Comparison of the two characters Boxer and Napoleon in George Orwell's Animal Farm

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Anthony Carter

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Comparison of the two characters Boxer and

Napoleon in George Orwell’s Animal Farm

Animal Farm is often described as a satire on political power. George Orwell uses the animal characters to represent different historical figures and ideas. George Orwell’s novel is a satire of the Russian revolution and of communism in general. He does this through his portrayal of his characters, which is generally done in a negative way.  For example, the public are seen as sheep and the revolution leaders as pigs. The novel is particularly a warning about the ways that power can be abused by individuals.  The characters of Napoleon and Boxer are particularly important  because they highlight how power and the communist ideals can be used in both a positive and a negative way.  As characters they represent both the best (in the form of Boxer) and the worst (in the form of Napoleon) aspects of communism.

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Napoleon is the typical dictator. In many ways he represents Stalin, the tyrannical ruler of the USSR, but he embodies many characteristics of the typical dictator and Orwell uses the character of Napoleon to paint the worst characteristics of this type of person.  Napoleon’s character gradually changes for the worst as his power over the animals increases.

At the start of the novel Napoleon is simply one of several pigs but by the end of the novel Napoleon has turned events to his own advantage and become the most dominant animal on the farm. For example, in ...

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