Animal Farm Vs Russian Revolution

Professor David Koogler

Mr. Jones◦ Irresponsible to his animals (beats them)◦ Sometimes cruel; letting them starve◦ Sometimes kind; mixing milk in animals’ food

Czar Nicholas II◦ Poor leader as compared to other Monarchs◦ Cruel: Sometimes brutal with political opponents ◦ Sometimes kind: Hired starving students to work

as spies

Old Major◦ Taught Animalism◦ Workers do the work, rich keep the money,

animals revolt◦ Dies before the Revolution takes place

Karl Marx◦ Invented Communism◦ “Workers of the World Unite” – take over the

economy (factories and farms) and thus the government

◦ Dies before the Russian Revolution

Animalism◦ No social classes; no rich, but no poor◦ Workers get a better life; all animals are equal◦ Animals own the farm

Communism◦ No social classes; no rich and no poor◦ All people are equal◦ Government owns everything & the people own

the government

Snowball◦ Young, smart, good speaker, idealistic◦ Really wants to make life better for all◦ One of the leaders of the Revolution◦ Chased away into exile from Napoleon’s dogs

Leon Trotsky◦ Other leader of October Revolution◦ Pure communist, followed Marx◦ Wanted to Improve life for all in Russia◦ Chased away by Lenin’s KGB (secret police)

Napoleon◦ Not a good speaker, not as smart as Snowball◦ Cruel, brutal, selfish, devious, corrupt◦ Ambition for power, killed opponents◦ Used dog, Moses, and Squealer, to control the

animals

Stalin◦ Not a good speaker, not as educated as Trotsky◦ Didn’t follow Marx’s ideas◦ Cared for power only; killed his opponents◦ Used KGB & allowed the Church, propagandized

Squealer◦ Big Mouth, talks a lot◦ Convinces animals to believe and follow Napoleon◦ Changes and manipulates the commandments

Ministry of Information◦ Worked for Stalin to support his image◦ Used any lie that would support Stalin◦ Benefited from government control of education

The Dogs◦ A Private army that used fear to force animals to

work◦ Killed or intimidated any opponent of Napoleon’s◦ Essential part of Napoleon’s strategy to control

the animals

KGB – The Secret Police◦ Not really police, but enforcers used to support

Stalin◦ Used force: often killed entire families for

disobedience◦ Totally loyal to Lenin, Stalin, etc, more so than the

military

Moses the Raven◦ Tells animals about Sugar Candy Mountain –

Heaven◦ Animals can go there if they work hard◦ Snowball & Major were against him

They thought Sugar Candy Mountain was a lie to make the animals work

◦ Napoleon let him stay because he taught the animals to work and not complain

Religion◦ Marx said religion was the “opium of the masses”

(a lie)◦ Designed to teach people to not complain about

their lot in life (Why complain, soon you’ll be in heaven.)

◦ Stalin allowed religion to calm down the discontent of the people

Mollie◦ Was Vain – loved her beauty & herself◦ Didn’t think about animal farm◦ Went with anyone that gave her what she wanted

Vain people of Russia & the world◦ Some people didn’t care about the Revolution◦ Only thought of their own self interest◦ Escaped to other countries that offered more for

them

Boxer◦ Strong, hard working horse, believed in Animal

Farm◦ “Napoleon is always right”◦ “I Will Work Harder”◦ Gives his all, but is betrayed by Napoleon who

sells him to the glue factory

Dedicated, but tricked supporters of the Revolution◦ People believed Stalin because he was

“Communist”◦ Many stayed loyal even after Stalin was revealed

as a tyrant◦ Betrayed by Stalin who ignored or killed them

Benjamin◦ Old Wise Donkey who is suspicious of Napoleon◦ Thinks “Nothing ever changes” – he was right◦ His suspicions about Boxer being sold to the glue

factory and the Commandments being changed were proved true

Skeptical people of Russia and the outside World◦ Weren’t sure Revolution would change anything◦ Realized that a tyrant could call himself a

Communist◦ Knew Communism wouldn’t work with Tyrants

Overall details of the Revolution◦ Was designed to make life better for the animals◦ Life ended up being far worse◦ Life was the same or worse under the animals as

compared to the humans they rebelled against

Supposed to fix the problems that existed under the Czar’s rule

Life was worse after the revolution than before

Stalin made the Czar look like a nice guy