Animal Farm is a novel by George Orwell. The book is about the rise of the Soviet Union and the rebellion against it.
The story is told through the eyes of animals who live on a farm called Animal Farm.
The Animal Farm characters represent different people and groups in society. Here are some of the most important ones:
Animal Farm Quotes With Page Numbers
Who are the characters of Animal Farm?
1. Napoleon
Napoleon, the main antagonist of Animal Farm, is an imaginary character created by George Orwell based on Joseph Stalin.
He is initially described as a fierce-looking Berkshire boar who is not much of a talker and has a reputation for getting his own way. Initially, he appears to be a sincere follower of Old Major’s ideology of Animalism alongside Snowball.
However, once the revolution is successful, his sly activities begin to emerge, and he soon takes on the farm’s leadership, driving Snowball out and labeling him a traitor.
Like Stalin, Napoleon used military force (his nine loyal attack dogs) to gain control of the other animals and to consolidate his power.
He continues manipulating the Seven Commandments to suit his needs and convinces the other animals that it is all for their good.
His final act of changing the Seventh Commandment to “All Animals Are Equal / But Some Are More Equal Than Others” and changing the farm’s name to Manor Farm shows him as a dictator rather than a socialist leader.
Animal Farm Quotes From Napoleon With Page Numbers
2. Snowball
Snowball is a pig in George Orwell’s Animal Farm who is one of the leaders of the animals’ rebellion and a major figure in the book’s early years.
He represents Leon Trotsky, a Russian revolutionary leader instrumental in the 1917 October Revolution. Orwell portrays him as a competent and inspirational leader who wants to create a society where animals can be free and equal.
However, his rival eventually ousts him, Napoleon, and leaves the farm, symbolizing Trotsky’s exile from the Soviet Union in 1929.
In the novel, Snowball is a brave and intelligent leader beloved by the farm animals, but his idealism is no match for Napoleon’s cunning and power.
Snowball Quotes From Animal Farm With Page Numbers
3. Boxer
Boxer is a hardworking, loyal, and strong horse in Animal Farm. His commitment to Animalism and his enthusiasm for hard work is admired by the other animals on the farm.
Symbolically, Boxer represents the working class in the early Soviet Union and the sacrifices they were willing to make for the revolution.
Although the pigs take advantage of his hard work, Boxer throws himself into every task, believing he can work hard enough to make everything work out.
Unfortunately, once injured, he is sold off to the glue factory and dies, highlighting the cruelty of the pig’s leadership and the mistreatment of the working class in the Soviet Union.
Boxer Animal Farm Quotes and Page Numbers
4. Clover
Clover symbolizes motherly love and care in the novel Animal Farm. She is a stout middle-aged mare who cares for other animals, especially Boxer. Despite believing in the pigs’ power, she often silently questions their intentions.
Clover does her fair share of work in the production and maintenance of Animal Farm, but after having multiple foals that were sold away, her strength and power decreased.
She also nursed Boxer back to health when he was injured and was devastated when he was taken away.
From then on, Clover continued to live on Animal Farm, retelling her tales to the new horses and eventually growing too weak and blind to do much work.
She represents the women of the Revolution who took care of the destitute and desolate children during the revolution.
5. Squealer
Squealer is a fat pig who is highly skilled at making speeches to the animals. He works closely with Napoleon to interpret and distill the pigs’ plans for the other animals.
He is a master of propaganda, manipulating the animals to believe what he and Napoleon want them to think. Squealer is instrumental in changing the Seven Commandments to fit the pigs’ selfish needs and tarnishing Snowball’s reputation.
He is Napoleon’s key to controlling the other animals on the farm and is a major influence in the events. Squealer’s cunning and persuasive abilities make him a powerful character in the novel.
Squealer Animal Farm Quotes With Page Numbers
6. Dogs
The dogs in George Orwell’s Animal Farm are loyal followers of Napoleon, the main pig in the novel. They serve as his bodyguards and spies and protect the farm from threats.
The dogs are also used to frighten and terrorize the other animals, ensuring the pigs remain in power.
