Symbolism - Who Characters and Things Represent

Characters in Animal Farm and Their Russian Revolution Counterparts

Old Major - Represents Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, as he introduces the idea of revolution but dies before seeing it realized.

Napoleon - Represents Joseph Stalin, using fear, propaganda, and brutality to consolidate power and eliminate opponents.

Snowball - Represents Leon Trotsky, an intellectual leader who is exiled after a power struggle with Stalin (Napoleon).

Squealer - Represents Soviet propaganda, specifically the work of Stalin’s government-controlled press, such as Pravda.

Boxer - Represents the working class (proletariat), who are loyal and hardworking but ultimately exploited by the ruling elite.

Benjamin - Represents intellectuals and skeptics who see the corruption but choose not to act.

Mollie - Represents the bourgeoisie (upper class) who prefer material comfort over revolutionary ideals.

Mr. Jones - Represents Tsar Nicholas II, the overthrown Russian ruler who was incompetent and neglectful.

The Dogs - Represent the NKVD (secret police), used by Stalin to enforce his rule through fear and executions.

The Sheep - Represent blind followers of the regime, manipulated by propaganda to repeat slogans without thinking.

Mr. Frederick - Represents Adolf Hitler, as he betrays the farm (Soviet Union) after making false agreements.

Mr. Pilkington - Represents Western powers (Britain and the U.S.), who are skeptical of but later cooperate with Stalin.

Moses the Raven - Represents the Russian Orthodox Church, which offers promises of a better afterlife (Sugarcandy Mountain) to keep people passive.

The Windmill - Represents Stalin’s Five-Year Plans, ambitious industrial projects that resulted in extreme suffering for the working class.