Wednesday, January 21, 2009

*Animal Farm Characters*




Mr. Jones-Orwell's chief (or at least most obvious) villain in Animal Farm. Of course Napoleon is also the major villain, however much more indirectly. Orwell says that at one time Jones was actually a decent master to his animals. At this time the farm was thriving.


Old Major- is the first major character described by Orwell in Animal Farm. This purebred of pigs is the kind, grand fatherly philosopher of change an obvious metaphor for Karl Marx.Old Major proposes a solution to the animals' desperate plight under the Jones administration when he inspires a rebellion of sorts among the animals.


Moses- is perhaps Orwell's most intriguing character in Animal Farm.This raven, first described as the especial pet of Mr. Jones, is the only animal who doesn't work. He's also the only character who doesn't listen to Old Major's speech of rebellion.


Snowball-Orwell describes Snowball as a pig very similar to Napoleon at least in the early stages. Both pigs wanted a leadership position in the new economic and political system,which is actually contradictory to the whole supposed system of equality. But as time goes on, both eventually realize that one of them will have to step down. Orwell says that the two were always arguing.


Napoleon-Orwell's chief villain in Animal Farm.Napoleon the pig is really the central character on the farm.Obviously a metaphor for Stalin, Comrade Napoleon represents the human frailties of any revolution.


Boxer -Is a horse who is strong with dedication and loyalty.He trusts the pigs to make all his decisions for him.


Squealer -explores ways in which those in power often use language to twist the truth and gain and maintain social and political control.


Clover-female horse and Boxer's close friend.Clover often suspects the pigs of violating one or another of the Seven Commandments.


Mollie -A horse who pulls Mr. Jones's carriage. Mollie craves the attention of human beings and loves being groomed. She has a difficult time with her new life on Animal Farm.


Benjamin -The Donkey who refuses to feel inspired by the Rebellion. Benjamin believes that life will remain unpleasant no matter who is in charge of the farm.


Muriel - The white goat who reads the Seven Commandments to Clover whenever Clover suspects the pigs of violating their prohibitions.
Mr. Frederick -
The tough, shrewd operator of Pinchfield, a neighboring farm.Mr. Frederick proves an untrustworthy neighbor.


Mr. Pilkington - The easygoing gentleman farmer who runs Foxwood.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.


Jessie and Bluebell -Two dogs who give birth early in the book. Napoleon takes the puppies in order to educate them.


Minimus -The poet pig who writes about Napoleon.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

*George Orwell*




George Orwell(1903-1950) was an englishman born in Bengal,India.Orwell died in 1950 of a neglected lung disease.He was a journalist and educated at Eton in England.After service with the British colonial Indian Imperial police in Burma,Orwell returned to Europe to write novels and essays.George was a socialist who attacked both captialism and communism,a literary critic who savaged all that he was as false to life as it was lived and reality as it was,and a novelist who merged his profound political concerns with superbly honed narrative artistry.Besides his classic Animal Farm, his major work includes a novelbased on his experiences as a colonial policeman.George Orwell wrote Animal Farm in 1945 and in 1949.