They represent the secret police and their role in maintaining the oppressive rule of the Soviet Union. The dogs are symbolic of the fear used to control the citizens of the Soviet Union and maintain the ruling power of the government.
They are fierce, obedient, and ultimately dangerous characters in the novel.
7. Mollie
Mollie is a white mare who is very self-absorbed and vain, taking excessive time to groom and accessorize herself.
She is also quite cowardly, running away from the Battle of the Cowshed and not doing much work afterward. Mollie represents the Russian bourgeoisie elite, who valued their appearance and comfort over the struggles of the working class.
Additionally, her abandonment of Animal Farm and her move to Willingdon symbolize how the elite abandoned the Revolution and adopted a capitalistic lifestyle.
Overall, Mollie reminds us of how those with privilege will often put their own interests first in times of crisis.
Mollie Quotes Animal Farm With Page Numbers
8. The Cat
The cat in Animal Farm is an enigmatic character. She is rarely seen but always lurking in the shadows. She is often described as mysterious and aloof and often appears with a knowing look in her eye.
Her presence often reminds the other animals of their naivety and gullibility. In the novel, the cat symbolizes the disaffected members of society who remain silent yet are aware of the power struggles and injustices taking place.
She also represents the individuals who will not actively engage in the revolution but will silently observe.
9. The Pigs
The pigs Old Major, Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer represent the Communist Party in Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Old Major is the ideologist of the Animal Revolution, creating a plan to overthrow humans and make all animals equal.
Napoleon and Snowball are the main drivers of the revolution, leading the animals in their fights for freedom and
creating the seven commandments of Animalism.
Squealer is the propagandist of the rebel animals, using his persuasive words to rally the animals behind Napoleon’s ideas.
The pigs are the true leaders of the revolution, manipulating the other animals to fulfill their secret ambitions. Their roles in the novel reflect the Bolsheviks in Russia, ultimately leading to the pigs’ downfall.
10. The Sheep
The Sheep in Animal Farm represent the masses in a totalitarian regime. They are mostly unaware of the revolutions and changes around them and have no real say in governing.
They are easily swayed by the pigs’ rhetoric, chanting “Four legs good, two legs bad” in unison during meetings to shut down any opposition.
The Sheep demonstrate the power of propaganda, as they are easily convinced by the pigs’ ideas, even if it goes against their own interests.
They also quickly forget the preceding events, as shown when Snowball is blamed for crimes he did not commit.
11. Mr. Jones
Mr. Jones is an oppressive ruler of Manor Farm and a representation of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. He was once a noble and godly man, but due to a lawsuit, he turned to alcoholism and debauchery and neglected the farm animals.
This mistreatment of his animals eventually led to a violent revolt, which caused Mr. Jones and his wife to flee the farm. He could not regain his power and ultimately fell into poverty and hunger.
During his attempt to retake the farm, he was outwitted by the animals and was never successful.
He is portrayed as a cruel and drunken old farmer who has created misery for himself and the animals he abuses and enslaves. He is a sadistic oppressor, which drives the animals to revolt and take control of the farm.
12. Mr. Pilkington
Mr. Pilkington symbolizes the West, representing capitalism in the book Animal Farm. He is an easy-going gentleman farmer who spends his time fishing or hunting.
He is not as bad as the other farmers and has a friendly relationship with his neighbor, Mr. Fredrick.
However, when Fredrick begins to cheat Napoleon, Mr. Pilkington refuses to side with him. Instead, he gives Fredrick a note that reads, “Serves you Right.”
Overall, Mr. Pilkington’s character represents the capitalist economy, which is seen as being untrustworthy and exploitative.
13. Mr. Whymper
Mr. Whymper is an intermediary between Animal Farm and the outside world. And he is the first human to be allowed contact with the pigs after the Rebellion.
He is a shrewd and calculating person who becomes increasingly wealthy by dealing with the animals.
He also symbolizes the capitalists who profited from doing business with the Soviet Union.
His presence and influence are a constant reminder of the inequality between humans and animals and the power that humans can have over the animal world.
