The pig who emerges as the leader of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Based on Joseph Stalin,
Napoleon uses military force (his nine loyal attack dogs) to intimidate the other animals and consolidate his
power. In his supreme craftiness, Napoleon proves more treacherous than his counterpart, Snowball.
Snowball
The pig who challenges Napoleon for control of Animal Farm after the Rebellion. Based on Leon
Trotsky, Snowball is intelligent, passionate, eloquent, and less subtle and devious than his
counterpart, Napoleon. Snowball seems to win the loyalty of the other animals and cement his power.
Boxer
he cart-horse whose incredible strength, dedication, and loyalty play a key role in the early prosperity of
Animal Farm and the later completion of the windmill. Quick to help but rather slow-witted, Boxer shows much
devotion to Animal Farm’s ideals but little ability to think about them independently. He naïvely trusts the pigs
to make all his decisions for him. His two mottoes are “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right.”
Squealer
The pig who spreads Napoleon’s propaganda among the other animals. Squealer justifies the pigs’
monopolization of resources and spreads false statistics pointing to the farm’s success. Orwell uses
Squealer to explore the ways in which those in power often use rhetoric and language to twist the truth and
gain and maintain social and political control.
Old Major
The prize-winning boar whose vision of a socialist utopia serves as the inspiration for the Rebellion. Three
days after describing the vision and teaching the animals the song “Beasts of England,” Major dies, leaving
Snowball and Napoleon to struggle for control of his legacy. Orwell based Major on both the German
political economist Karl Marx and the Russian revolutionary leader Vladimir Ilych Lenin.
Clover
A good-hearted female cart-horse and Boxer’s close friend. Clover often suspects the pigs of violating one or
another of the Seven Commandments, but she repeatedly blames herself for misremembering the
commandments.
Moses
The tame raven who spreads stories of Sugarcandy Mountain, the paradise to which animals supposedly go
when they die. Moses plays only a small role in Animal Farm, but Orwell uses him to explore how communism
exploits religion as something with which to pacify the oppressed.
Mollie
The vain, flighty mare who pulls Mr. Jones’s carriage. Mollie craves the attention of human beings and loves
being groomed and pampered. She has a difficult time with her new life on Animal Farm, as she misses
wearing ribbons in her mane and eating sugar cubes. She represents the petit bourgeoisie that fled from
Russia a few years after the Russian Revolution.
Benjamin
The long-lived donkey who refuses to feel inspired by the Rebellion. Benjamin firmly believes that life will
remain unpleasant no matter who is in charge. Of all of the animals on the farm, he alone comprehends the
changes that take place, but he seems either unwilling or unable to oppose the pigs.
Muriel - The white goat who reads the Seven Commandments to Clover whenever Clover suspects the pigs of
violating their prohibitions.
Mr. Jones
The often drunk farmer who runs the Manor Farm before the animals stage their Rebellion and establish
Animal Farm. Mr. Jones is an unkind master who indulges himself while his animals lack food; he thus
represents Tsar Nicholas II, whom the Russian Revolution ousted.
Mr. Frederick
The tough, shrewd operator of Pinchfield, a neighboring farm. Based on Adolf Hitler, the ruler of Nazi Germany
in the 1930s and 1940s, Mr. Frederick proves an untrustworthy neighbor.
Mr. Pilkington
The easygoing gentleman farmer who runs Foxwood, a neighboring farm. Mr. Frederick’s bitter enemy, Mr.
Pilkington represents the capitalist governments of England and the United States.
Mr. Whymper
The human solicitor whom Napoleon hires to represent Animal Farm in human society. Mr. Whymper’s entry
into the Animal Farm community initiates contact between Animal Farm and human society, alarming the
common animals.