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Characters and their Representations of the Players in the Russian Revolution. Animal Farm by George Orwell. Parody. Orwell used his writing to comment on capitalism and communism – the discrepancies between their ideologies and their realities
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Characters and their Representations of the Players in the Russian Revolution Animal Farmby George Orwell
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
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
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
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