Animal Farm – Important traits of the characters in the Story

NAPOLEON AND SNOWBALL Napoleon emerges as the leader of the farm after the rebellion. He is more deceitful and dangerous than Snowball. Like Joseph Stalin, Napoleon intimidates others and consolidates his power using military force (his nine loyal attack dogs).   SNOWBALL challenges Napoleon to gain control of the farm after the Rebellion. While Napoleon is devious and harsh, Snowball is less subtle, passionate, eloquent, and intelligent. As such, the other animals are more loyal to Snowball, and this gives him greater power. Minimus Minimus writes verses about Napoleon and also the banal patriotic song “Animal Farm, Animal Farm” which replaces the song “Beasts of England.

Boxer Boxer is the carthorse that has incredible strength. He is loyal and dedicated. He is vital to the prosperity of the farm and in completing the windmill. One could say that Boxer is slow-witted even though he shows a willingness to help. He does not think independently, and he is naïve as he trusts the pigs to make all the decisions for him. He has two mottoes: Napoleon is always right I will work harder Clover Clover is a female carthorse with a good heart. She is Boxer’s close friend. She suspects that the pigs violate the Seven Commandments, and she continuously blames herself for not remembering the commandments. Mollie Mollie is the arrogant and fickle mare who pulls the carriage of Mr. Jones. She craves attention from humans and enjoys pampering and grooming. She finds life at the farm to be difficult as she longs for the ribbons in her mane and for the sugar cubes. Mollie represents the petit bourgeoisie class that had fled Russia after the Revolution.

Squealer Squealer spreads the propaganda that Napoleon brings to the animals.  He also attempts to justify the ways that the pigs continue to dominate the resources on the farm. Squealer also spreads inaccurate statistics which would suggest that the farm was operating successfully. Orwell uses Squealer to delve into the ways in which those who have power use rhetoric and language to distort the truth and to hold political and social control over the people.

Old Major

The prize-winning boar whose vision of a socialist utopia serves as the inspiration for the Rebellion. Three days after describing the vision and teaching the animals the song “Beasts of England,” Major dies, leaving Snowball and Napoleon to struggle for control of his legacy. Orwell based Major on both the German political economist Karl Marx and the Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Ilych Lenin.

Benjamin

The long-lived donkey who refuses to feel inspired by the Rebellion. Benjamin firmly believes that life will remain unpleasant no matter who is in charge. Of all of the animals on the farm, he alone comprehends the changes that take place, but he seems either unwilling or unable to oppose the pigs.

Moses

The tame raven who spreads stories of Sugarcandy Mountain, the paradise to which animals supposedly go when they die. Moses plays only a small role in Animal Farm, but Orwell uses him to explore how communism exploits religion as something with which to pacify the oppressed.

Muriel

The white goat who reads the Seven Commandments to Clover whenever Clover suspects the pigs of violating their prohibitions.

Mr. Jones	Mr. Frederick	Mr. Pilkington	Mr. Whymper
He is the farmer who is often drunk. He runs the Manor Farm before the animals had the rebellion and launch Animal Farm. Jones is unkind and his animals lack food. He symbolizes Tsar Nicholas II who was ousted in the Russian Revolution	He is untrustworthy, tough, and shrewd. He operates the nearby farm, Pinchfield. His character is like Adolf Hitler who led Nazi Germany during the 1930s and 1940s.	He is carefree and a gallant farmer. He runs the nearby farm, Foxwood. Pilkington is bitter towards Frederick as the former represents the capitalist government of the US and England.	The human lawyer hired by Napoleon to represent Animal Farm in human society. He represents the contact between the humans and the animals on the farm.