Animal Farm

When Orwell published Animal Farm in 1945, a popular belief held that the Soviet Union was an honorable nation. Orwell hoped to write a novel that exposed the truth of the Soviet System. He created a story to show a truth that remained unclear to many. Animal Farm introduces its readers to a wide assortment of characters, each serving as a symbol to the real-life equals they seem to represent.

Each character in Orwell’s novel could be interpreted to have a larger meaning. For instance, Farmer Jones stands for the Russian Czar Nicolas II who was forced to step down from his title after the successful February Revolution (Rodden 113). Mr. Jones also symbolizes the evils of capitalism and the moral decline of men under this type of society. The humans stand for the capitalists, who take advantage of the weak. The transformation of the pigs into human-like creatures represents the process by which the revolution's leaders became corrupted (115). Many people believe that Orwell made Old Major a symbol for Karl Marx, the father of the Communist belief system. Both Old Major and Karl Marx serve as the founders of a revolution, and both die before the revolutionary events they predict will happen. Snowball represents Leon Trotsky (121). Like Trotsky, Snowball is a smart, young speaker who dreams of making life better for all animals. One of the early leaders of the "October Revolution", Trotsky was banished from the Soviet Union. While abroad, he was repeatedly thought of as a traitor by his native country, and lies were invented to harm him. Trotsky was eventually killed in Mexico by the Russian internal police.

Napoleon is not as clever as Snowball. Napoleon is also cruel and selfish. Napoleon is most clearly representative of Joseph Stalin, who, like Napoleon, ruled with an iron fist and killed all those who opposed him (133). He also represents the human weaknesses which eventually weaken even the best political intentions. In much the same way that Napoleon used the dogs to control animals, Stalin used the KGB and cleverly worded lies to control his people (139).

Squealer is an extremely persuasive speaker. Squealer convinces all animals to follow the revolution. Squealer is thought to represent Stalin's propaganda machine (151). Many identify Squealer with Pravda, the Russian newspaper of the 1930's. Orwell has chosen the rest of the pigs to represent the Communist Party loyalists (152). In the early years of the revolution, they were worried about the welfare of the workers. As time passed, however, they began to take advantage of their role as leaders. By the end of the book, the ideals of the revolution have been sacrificed, and the pigs are indistinguishable from the farm's original masters.

The dogs represent the pigs' private army. The pigs used the dogs to maintain a climate of terror which silenced all opposition to their rule. The dogs remain completely loyal to Napoleon throughout the novel, much in the way that the KGB faithfully supported Lenin and Stalin (156).

Boxer and Clover, the strong, hard-working horses, lived by the words, "I must work harder" (Orwell). Boxer and Clover represent the dedicated "proletariat," Karl Marx's term for the unskilled labor class (Rodden 159). They are drawn to the rebellion because they think they will benefit most from its promises. It was the proletariat in Russian society who remained loyal to Stalin as they built up the Soviet Industrial machine (160). Eventually, they are betrayed by Stalin and the Communist party.

Moses, whose name is reference to the Biblical figure, is a symbol for religion and represents Orwell's view of the Church (153). Though Snowball and Napoleon oppose Moses' ideas, he is allowed to remain on the farm because he encourages hard work and obedient behavior.

In addition to the representations of the characters, there all also many symbols in Orwell’s story relating to the