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Comparing Characters in "Animal Farm" and Their Historical Counterparts

This analysis explores the characters in George Orwell's "Animal Farm" and their historical parallels, particularly during the Russian Revolution. Mr. Jones symbolizes the negligent rulers, mirroring Czar Nicholas II's poor leadership. Key figures like Napoleon and Stalin demonstrate the rise of brutal power, while Snowball represents idealism and is compared to Trotsky. Characters like Boxer illustrate the betrayal of the loyal working class. This examination reveals how Orwell critiques the failed promises of revolutionary ideals and underscores the themes of power, betrayal, and disillusionment in both the novel and historical context.

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Comparing Characters in "Animal Farm" and Their Historical Counterparts

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  1. Animal Farm Character Comparison

  2. Mr. Jones • Irresponsible to his animals and lets them starve • Sometimes cruel - beats them with a whip • Sometimes kind - mixes milk in animal mash

  3. Czar Nicholas II • A poor leader as best, compared to western kings • Cruel - sometimes brutal with opponents • Sometimes kind - hired students as spies to make money $$$

  4. Nicholas II

  5. Old Major • Taught Animalism • Workers to do their best, rich get to keep the money, animals must revolt • Dies before revolution

  6. Karl Marx • Invented Communism • “workers of the world unite” and take over the government • Dies before the Russian Revolution

  7. Karl Marx

  8. Animalism • No owners, therefore no rich and no poor • Workers get a better life, all animals are equal • Everyone owns the farm

  9. Communism • Everyone is the same • all people equal • government owns everything, people own government

  10. Snowball • young, smart, good speaker, idealistic • really wants to make life better for all • one of leaders of revolution • chased away into exile by Napoleon's dogs

  11. Leon Trotsky • other leader of "October Revolution" • pure communist, followed Marx • wanted to improve life for all in Russia • chased away by Lenin's KGB (Lenin's secret police)

  12. Leon Trotsky

  13. Napoleon • not a good speaker, not as clever like Snowball • cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, corrupt • his ambition is for power, killed opponents • used dogs, Moses, and Squealer to control animals

  14. Joseph Stalin • not a good speaker, not educated like Trotsky • same as Napoleon, didn't follow Marx's ideas • cared for power, killed all that opposed him • used KGB, allowed church, and propagandized

  15. Joseph Stalin

  16. Squealer • big mouth, talks a lot • convinces animals to believe and follow Napoleon • Changes and manipulates the commandments

  17. Propaganda department of Lenin’s government • worked for Stalin to support his image • used any lie to convince the people to follow Stalin • benefited from the fact that education was controlled

  18. The Dogs • a private army that used fear to force animals to work • killed or intimidated any opponent of Napoleon • another part of Napoleon's strategy to control animals

  19. KGB- Secret Police • not really police, but forced support for Stalin • used force, often killed entire families for disobedience • totally loyal, part of Lenin's power, even over army

  20. KGB Secret Police

  21. Moses the Raven • tells animals about Sugar Candy mountain - Heaven • animals can go there if they work hard • Snowball and Major were against him, they though Heaven was a lie to make animals work • Napoleon lets him stay because he taught animals to work and not complain

  22. Religion • Marx said "Opiate of the people" a lie • used to make people not complain and do their work • Religion was tolerated because people would work • Stalin knew religion would stop violent revolutions

  23. Mollie • was vain - loved her beauty and self • didn't think about the animal farm • went with anyone who gave her what she wanted

  24. Vain, selfish people in Russia and the world • some people didn't care about revolution • only thought about themselves • went to other countries that offered more for them

  25. Boxer • strong, hard working horse, believes in Animal Farm • "Napoleon is always right", "I must work harder" • gives his all, is betrayed by Napoleon, who sells him

  26. Dedicated, but tricked communist supporters • people believed Stalin because he was "Communist" • many stayed loyal after it was obvious Stalin a tyrant • betrayed by Stalin who ignored and killed them

  27. Benjamin • old, wise donkey who is suspicious of revolution • thinks "nothing ever changes", is right • his suspicions are true, about Boxer and sign changes

  28. Skeptical people in Russia and outside Russia • weren't sure revolution would change anything • realized that a crazy leader can call himself communist • knew that communism wouldn't work with power hungry leaders

  29. Overall details about revolution in the novel • it was supposed to make life better for all • life was worse at the end • The leaders became the same as, or worse than, the other farmers (humans) they rebelled against

  30. Overall details of Russian Revolution • supposed to fix problems from Czar • life was even worse long after revolution • Stalin made Czar look like a nice guy

  31. Be ready for a quiz next class

  32. Three questions • 1. List three important things about George Orwell. • 2. List three important things about Communism in Russia. • 3. What character from Animal Farm best represents you and why?

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