1. Animal Farm by George Orwell
Characters and their Representations of the Players in the Russian Revolution

2. 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

3. The Pigs

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Minimus Represents admirers of Stalin
Poetical pig who writes a song about Napoleon that will become the anthem after Beasts of England is banned

8. 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

9. 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

10. Piglets
First generation of animals brought up under notion of animal inequality

11. Rebel Pigs Complain about Napoleon’s takeover
Are later executed to set an example

12. The Humans

13. Mr. Jones
Represents Csar Nicholas II, who was overthrown during the Russian Revolution
Represents incompetent, autocratic capitalists

14. Mr. Pilkington
Represents the Western Powers – Britain and United States
Easy-going, crafty owner of Foxwood

15. Mr. Frederick Represents Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler
Tough owner of Pinchfield

16. 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

17. 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

18. Other Animals

19. 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

20. Clover
Represents the educated middle class who quietly accept the subversion of principles by the powerful
Good, kind, nurturing

21. Mollie
Represents the upper class Bourgeosie who fled from the USSR after the Revolution

22. 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

23. Moses
Represents religion (particularly the Russian Orthodox Church), which conflicts with Communism

24. Muriel Represents intelligent labour
She is able to read the edited commandments on the wall

25. Jesse and Bluebell
Have puppies that Napoleon takes to raise as his secret police
Napoleon uses these dogs to inspire fear

26. 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

27. Dogs
Represent the secret police/bodyguards (Cheka/NKVD/OGPU/MVD)

28. Sheep Represent the masses during Stalin’s reign
Dumb animals following the proletariat – not thinking, just doing what they are told to do

29. 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