4. Squealer
5. Old Major
6. Benjamin
7. Mollie
8. Mr. Jones

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Napoleon

Quote: "Napoleon is always right."

Analysis: This phrase, often repeated by Boxer, encapsulates Napoleon's manipulation of the other animals on the farm. The blind loyalty it expresses reflects the cult of personality that Napoleon built around himself, akin to Stalin's rule in the Soviet Union. Orwell uses Napoleon to represent how totalitarian leaders can consolidate power by eliminating dissent and promoting unquestioning loyalty, leading to the erosion of individual thought and freedom.

Quote: "He carried a whip in his trotter."

Analysis: The image of Napoleon carrying a whip signifies his complete transformation from revolutionary leader to tyrant, mirroring the human oppressors the animals initially rebelled against. The whip is a symbol of his dominance and the oppression of the working class. Orwell uses this transformation to critique the betrayal of revolutionary ideals and how power corrupts, leading to the same cycles of exploitation and tyranny that revolutions often aim to overthrow.

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Snowball

Quote: "Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at ease."

Analysis: Snowball's vision for the windmill represents his idealism and his belief in technological progress to improve the lives of all animals on the farm. This contrasts sharply with Napoleon's more pragmatic and authoritarian approach. Orwell uses Snowball to represent Trotsky and to illustrate how idealistic leaders can be undermined by more ruthless rivals, leading to the loss of potential benefits for the society they aimed to help.

Quote: "He was running as only a pig can run... and a number of them were wounded."

Analysis: This description of Snowball during the Battle of the Cowshed showcases his bravery and commitment to the cause of Animalism. Despite his eventual exile, Snowball is portrayed as a leader who genuinely fought for the animals' freedom, unlike Napoleon, who avoids personal risk. Orwell uses Snowball's character to highlight the contrast between genuine revolutionary fervour and the self-serving tactics of those who eventually seize power.

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Boxer

Quote: "I will work harder."

Analysis: Boxer's personal motto reflects his incredible work ethic and loyalty to the farm's leadership. His dedication is both admirable and tragic, as it is ultimately exploited by Napoleon and the pigs. Orwell uses Boxer to represent the working class, whose labour is essential to the success of the revolution but who are ultimately betrayed by the leaders they trust. Boxer's blind faith in the leadership highlights the dangers of uncritical loyalty in a corrupt system.

Quote: "Napoleon is always right."

Analysis: Boxer's second motto underscores his unwavering belief in Napoleon's leadership, despite the growing evidence of corruption and inequality. This quote reflects Boxer's tragic flaw—his inability to see the betrayal of the revolution by the pigs. Orwell uses Boxer's blind loyalty to critique how totalitarian regimes manipulate the working class, using their trust and dedication to maintain power while offering nothing in return.

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Squealer

Quote: "It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples."

Analysis: Squealer's justification for the pigs' privilege is a prime example of his manipulative use of language to maintain control over the other animals. By framing the pigs' actions as being in the best interest of everyone, Squealer ensures that the animals do not question the growing inequality. Orwell uses Squealer to represent the propaganda machine in a totalitarian state, showing how language can be twisted to justify the actions of the ruling elite and maintain their dominance.

Quote: "The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white."

Analysis: This quote highlights Squealer's skill as a propagandist, capable of convincing the animals of anything, no matter how contradictory or false. His ability to "turn black into white" symbolizes the manipulation of truth by those in power to control the masses. Orwell uses Squealer's character to illustrate how propaganda is used to maintain the illusion of legitimacy and keep the populace obedient, even when faced with clear evidence of corruption and injustice.

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Old Major

Quote: "All men are enemies. All animals are comrades."

Analysis: Old Major's declaration lays the foundation for the principles of Animalism, which calls for unity among the animals against their human oppressors. However, the idealistic simplicity of this statement is later corrupted as the pigs begin to distinguish themselves from the other animals, violating the very principles Old Major espoused. Orwell uses Old Major to represent Marxist ideology, which, while noble in theory, is often corrupted in practice by those who wield power.

Quote: "Remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray."

Analysis: Old Major's final exhortation to the animals emphasizes the importance of maintaining unity and focus on their shared goals. This speech is prophetic in that it foreshadows the eventual betrayal of the revolution's ideals as the pigs begin to prioritize their power over the welfare of the other animals. Orwell uses Old Major to show how revolutionary ideals can be easily distorted when the leaders of the revolution lose sight of the original goals.

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Benjamin

Quote: "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey."

Analysis: Benjamin's cryptic remark reflects his cynical outlook on life and his awareness of the unchanging nature of the world, regardless of who is in power. This statement suggests that Benjamin has seen many regimes come and go, and he remains sceptical of the promises made by the pigs. Orwell uses Benjamin to represent the sceptics in society, those who see through propaganda and remain detached, but whose inaction ultimately contributes to the continuation of oppression.

Quote: "Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?"

Analysis: Benjamin's realisation that Boxer is being taken to the slaughterhouse rather than a hospital is a key moment in the novel. His anger and despair at this betrayal underscore the tragedy of Boxer's fate and the ultimate failure of the revolution. Orwell uses Benjamin's character to critique the dangers of passivity and the failure to act against tyranny until it is too late.

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Mollie

Quote: "Will there still be sugar after the Rebellion?"

Analysis: Mollie's concern with superficial comforts like sugar and ribbons reflects her shallow, self-centred nature. She is more concerned with her pleasures than with the principles of Animalism, symbolising the segment of society that resists change if it threatens their personal comforts. Orwell uses Mollie to represent the bourgeoisie, who are more interested in maintaining their luxuries than in participating in the collective struggle for equality.

Quote: "She was seen standing... with one of Mr. Pilkington's men, talking to him over the hedge."

Analysis: Mollie's interaction with humans, despite the Rebellion's goals, reveals her lack of commitment to the revolution and foreshadows her eventual defection. This moment underscores her disinterest in the collective cause and her preference for the familiar comforts provided by the humans. Orwell uses Mollie to illustrate how some individuals are unwilling to sacrifice their privileges for the greater good, ultimately abandoning the revolution when it no longer serves their personal interests.

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Mr. Jones

Quote: "Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes."

Analysis: Mr. Jones's negligence and incompetence symbolise the corrupt and ineffective leadership that leads to the animals' rebellion. His failure to care for the farm properly reflects the broader failings of the ruling class, which ignores the needs of the working class until rebellion becomes inevitable. Orwell uses Mr Jones to represent the ineptitude and indifference of the old regime, which sows the seeds for its own downfall.

Quote: "The Rebellion had been successfully carried through: Jones was expelled, and the Manor Farm was theirs."

Analysis: The expulsion of Mr Jones marks the beginning of the animals' attempt to create a society based on equality and fairness. However, this initial success is soon undermined by the emergence of a new form of tyranny under the pigs. Orwell uses Mr Jones's downfall to demonstrate how revolutions often replace one form of oppression with another, as the new leaders replicate the behaviours of the ones they overthrew.