14. Mr. Frederick
Mr. Frederick, the owner of the neighboring Pinchfield Farm, symbolizes Adolf Hitler in the book Animal Farm.
He is depicted as a shrewd and tough man who is perpetually involved in lawsuits and is known for driving hard bargains. He is contrasted with Mr. Jones, who is portrayed as an incompetent and drunken leader.
When he hears of the rebellion on Jones’s farm, Mr. Frederick spreads rumors of the animals allegedly practicing cannibalism and torture, indicating his lack of trust in the animal’s ability to manage the farm.
Napoleon sold timber to Mr. Frederick despite Frederick’s reputation for being cruel and calculating towards animals.
15. Moses
Moses is a tame raven, the special pet of Mr. Jones, who tells stories of Sugarcandy Mountain, a paradise-like place where animals supposedly go when they die.
He’s a metaphor for the Russian Orthodox Church and how communism exploits religion to pacify the oppressed.
In the novel, the other animals dislike Moses for not working, but many believe his stories.
His character reminds us of the Church’s oppressive power over the people of Russia and how it sought to control their minds by distracting them with a heavenly afterlife.
Despite his small role in Animal Farm, Moses remains an important symbol of religious manipulation in a totalitarian state.
16. Benjamin
Benjamin, the donkey, is an old and stubborn animal who finds no significance in the major events in Animal Farm.
He is rarely seen to talk but does catch on fast when learning to read. Despite his grumpy demeanor, the other animals still had some respect for him and left him alone, understanding his desire for solitude.
Symbolically, Benjamin represents jadedness, skepticism, and the idea that life will always be difficult and painful. He is a reminder of the reality of the Russian Revolution and its consequences.
17. Muriel
Muriel is a white goat and one of the few animals in the novel who becomes literate. She represents educated individuals who can interpret the events on Animal Farm and provide the animals with valuable insight.
Although she does her share of the work on the farm, Muriel gets weaker as the days pass and eventually dies.
She symbolizes the silenced intellectuals and reminds us of their importance in society. Muriel is a key figure in the novel, showing us how knowledge and understanding can help the oppressed overcome their oppressors.
18. Old Major
Old Major is an iconic and influential character in the novel Animal Farm. He is the wise and old prize-winning pig who inspires the animals to revolt against their oppressive human farmer, Mr. Jones.
He represents Marx or Lenin, who sought to inspire the masses with revolutionary ideologies. With his majestic and benevolent presence,
Old Major can sway the other animals to believe in his vision of a better life, free from oppression.
His legacy lives on even after his death, as the seven commandments of animalism were based on his liberal morality. The song “Beasts of England” is also the result of his inspiring words.
Old Major Quotes With Page Numbers
What Does each character represent In Animal Farm?
1. Who Does Napoleon Represent in Animal Farm?
In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Napoleon is an allegorical representation of Joseph Stalin and his rise to power in the Soviet Union. Using military force and threats, Napoleon can intimidate the other animals into submission and support his politics.
2. Who Does Squealer Represent in Animal Farm?
Squealer represents Stalin’s propaganda machine in Animal Farm, as well as Vyacheslav Molotov, who was Joseph Stalin’s protégé.
He also serves as a representation of the secret organizations of the police, as he works closely with Napoleon and is used to police the farm.
3. Who Does Snowball Represent in Animal Farm?
Snowball represents Leon Trotsky in George Orwell’s book Animal Farm. He is a passionate orator who advocates for equality among all animals, a principle Old Major taught.
4. Who Does Boxer Represent in Animal Farm?
In Animal Farm, Boxer represents the peasant workers of Russia who were exploited by Tsar Nicholas II and led into more hardship and starvation under the rule of Stalin.
Through Boxer’s death, Orwell relates his idea of the exploitation of the working classes and the death of idealism.
5. Who Do The Pigs Represent in Animal Farm?
The pigs in Animal Farm represent the scheming, clever, and forceful elements of the Russian Revolution in 1917. They replace the humans as villains and lead the other animals in their struggle for freedom and power.
