oar inManor Farm, tells the other animals of his dream of "animalism": " . . . Only get rid ofMan, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we wouldbecome rich and free.'" (Orwell, 10) The other animals take this utopian idea to heart, andone day actually do revolt and drive the humans out. Two pigs emerge as leaders:Napoleon and Snowball. They constantly argued, but one day, due to a difference overplans to build a windmill, Napoleon exiled Snowball. Almost immediately, Napoleonestablished a totalitarian government. Soon, the pigs began to get special favours, untilfinally, they were indistinguishable from humans to the other animals. Immediately thereader can begin to draw parallels between the book's characters and the government in1917-44 Russia. For example, Old Major, who invented the idea of "animalism," is seenas representing Karl Marx, the creator of communism. Snowball represents Trotsky, aRussian leader after the revolution. He was driven out by Napoleon, who representsStalin, the most powerful figure in the country. Napoleon then proceeded to remove thefreedoms of the animals, and established a dictatorship, under the public veil of"animalism." Pigs represent the ruling class because of their stereotype: dirty animals withinsatiable appetites. Boxer, the overworked, incredibly strong, dumb horse represents thecommon worker in Russia. The two surrounding farms represent two of the countries onthe global stage with Russia at the time, Germany and England. Orwell begins his bookby criticizing the capitalists and ruling elite, who are represented in Animal Farm by Mr.Jones, the farmer. He is shown as a negligent drunk, who constantly starved his animals. "His character is already established as self-indulgent and uncaring." (King, 8) Orwellshows us how, "if only animals became aware of their strength, we should have no powerover them, and that men exploit animals in much the same way ...
