Question 3

Who are the main characters in the novel? Do you like them? Why or why not? What is special about them? What do they reveal about the universal human experience?

There are many unique, interesting characters in the novel, each playing important, specific roles in the Rebellion in the story of Animal Farm. First, the pigs, especially Napoleon and Snowball who were the leaders that demonstrated courage and intelligence in the Rebellion, were smart, somewhat cunning, and acted as leaders. As they were intelligent enough, they were the only animal kind in the farm that could read, write and memorize all the alphabets. However, Snowball happens to be expelled later on in the story, because he was wrongly accused for being a traitor. Second, the two horses who are each called Boxer and Clover. They have enormous strength in them which aids the construction of the windmill greatly. Also, they were well known for their obedience and determination. This can be seen, especially from Boxer, in the site of construction of the windmill or anywhere else. Even when they became old and weak, they devoted themselves to the orders given. But the cunning pigs, the leaders, had sold Boxer to a knacker when he became too weak to work to make profits even from the death of their most obedient follower. Third, like every other stories ‘Animal Farm’ has ultimate enemy of the heroes and that is the human beings, for example, Mr. Jones the farmer and the owner of the Manor Farm. Along with Mr. Jones are Mr. Frederick of Pinchfield Farm, Mr. Pilkington of Foxwood Farm, and Mr. Whymper the solicitor. The relationship between the animals in the Animal Farm, originally Manor Farm, and the human beings develops the storyline.