The novel Animal Farm is a satire on the Russian revolution, and therefore full of symbolism. General Orwell associates certain real characters with the characters of the book. Here is a list of the characters and things and their meaning:Mr Jones: the farmer Mr Jones stands for the Russian Tsar Nicolaii the second who was forced to abdicate after the successful February-revolution. But Mr Jones also somehow stands for the moral decline of men in a capitalist or feudalist type
of socierty.
Old Major: Old major on the one hand represents the workers of the Putilow factory, who started the February-revolution, and on the other hand Old Major is representing the Russian intelligentsia. But it is also possible that Orwell made Old Major a symbol for Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who somehow invented the communist ideology. Another possibility is that Old Major represents Wladimir Iljitsch Lenin, the leader of the October revolution.
Napoleon: Without doubt Napoleon stands for Josef Wissarionowitsch Stalin, one of the most cruel dictators in worlds history.
Squealer: This pig is an excellent speaker. Squealer convinces all animals to follow the revolution. The appearance of this pig can be compared with Goebbels, the German minister for propaganda.
Snowball: Snowball is a symbol for Leo Dawidowitsch Trotzky. In the beginning Trotzky participated in the revolution, but later was forced to go to the exile.
Boxer & Clover: These three animals are a sing for the Russian working-class, which was convinced of the necessity of the Revolution. The Russian working-class then has build up the industry, which was forty years behind the western countries. Then this class that has done so much for the prosperity of Russia has been betrayed by the Communist party, or in this case the pigs. Orwell also shows up that the proles are not very intelligent.
Pigs: Orwell has chosen the pigs to represent the communist Party. Before and short after the revolution the acted like being loyal to the working-class, or common animals, but later they have became just like, the tsar family. They just exploit the working-class, an they live in luxury and abundance.
Dogs: The dogs were recruited by the pigs to protect their own power and might. The dogs were also used to evict and to intimidate political enemies within their own rows (for example: Snowball-Trotzky). So one can say that the cruel dogs
stand for the army and the secret-police.
Moses: The raven Moses is a symbol for the orthodox church, that was somehow an allied of the Russian Tsar. Moses always told stories of the "Sugar Candy Mountain" where all dead animals live on. Moses tries to persuade the animals that there is no need for revolution.
Humans: The humans stand for the capitalists, who exploit the weak.
Rats & Rabbits: The rats and the rabbits, who are regarded as wild animals, somehow represent the socialist movement, the so-called "Menscheviki". In the very beginning of the book the animals vote if rats and rabbits should be comrades.
Pigeons: The pigeons, who fly out each day to spread out he message of the victory, represent the "Communist World Revolution".
Beast of England: Communist Internationale.
Farm buildings: The farm stabnds for the Kremlin. In the early days of the USSR there were sightseeing tours trough the Kremlin. Later it became the residence of Stalin.
Windmill: The Windmill for example stands for the Russian industry, that has been build up by the working-class (Clover...)
Fredericks: Stands for Hitler. There also has been an arrangement. (allusion to Fritz).
Foxwood: Foxwood farm is representing England.
Pinchfiled: Pinchfiled symbolises Germany.
Destruction of the Windmill: This destruction is a symbol for the failure of the Five Year Plan.
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