ANIMAL FARM AND RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
In Animal Farm, Snowball’s character is based on Leon Trotsky. They were pure believers in the original ideals of the Revolution, and both felt that a worldwide series of rebellions would be necessary to achieve its ultimate aims. Snowball's plan for the windmill to furnish electricity parallels Trotsky's goal to improve the economy of the Soviet Union, which illustrates how both of them had their subjects’ best interests in mind. They were also responsible for leading their Revolution, where Snowball guided the animals to revolt against Mr. Jones, while Trotsky led the Red Army. However, they were both ostracized by their opponents Napoleon and Joseph Stalin’s secret police. [Shmoop Editorial Team, 2008].
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Snowball in animal farm |
leon trotsky of the russian revolution |
Interpretation
snowball and "snowball"
Napoleon’s transformation of the exiled Snowball into a despicable enemy mirrors Stalin’s abuse of the exiled Trotsky. In Animal Farm, the name “Snowball” constantly reoccurs throughout the book, even after Snowball’s expulsion. Napoleon uses the name to spread propaganda and false information, and blames him for the farm’s problems, including the collapse of the windmill, despite Snowball’s lack of involvement: "Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL! Snowball has done this thing!" [p.47]. Napoleon convinces the animals that Snowball left the Animal Farm to work for the humans, though in reality, it was him who banished Snowball. Similar to this, during the Russian Revolution, after forcing Trotsky’s exile, Stalin continued to claim the existence of Trotskyist plots throughout Soviet society. Dictators employ such deceit to eliminate any dissident elements in the government and provide the people with a common enemy to despise. They also create false accusations against their opponent to ensure the population is in fear, making them far less likely to disobey orders or challenge the rule [SparkNotes Editors, 2007].
Orwell creates two versions of Snowball - the pig and the name - also to enable the reader to recognize Napoleon’s lies, which the animals are unable to. Since readers are given information about the true character of Snowball, it is obvious when Napoleon alters the history and wrongly accuses him of "secretly frequenting the farm every night". The animals on the other hand are "so disturbed, they can hardly sleep in their stalls" [p.52] and believe whatever comes out of Napoleon’s mouth. The author successfully uses this technique to emphasize how many dictators use a series of deceit to gain power, but also to illustrate how people are fooled and lied to.
Orwell creates two versions of Snowball - the pig and the name - also to enable the reader to recognize Napoleon’s lies, which the animals are unable to. Since readers are given information about the true character of Snowball, it is obvious when Napoleon alters the history and wrongly accuses him of "secretly frequenting the farm every night". The animals on the other hand are "so disturbed, they can hardly sleep in their stalls" [p.52] and believe whatever comes out of Napoleon’s mouth. The author successfully uses this technique to emphasize how many dictators use a series of deceit to gain power, but also to illustrate how people are fooled and lied to.
name
George Orwell uses the name "Snowball" to emphasize his contrasting character with Napoleon. At first glance, “snowball” can be deduced as a white ball of snow - white, in symbolic terms, is the color of purity and sacredness, commonly used to describe gods; black on the other hand is representative of power and evil. Relating back to Animal Farm, Napoleon is described as “a large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar” [p.9], a type of pig that is black in color. The symbolic meaning behind this color strongly parallels Napoleon’s corruption of power and his use of cunning methods to consolidate his status as the new leader of the farm. Snowball on the other hand stands out as a god-like figure and is portrayed as the heroic and noble pig of the farm.
By using the name “Snowball”, Orwell emphasizes the purity and heroic image of this character throughout the novel. The author also makes use of color juxtaposition to highlight the contrariness in the relationship between Snowball and Napoleon, and respectively representative of Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin, to display how they will never be able to cooperate together.
By using the name “Snowball”, Orwell emphasizes the purity and heroic image of this character throughout the novel. The author also makes use of color juxtaposition to highlight the contrariness in the relationship between Snowball and Napoleon, and respectively representative of Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin, to display how they will never be able to cooperate together.
citations
BBC. (n.d.) Leon Trotsky (1879-1940). Retrieved 4/1/2013 from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/trotsky_leon.shtml
Orwell, G. (2008) Animal farm. London: Penguin Books
Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008) Animal farm. Retrieved 3/28/2013 from http://www.shmoop.com/animal-farm/
SparkNotes Editors. (2007) SparkNote on animal farm. Retrieved 3/28/2013 from
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/trotsky_leon.shtml
Orwell, G. (2008) Animal farm. London: Penguin Books
Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008) Animal farm. Retrieved 3/28/2013 from http://www.shmoop.com/animal-farm/
SparkNotes Editors. (2007) SparkNote on animal farm. Retrieved 3/28/2013 from
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm