Character information
Old Major
Old Major is the wise old pig whose stirring speech to the
animals helps set the Rebellion in motion- though he dies
before it actually begins. His role compares with that of Karl
Marx, whose ideas set the Communist Revolution in motion.
Napolean
Napoleon is a "large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar,
not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own
way." And so he does. Instead of debating with Snowball, he
sets his dogs on him and continues to increase his personal
power and privileges from that time on. What counts for him is
power, not ideas. Note his name: think of the other
Napoleon (Bonaparte) who took over the French Revolution and
turned it into a personal Empire. Napoleon's character
also suggests that of Stalin and other dictators as well.
Snowball
Snowball is an energetic, brilliant leader. He's the one who
successfully organizes the defense of the Farm (like Trotsky
with the Red Army). He's an eloquent speaker with original-
although not necessarily beneficial- ideas (the windmill).
Squealer
Squealer is short, fat, twinkle-eyed and nimble, "a
brilliant talker." He has a way of skipping from side to
side and
whisking his tail that is somehow very persuasive. They say he
can turn black into white! That's just what he does, again
and again: every time the pigs take more wealth and power,
Squealer persuades the animals that this is absolutely
necessary for the well-being of all. When things are scarce, he
proves that production has increased- with figures. He is
also the one who makes all the changes in the Seven Commandments.
In human terms he is the propaganda apparatus
that spreads the "big lie" and makes people believe in
it.
Boxer
Boxer believes in the Rebellion and in its Leader. His two
favorite sayings are "Napoleon is always right" and
"I will work
harder." His huge size and strength and his untiring labor
save the Farm again and again. He finally collapses from age and
overwork, and is sold for glue.
Clover
Clover the mare is a motherly, protective figure. She survives to
experience, dimly and wordlessly, all the sadness of the
failed Revolution.
Mollie
Mollie, the frivolous, luxury-loving mare, contrasts with Clover.
She deserts Animal Farm for sugar and ribbons at a
human inn. Orwell may have been thinking of certain Russian
nobles who left after the Revolution, or of a general human
type.
Napolean's Dogs
The dogs represent the means used by a totalitarian state to
terrorize its own people. Think of them as Napoleon's secret
police.
Muriel
Muriel the goat reads better than Clover and often reads things
(such as Commandments) out loud to her.
The Sheep
The stupid sheep keep bleating away any slogan the pigs teach
them. You can guess who they are.
Moses
Moses the Raven, who does no work, but tells comforting tales of
the wonderful Sugarcandy Mountain where you go
when you die, is a satire of organized religion. (Marx called
religion, in a famous phrase, "the opiate of the
people.") In
terms of Russia, Moses represents the Orthodox Church. Watch what
happens to him in the story.
Pigeons
The pigeons spread the word of Rebellion beyond the farm, as many
Communists spread the doctrine of the revolution
beyond the boundaries of the Soviet Union.
Benjamen
Gloomy Benjamin, the donkey, may remind you of Eeyore in
Winnie-the-Pooh, except that unlike Eeyore he never
complains about his own personal problems. He is a skeptic and a
pessimist- we'd almost say a cynic, if it weren't for his
loyal devotion to Boxer. Like his friend, he doesn't talk much
and patiently does his work, although- unlike Boxer- no
more than is required. He's also unlike Boxer in that he does not
believe in the Revolution, nor in anything else, except
that life is hard. Whatever political question he is asked, he
replies only that "Donkeys live a long time" and
"None of you
has ever seen a dead donkey." He survives.
The Humans
Jones
In the narrowest sense the drunken, negligent Farmer Jones
represents the Czar. He also stands for any government that
declines through its own corruption and mismanagement.
Pilkington
Pilkington, who likes hunting and fishing more than farming,
represents Orwell's view of the decadent British gentleman in
particular- and of the Allied nations in general, especially
Britain and France.
Whymper
Whymper is a commercial go-between for animals and humans- just
as certain capitalists have always transacted business
with Communist nations.
Frederick
The cruel Frederick doesn't really represent anything, but he
does kind of show a strong resemblance toward Geramny,
the cruel nation that it is.
All this information comes from:
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~jchance/frames.html