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Jones is modeled on Tsar Nicholas II (1868-1918), the last Russian emperor. His rule (1894-1917) was marked by his insistence that he as the incontestable ruler of the nation. During his reign, the Russian people experienced terrible poverty and upheaval, marked by the Bloody Sunday massacre in 1905 when unarmed protesters demanding social reforms were shot down by the army near Nicholas’ palace. As the animals under Jones lead lives of hunger and want, the lives of millions of Russians worsened during Nicholas’ reign.
When Russia entered World War I and subsequently lost more men than any country in any previous war, the outraged and desperate people began a series of strikes and mutinies that signaled the end of Tsarist control. When his own generals withdrew their support of him, Nicholas abdicated his throne in the hopes of avoiding an all- out civil war ?? but the civil war arrived in the form of the Bolshevik Revolution, when Nicholas, like Jones, was removed from his place of rule and then died shortly thereafter. Old Major is the animal version of V. L.
Lenin (1870-1924), the leader of the Bolshevik Party that seized control in the 191 7 Revolution. As old Major outlines the principles of Minimalism, a theory holding that all animals are equal and must revolt against their oppressors, Lenin was inspired by Karl Mar’s theory of Communism, which urges the “workers of the world” to unite against their economic oppressors. As Minimalism imagines a world where all animals share in the prosperity of the farm, Communism argues that a “communal” way of life will allow all people to live lives of economic equality. Old Major dies before he can see the final results of the revolution, as Lenin did before witnessing the ways in which his disciples carried on the work of reform. Old Major is absolute in his hatred of Man, as Lenin was uncompromising in his views: He is widely believed to have en responsible for giving the order to kill Nicholas and his family after the Bolsheviks had gained control. Lenin was responsible for changing Russia into the U. S. S. R. , as old Major is responsible for transforming Manor Farm into Animal Farm.
The U. S. S. R. ‘s flag depicted a hammer and sickle ?? the tools of the rebelling workers ?? so the flag of Animal Farm features a horn and hoof. One of Linen’s allies was Leon Trotsky (1879-1940), another Marxist thinker who participated in a number Of revolutionary demonstrations and uprisings. His counterpart in Animal Farm is Snowball, who, like Trotsky, felt that a worldwide series of rebellions was necessary to achieve the revolution’s ultimate aims.
Snowball’s plans for the windmill and programs reflect Trotsky intellectual character and ideas about the best ways to transform Mar’s theories into practice. Trotsky was also the leader of Linen’s Red Army, as Snowball directs the army of animals that repel Jones. Eventually, Trotsky was exiled from the U. S. S. R. And killed by the agents of Joseph Stalin (1979-1953), as Snowball is chased off of the farm by Napoleon ?? Rowel’s tank-in for Stalin. Like Napoleon, Stalin was unconcerned with debates and ideas.
Instead, he valued power for its own sake and by 1 927 had assumed complete control of the Communist Party through acts of terror and brutality. Napoleon’s dogs are like Stalin’s KGB, his secret police that he used to eliminate all opposition. As Napoleon gains control under the guise of improving the animals’ lives, Stalin used a great deal of propaganda symbolized by Squealer in the novel ?? to present himself as an idealist working for change. His plan to build the windmill reflects Stalin’s Five Year Plan for revitalization the nation’s industry and agriculture.
Stalin’s ordering Linen’s body to be placed in the shrine-like Linen’s Tomb parallels Napoleon’s unearthing of old Major’s skull, and his creation of the Order of the Green Banner parallels Stalin’s creation of the Order of Lenin. Thanks, in part, to animals like Boxer (who swallow whole all of their leader’s lies), Stalin became one of the world’s most feared and brutal dictators. Numerous events in the novel are based on ones that occurred during Stalin’s rule. The Battle of the Cowshed parallels the Civil War that occurred after the 191 7 Revolution.
Jones; Frederick represents Doll Hitler (1889-1945), who forged an alliance with Stalin in 1 939 ?? but who then found himself fighting Stalin’s army in 1941. Frederick seems like an ally of Napoleon’s, but his forged banknotes reveal his true character. The confessions and executions of the animals reflect the various purges and “show trials” that Stalin conducted to rid himself Of any possible threat of dissentions. In 1921 , the sailors at the Shorthand military base unsuccessfully rebelled against Communist rule, as the hens attempt to rebel against Napoleon.