What role does Boxer play in 'Animal Farm', and why does Napoleon feel so threatened by him?

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3. What role does Boxer play in 'Animal Farm', and why does Napoleon

feel so threatened by him?

Boxer was George Orwell's version of the Russian Stakonovites. The Stakonovites were renowned in the USSR as role models because of the effort and hours that they put into their work. They were the most reliable and strongest workers, often working twice as long as the other workers were. The Stakonovites believed that by working harder, their problems would be eliminated. However, later on Alexei Stakhanov suffered from overwork, understandably due to his immense effort. He was able to mine a hundred and two tonnes of coal in one shift while the average for someone else would've been six or seven tonnes of coal. Boxer, like the Stakonovites, was 'admiration of everybody'. He worked harder and longer than anyone else did; he always worked even after the other animals had retired to rest. Boxer was determined to work harder to solve any problems that the farm may have, his personal motto was 'I will work harder.' When Boxer suffered from overwork, Napoleon sold him to the horse slaughterer.

Boxer was 'universally respected' by the animals on