The Context of Animal Farm
Animal Farm is a political allegory that was written by George Orwell in 1945. The novel is set on a farm, where the animals have revolted against their human owner, Mr. Jones. The animals establish their own government and attempt to create a utopian society. However, the pigs, who are the most intelligent of the animals, seize power and become oppressive rulers. The pigs represent the Soviet Union and the farm represents Russia.
The Character of Snowball
Snowball is one of the pigs on the farm. He is intelligent, ambitious, and has a gift for rhetoric. Snowball is initially one of the leaders of the animal revolution and is instrumental in driving Mr. Jones off the farm. He is a gifted speaker and is able to persuade the other animals to follow him.
Snowball and Leon Trotsky
Snowball’s character is meant to represent Leon Trotsky, a Marxist revolutionary who was a key figure in the Russian Revolution. Trotsky was a brilliant speaker and was instrumental in driving the Tsar out of power. Similarly, Snowball is a brilliant speaker and is instrumental in driving Mr. Jones off the farm.
Trotsky’s Exile
In 1927, Trotsky was exiled from the Soviet Union by his rival, Joseph Stalin. Stalin saw Trotsky as a threat to his power and had him exiled to Mexico. Similarly, in Animal Farm, Snowball is exiled from the farm by his rival, Napoleon. Napoleon sees Snowball as a threat to his power and has him driven off the farm.
The Role of Propaganda
One of the key themes in Animal Farm is the role of propaganda in shaping public opinion. Snowball and Napoleon both use propaganda to gain support from the other animals. Snowball gives eloquent speeches about the benefits of a utopian society, while Napoleon uses fear-mongering tactics to maintain control.
The Battle of the Windmill
The Battle of the Windmill is one of the key events in Animal Farm. Snowball comes up with the idea to build a windmill, which will provide electricity for the farm. The windmill is eventually destroyed by a group of humans and the animals are forced to rebuild it. Snowball is blamed for the failure of the windmill and is exiled from the farm.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Snowball is a complex character who represents Leon Trotsky in the context of Animal Farm. Snowball is intelligent, ambitious, and gifted with rhetoric. He is a key figure in the animal revolution and is instrumental in driving Mr. Jones off the farm. However, he is eventually exiled from the farm by his rival, Napoleon, who sees him as a threat to his power. The character of Snowball highlights the role of propaganda in shaping public opinion, and the importance of leadership in achieving a utopian society.