Animal FarmGeorge Orwell

Karl Marx

George OrwellBoxer

SYMBOLISM/PARALLELSRevolution was supposed to make life better; life was

worse in the end for everyone

• Mr. Jones :1. Irresponsible to animals2. Sometimes Cruel/Kind: would

give animals milk & mash

• Old Major1. Taught Animalism2. Animal workers revolt3. Dies before Revolution

• Animalism1. No owners, no rich, no poor2. All animals equal

3. Everyone owns the Farm

• Czar Nicholas II:1. Poor leader2. Cruel: brutal to opponents

Kind: hired students

• Karl Marx1. Invented Communism2. “Workers of World Unite”3. Dies before Revolution

• Communism1. Same2. All people equal3. Gov’t owns all; people own gov’t

• Snowball1. Young,smart,good speaker

2. Really wants better life for all

3. One of Revolution’s Leaders

4. Chased into exile by dogs

• Napoleon1. Not as clever/speaker like

Snowball

2. Cruel,brutal,selfish,corrupt

3. Power-hungry;killed foes

4. Used dogs, Squealer, Moses to control animals

• Leon Trotsky1. “October Revolution” Leader

2. Pure Communist:followed Marx

3. Wanted to improve Russian life

4. Chased away by Lenin’s KGB

• Joseph Stalin1. Not as educated/speaker like

Trotsky

2. Same as Napoleon; didn’t follow ideals of Marx

3. Power-hungry; killed foes

4. Used KGB, organized church, and propaganda to control

• Squealer1. Big Mouth; talks a lot

2. Convinces Animals to believe/follow Napoleon

3. Changes/Manipulates commandments

• The Dogs1. Private army that used fear

2. Killed/intimidated Napoleon’s opponents

3. One part of Napoleon’s strategy of control

• Propaganda Dep’t1. Enhanced Stalin’s image

2. Used any lie to convince people to follow Stalin

3. Benefited from the fact that education was controlled

• KGB–Secret Police1. Private force of Stalin

2. Often killed entire families or any opponents

3. Totally loyal; part of Lenin’s power, even over Army

• Moses the Raven1. Tells animals about Sugar

Candy Mountain (Heaven)

2. Taught Work = Heaven

3. Snowball/Major opposed him

4. Napoleon supported idea; it made animals work w/out complaint

• Mollie1. Vain: loved beauty & self

2. Didn’t care/think of farm

3. Went w/anyone who gave her what she wanted

• Religion1. Marx said “Opiate of the

People” was a lie

2. Made people not complain, but do their work

3. Stalin tolerated religion because it made people work, prevented revolts

• Vain/Selfish in Russia & World

1. Didn’t care about Revolution

2. Only thought about selves

3. Went to other countries that offered more for them

• Boxer1. Strong, hard-working horse;

believed in Animal Farm

2. “Napoleon is always right.” “I will work harder.”

3. Gives his all, but is betrayed by Napoleon: he sells him

• Benjamin1. Old, wise donkey suspicious

of revolution

2. Thinks “Nothing ever changes” He’s right

3. Suspicions about Boxer’s demise and sign changes are correct

• Loyal, but Tricked Stalin Supporters

1. Believed Stalin because he was a “Communist.”

2. Many stayed loyal even when obvious Stalin a tyrant

3. Betrayed by Stalin who ignored or killed them

• Skeptical In/Outside of Russia

1. Didn’t believe revolution changed anything

2. Realized crazed leader could say he’s a “Communist.”

3. Knew communism wouldn’t work w/power-hungry leaders

Other Symbols/Parallels• Foxwood Farm (Pilkington)…England (Churchill)• Pinchfield Farm (Frederick)…Germany (Hitler)• Animal Farm………………….Russia/USSR• Jones’ Farmhouse…………..The Kremlin• Old Major’s Skull……………..Lenin’s Body• Hoof & Horn on Flag…………Hammer/Sickle• Chasing Away Jones………..Deposing the Czar• First Animal Rebellion……….Russian Revolution• Battle of Cowshed…Anti-Revolutionary Invasion• Battle of Windmill...Stalingrad (German Invasion)• Building of Windmill………….Five-Year Plan

Symbols/Parallels Cont’d• Confessions/Executions...Blood Purges of ‘36-38• Napoleon Takes Over Farm…Stalin is Dictator• Selling the Wood………………Nazi-Soviet Pact• Mr. Whymper (Broker)………..Foreign Agents• Pigeons Incite Farms…Communist Internationale• Animals Not Pig or Dogs………Proletariat• Four Porkers Reject Napoleon...White Russians• Final Scene (Meeting Between

Men and the Pigs……………Teheran Conference