6. Who Do The Dogs Represent in Animal Farm?
The Dogs in Animal Farm represent the predatory enforcers of the Russian Revolution, symbolizing the oppressive forces deployed to maintain the status quo. They are loyal to Napoleon and act as his hostile, bloodthirsty, violent servants.
7. Who Do The Sheep Represent in Animal Farm?
The Sheep represent the duped citizens of a totalitarian state in the book Animal Farm. They are receptive to propaganda and follow orders without questioning anything, as Snowball teaches them the maxim “Four legs good, two legs bad.”
8. Who Does Mr. Jones Represent in Animal Farm?
Mr. Jones represents Tsar Nicholas II, the incompetent ruler of Imperial Russia who abdicated in 1917 and was killed along with his entire family.
His return in an attempt to re-take the farm symbolizes the unsuccessful efforts of the White forces in post-revolutionary Russia to reassert the old order.
8. Who Does Mollie Represent in Animal Farm?
Mollie in Animal Farm represents the Russian bourgeoisie who felt threatened during the communist revolution. She symbolizes those who refused to be inspired by the Rebellion and craved human attention.
9. Who Does Benjamin Represent in Animal Farm?
Benjamin symbolizes the intelligentsia in Animal Farm, representing those who are aware of the misuse of the general masses but do not take any action to threaten their security.
He also represents the Jewish population of Russia, whose lives were not improved under Stalin’s leadership, as evidenced by his Biblical name.
10. Who Does Moses Represent in Animal Farm?
In the book Animal Farm, Moses represents organized religion, specifically the Russian Orthodox Church.
He is used by the farm leaders to exploit the animals, just as Stalin did by reviving the Russian Orthodox Church to inspire the people to fight for their country.
11. Who Does Clover Represent in Animal Farm?
In the book Animal Farm, Clover represents the women of the Revolution. She takes care of all the animals on the farm and symbolizes the women who looked after destitute and desolate children during the Revolution.
She also serves as a motherly figure to the other animals, often questioning the power of Napoleon and remaining loyal to the cause.
12. Who Does Mr. Pilkington Represent in Animal Farm?
In Animal Farm, Mr. Pilkington is a representation of capitalism. He is the easy-going but crafty and well-to-do owner of Foxwood Farm, a large neighboring farm overgrown with weeds.
FAQs
Who are the 4 main characters in Animal Farm?
The four main characters in George Orwell’s Animal Farm are Old Major, Napoleon, Snowball, and Boxer.
Who is the most important character in Animal Farm?
The most important character in Animal Farm is Napoleon, who represents a fascist pig and is the character that moves the plot forward the most.
Is Mollie a girl in Animal Farm?
Yes, Mollie is a female character in Animal Farm. She represents the Russian bourgeoisie and craves human attention but never fully commits to the Rebellion.
Who is the real enemy in Animal Farm?
The real enemy in Animal Farm is any entity or group that seeks too much power to the point where others suffer, such as the pigs and their oppressive regime that seeks to replace the humans as the villains.
Who are the bad characters in Animal Farm?
The bad characters in Animal Farm are the humans, the pigs, and anyone representing corrupt political power, such as Mr. Jones. The pigs are the most prominent antagonists, using their cleverness and forcefulness to oppress the other animals.
Who is the hardest worker in Animal Farm?
Benjamin is the hardest worker in Animal Farm, the only animal content to work regardless of who benefits from the outcome.
Who are the three main pigs in Animal Farm?
The three main pigs in Animal Farm are Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer. They are the main villains of the novel, representing the corrupt political power of the Russian Revolution.
Who do the dogs represent in Animal Farm?
The dogs represent the predatory enforcers of a totalitarian state. They are loyal minions of Napoleon and have been conditioned to be hostile, bloodthirsty, and violent.
Sources:
- historyhit.com/culture/animal-farm-key-characters-summary/
- thoughtco.com/animal-farm-characters
- animal-farm.fandom.com/wiki/Animal_Farm
Conclusion
Animal Farm is a story that speaks to the human condition. It is an allegory for the rise of communism in Russia, and the Animal Farm characters represent different aspects of society.
The story warns about the dangers of absolute power and the importance of personal freedom.