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Animal Farm – Comparison of characters to the Russian Revolution
by Joe E. Moncur
Animal Farm
Comparison of characters to Russian Revolution
Animal Farm
Russian Revolution
Mr. Jones
irresponsible to his animals (lets them starve)
sometimes cruel – beats them with whip
sometimes kind – mixes milk in animal mash
Czar Nicholas II
a poor leader at best, compared to western kings
cruel – sometimes brutal with opponents
Sometimes kind – hired students as spies to make $
Old Major
taught Animalism
workers do the work, rich keep the $, animals revolt
dies before revolution
Karl Marx
invented Communism
“workers of the world unite”, take over gov’t
dies before Russian Revolution
Animalism
no owners, no rich, but no poor
workers get a better life, all animals equal
everyone owns the farm
Communism
same
all people equal
gov’t owns everything, people own gov’t
Snowball
young, smart, good speaker, idealistic
really wants to make life better for all
one of leaders of revolution
chased away into exile by Napoleon’s dogs
Leon Trotsky
other leader of “October Revolution”
pure communist, followed Marx
wanted to improve life for all in Russia
chased away by Lenin’s KGB (Lenin’s secret police)
Napoleon
not a good speaker, not as clever like Snowball
cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, corrupt
his ambition is for power, killed opponents
used dogs, moses, and Squealor to control animals
Joseph Stalin
not a good speaker, not educated like Trotsky
same as Napoleon, didn’t follow Marx’s ideas
cared for power, killed all that opposed him
used KGB, allowed church, and propagandized
Squealer
big mouth, talks a lot
convinces animals to believe and follow Napoleon
Changes and manipulates the commandments
Propaganda department of Lenin’s government
worked for Stalin to support his image
used any lie to convince the people to follow Stalin
benefited from the fact that education was controlled
The Dogs
a private army that used fear to force animals to work
killed or intimidated any opponent of Napoleon
another part of Napoleon’s strategy to control animals
KGB – Secret Police
not really police, but forced support for Stalin
used force, often killed entire families for disobedience
totally loyal, part of Lenin’s power, even over army
Moses the Raven
tells animals about SugarCandy mountain – Heaven
animals can go there if they work hard
Snowball and Major were against him
they though Heaven was a lie to make animals work
Napoleon let him stay because he taught animals to
work and not complain
Religion
Marx said “Opiate of the people” a lie
used to make people not complain and do their work
Religion was tolerared because people would work
Stalin knew religion would stop violent revolutions
Mollie
was vain – loved her beauty and self
didn’t think about the animal farm
went with anyone who gave her what she wanted
Vain, selfish people in Russia and world
some people didn’t care about revolution
only though about themselves
went to other countries that offered more for them
Boxer
strong, hard working horse, believes in Animal Farm
“Napoleon is always right”, “I must work harder”
gives his all, is betrayed by Napoleon, who sells him
Dedicated, but tricked communist supporters
people believed Stalin because he was “Communist”
many stayed loyal after it was obvious Stalin a tyrant
betrayed by Stalin who ignored and killed them
Benjamin
old, wise donkey who is suspicious of revolution
thinks “nothing ever changes”, is right
his suspicions are true, about Boxer and sign changes
Skeptical people in Russia and outside Russia
weren’t sure revolution would change anything
realized that a crazy leader can call himself communist
knew that communism wouldn’t work with power
hungry leaders
Overall details about revolution
it was supposed to make life better for all
life was worse at the end
The leaders became the same as, or worse than,
the other farmers (humans) they rebelled against
Overall details of Russian Revolution
supposed to fix problems from Czar
life was even worse long after revolution
Stalin made Czar look like a nice guy
React!