In Animal Farm, Benjamin, an old donkey who represents wisdom and knowledge.
He represents the intelligent but silent people in the Russian Revolution.
Animal Farm is a novel by George Orwell 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.
Animal Farm Quotes With Page Numbers
Benjamin Animal Farm Characteristics Quotes
Benjamin, the donkey in Animal Farm, is a wise and cynical character who is aware of societal changes but does nothing about it.
“Benjamin was the oldest animal on the farm, and the worst tempered.” (Chapter 1, Page 5)
He’s described as having the ability to read as well as any pig, but he rarely uses it as he feels there is nothing worth reading.
“Benjamin could read as well as any pig, but never exercised his faculty.” (Chapter 3, Page 33)
He represents the aged population of Russia, the Menshevik intelligentsia, and the skeptical people who believed that Communism wouldn’t help the Russian people but did not criticize it fervently enough to lose their lives.
One of Benjamin’s most famous quotes is, “Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey” Chapter 3, Page 30. This quote shows his cynical nature and lack of faith in the revolution and its leaders.
He also understands the pigs’ manipulative tactics and knows they are altering the Seven Commandments of Animalism. He says, “Life will go on as it has always gone on – that is, badly” Chapter 5, Pages 50, 51.
Another quote highlighting Benjamin’s intelligence is when he reads the public display of the Seven Commandments and reveals that they now have a single directive: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” Chapter 10, Page 134.
This shows his ability to notice societal changes and his willingness to speak out against them, albeit subtly.
Furthermore, Benjamin’s character represents the Jewish populace of Russia, whose lives were not remotely improved under Joseph Stalin’s leadership. His Biblical name hints at this.
He’s also important because he’s not quite a horse (the working class). And even though his intellect is on par with the pigs, he is not a leader like them.
In conclusion, Benjamin is a complex character in Animal Farm who represents the intelligentsia, the aged population, and the skeptical people of Russia.
He’s cynical, wise, and aware of the changes happening in society but chooses not to involve himself in any way that would threaten his security.
His character reflects the people aware of the corruption and manipulation happening under Stalin’s regime but did nothing to stop it.
Benjamin Animal Farm Quotes With Page Numbers
“Benjamin, the donkey. Benjamin was the oldest animal on the farm, and the worst tempered. He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance, he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies. Alone among the animals on the farm he never laughed. If asked why, he would say that he saw nothing to laugh at. Nevertheless, without openly admitting it, he was devoted to Boxer; the two of them usually spent their Sundays together in the small paddock beyond the orchard, grazing side by side and never speaking.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (The narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 1, Page 5
“He would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (The narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 1, Page 5
“He would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (The Narrator about Benjamin the donkey), Chapter 1, Page 5
“Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: Old Benjamin), Chapter 3, Page 30
“Old Benjamin, the donkey, seemed quite unchanged since the Rebellion. He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones’s time, never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either. About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion. When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone, he would say only “Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey,” and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: Old Benjamin), Chapter 3, Page 30
“Benjamin could read as well as any pig, but never exercised his faculty. So far as he knew, he said, there was nothing worth reading.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: The narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 3, Page 33
“Muriel, Benjamin, and all the sheep, with Snowball at the head of them, rushed forward and prodded and butted the men from every side, while Benjamin turned around and lashed at them with his small hoofs.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: The narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 4, Page 41
Snowball Animal Farm Quotes With Page Numbers
“Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. He refused to believe either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. Windmill or no windmill, he said, life would go on as it had always gone on-that is, badly.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: Benjamin), Chapter 5, Pages 50, 51
“Windmill or no windmill, he said, life would go on as it had always gone on–that is, badly.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: Benjamin), Chapter 5, Page 51
“The horses carried it off in cart-loads, the sheep dragged single blocks, even Muriel and Benjamin yoked themselves into an old governess-cart and did their share.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: Benjamin), Chapter 6, Page 60
“Only old Benjamin refused to grow enthusiastic about the windmill, though, as usual, he would utter nothing beyond the cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: The Narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 6, Page 68
“They had made their way on to the little knoll where the half-finished windmill stood, and with one accord they all lay down as though huddling together for warmth–Clover, Muriel, Benjamin, the cows, the sheep, and a whole flock of geese and hens–everyone, indeed, except the cat, who had suddenly disappeared just before Napoleon ordered the animals to assemble.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: The Narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 8, Page 85
“Clover asked Benjamin to read her the Sixth Commandment, and when Benjamin, as usual, said that he refused to meddle in such matters, she fetched Muriel.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: Benjamin), Chapter 8, Page 91
“But Benjamin was watching the movements of the men intently. The two with the hammer and the crowbar were drilling a hole near the base of the windmill. Slowly, and with an air almost of amusement, Benjamin nodded his long muzzle.
