Humans: The humans stand for the capitalists, who exploit the weak. The gradual transformation of the pigs into human-like creatures represents the process by which the revolution's leaders became corrupted. Whether capitalist or communist in name, the underlying reality of many political systems is tyranny.
Old Major: Many believe Orwell made Old Major a symbol for Karl Marx, the father of the Communist belief system. Both Old Major and Karl Marx serve as the founders of a revolutionary creed, and both die before the revolutionary events they predict.
Snowball: Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. Like Trotsky, Snowball is a smart, young speaker who dreams of making life better for all animals. One of the early leaders of the "October Revolution", Trotsky was banished from the Soviet Union. While abroad, he was repeatedly denounced as a traitor by his native country, and wild lies were invented to discredit him. Trotsky was eventually killed in Mexico by the Russian internal police.
Napoleon: Not as clever as Snowball, Napoleon is also cruel, selfish and corrupt. Napoleon is most clearly representative of Joseph Stalin, who, like Napoleon, ruled with an iron fist and killed all those who opposed him. On a deeper level, he represents the human weaknesses which eventually undermine even the best political intentions. In much the same way that Napoleon used the dogs - and Squealer - to control animals, Stalin used the KGB and cleverly worded lies (called "propaganda") to control his people.
Squealer: This pig is an extremely persuasive speaker. Squealer convinces all animals to follow the revolution; "he could turn black into white." Squealer is believed to represent Stalin's propaganda machine. Many identify Squealer with Pravda, the Russian newspaper of the 1930's.
Pigs: Orwell has chosen the pigs to represent the Communist Party loyalists. In the early years of the revolution they were concerned with the welfare of the common workers; as time passed, however, they began to take advantage of their role as leaders. By film's end, the ideals of the revolution have been sacrificed, and the pigs are indistinguishable from the farm's original masters.
Dogs: The dogs constitute the pigs' private army; the pigs used the dogs to maintain a climate of terror which silenced all opposition to their rule. The dogs remain completely loyal to Napoleon throughout the novel, much in the way that the KGB faithfully supported Lenin and Stalin.
Boxer and Clover: These strong, hard-working horses live by the words "I must work harder." Boxer and Clover represent the dedicated "proletariat," Karl Marx's term for the unskilled labor class. They are drawn to the rebellion because they think they will benefit most from its promises. It was the proletariat in Russian society who remained loyal to Stalin as they built up the Soviet Industrial machine. Eventually, they are betrayed by Stalin and the Communist party.
Moses: Whose name is reference to the prominent Biblical figure, is a symbol for religion and represents Orwell's view of the Church. Though Snowball and Napoleon oppose Moses' ideas, he is allowed to remain on the farm because he encourages hard work and submissive behavior.
"Beasts of England": This song--which becomes the official creed of the animals' revolution--represents the "Communist Internationale," a real song penned by supporters of communism in the early 1900's.
Windmill: The windmill stands for Russian industry. Soviet leaders focused on making Russia industrially modern after the Revolution of 1917. Joseph Stalin, in particular, drew up several "Five Year Plans," which plotted the tremendous growth of Russia's railroads, factories, coal and metal mines.
Contemporary Connection: In the original novel, Orwell ends the story with the pigs' ultimate ascension. The cartoon film version flashes us forward to a world after the pigs' fall. How does the film update Orwell's allegory? Research the history of Russia and Eastern Europe over the past 20 years. Who might Jessie represent?
