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Insights into Animal Farm: A Parody of the Russian Revolution

George Orwell's "Animal Farm" serves as a satirical commentary on the discrepancies between communism's ideologies and realities, with characters mirroring key figures of the Russian Revolution. Explore how Orwell cleverly weaves this parody with relevant historical contexts and political nuances.

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Insights into Animal Farm: A Parody of the Russian Revolution

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

  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

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