“I thought so,” he said. “Do you not see what they are doing? In another moment they are going to pack blasting powder into that hole.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: The Narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 8, Page 102
“At the foot of the end wall of the big barn, where the Seven Commandments were written, there lay a ladder broken in two pieces. Squealer, temporarily stunned, was sprawling beside it, and near at hand there lay a lantern, a paint-brush, and an overturned pot of white paint. The dogs immediately made a ring round Squealer, and escorted him back to the farmhouse as soon as he was able to walk. None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant, except old Benjamin, who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air, and seemed to understand, but would say nothing.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: the narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 8, Pages 108, 09
“None of the animals could form any idea as to what this meant, except old Benjamin, who nodded his muzzle with a knowing air, and seemed to understand, but would say nothing.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: the narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 8, Page 109
“Clover treated the hoof with poultices of herbs which she prepared by chewing them, and both she and Benjamin urged Boxer to work less hard.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: the narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 9, Page 111
“Once again Clover and Benjamin warned him to take care of his health, but Boxer paid no attention. His twelfth birthday was approaching. He did not care what happened so long as a good store of stone was accumulated before he went on pension.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Characters: the narrator about Benjamin, Boxer, and Clover), Chapter 9, Page 119
“Only Clover remained, and Benjamin who lay down at Boxer’s side, and, without speaking, kept the flies off him with his long tail.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: the narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 9, Page 120
“And about half an hour later, when Boxer had somewhat recovered, he was with difficulty got on to his feet, and managed to limp back to his stall, where Clover and Benjamin had prepared a good bed of straw for him.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: the narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 9, Page 120
“The animals crowded round the van. “Good-bye, Boxer!” they chorused, “good-bye!”
“Fools! Fools!” shouted Benjamin, prancing round them and stamping the earth with his small hoofs. “Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?”
That gave the animals pause, and there was a hush. Muriel began to spell out the words. But
Benjamin pushed her aside and in the midst of a deadly silence he read:
” ‘Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Willingdon. Dealer in Hides and Bone-Meal. Kennels Supplied.’ Do you not understand what that means? They are taking Boxer to the knacker’s! ”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Character: the narrator about Boxer and Benjamin), Chapter 9, Pages 122
“Only old Benjamin professed to remember every detail of his long life and to know that things never had been, nor ever could be much better or much worse–hunger, hardship, and disappointment being, so he said, the unalterable law of life.”
~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (The narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 10, Page 130
“My sight is failing,” she said finally. “Even when I was young I could not have read what was written there. But it appears to me that that wall looks different. Are the Seven Commandments the same as they used to be, Benjamin?”
For once Benjamin consented to break his rule, and he read out to her what was written on the wall. There was nothing there now except a single Commandment. It ran:
ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS~George Orwell, Animal Farm, (Clover and The Narrator about Benjamin), Chapter 10, Page 134
Who does Benjamin symbolize in Animal Farm?
Benjamin, the donkey in Animal Farm, symbolizes intellectuals who did nothing to oppose the takeover and Stalin or, in general, intellectuals who ignore politics.
He also represents the big picture, repeating that “Donkeys live a long time,” he knows that (past, present, or future) life is bad, and people are oppressed.
What does Benjamin say at the end of Animal Farm?
At the end of Animal Farm, Benjamin only speaks up when his best friend, Boxer, is taken to the slaughterhouse, but by then, it’s too late—the pigs have total control.
There is no record of what Benjamin said at the end of the novel, but his silence speaks volumes about the pigs’ corruption and tyranny.
What does Benjamin do in Animal Farm?
Benjamin is an old donkey on the farm who tends to complain, but he has had enough experience to know that complaining about powerful people can lead to deep trouble.
He is not disappointed and does not expect much from the Rebellion and the Windmill. However, he finally speaks up when his best friend, Boxer, is taken to the slaughterhouse.
What rule did Benjamin break in Animal Farm?
Benjamin, the old donkey on the farm in Animal Farm, does not break any rules explicitly in the story. However, he speaks out against the pigs and their control over the other animals, which proves too late as the pigs have already consolidated their power.
Benjamin’s lack of action earlier in the story allowed the pigs to become tyrannical leaders.
Is Benjamin loyal in Animal Farm?
Benjamin in Animal Farm is complex, and his loyalty is questionable. While he doesn’t actively oppose the pigs’ regime, he doesn’t support it. Benjamin’s loyalty seems more towards himself and his survival than any particular ideology or leader.
He’s a cautious and observant character who tries to maintain a sense of detachment from the political upheavals around him.
Why is Benjamin upset in Animal Farm?
In Animal Farm, Benjamin is upset about the state of affairs on the farm. Although the animals have overthrown their human oppressors, the pigs have taken control and become the new oppressors.
Benjamin is also upset about the fate of his friend, Boxer, who is taken to the slaughterhouse, and he finally speaks up when it’s too late.