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Animal Farm - George Orwell (19460)
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Old Major
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Old Major is the wise old pig whose stirring speech to the animals helps set the Rebellion in motion- though he dies before it actually begins. His role compares with that of Karl Marx, whose ideas set the Communist Revolution in motion.
Major in this story seems to represent a combination of Karl Marx and VI Lenin. However, Lenin seems to have one of the stronger character traits possessed by this character. This is shown by his bringing the ideas of Animalism, i.e. Communism to the farm.
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Napoleon
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Napoleon is a "large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way." And so he does. Instead of debating with Snowball, he sets his dogs on him and continues to increase his personal power and privileges from that time on. What counts for him is power, not ideas. Note his name: think of the other Napoleon (Bonaparte) who took over the French Revolution and turned it into a personal Empire. Napoleon's character also suggests that of Stalin and other dictators as well.
Napoleon clearly portrays Stalin with such examples as mass executions, like those of Stalin in the 1930's. Also he exiles Snowball, i.e. Trotsky and Bestows three titles upon himself, just like Stalin. The pact signed with Frederick and the farm's industrialization, which Stalin began in 1929, though it was Trotsky's idea.
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Snowball
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Snowball is an energetic, brilliant leader. He's the one who successfully organizes the defense of the Farm (like Trotsky with the Red Army). He's an eloquent speaker with original- although not necessarily beneficial- ideas (the windmill).
Snowball clearly is portraying the Soviet expatriate Leon Trotsky. Trotsky was seen as Stalin�s opponent for the leader of the Soviet Union and as a result Stalin expelled him. Trotsky was also viewed as a better leader than Stalin was, and probably a more just one. Though we'll never know, Trotsky probably would have been a better Leader than Stalin would.
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