Snowball Vs Stalin

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In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, two pigs by the names of Snowball and Napoleon rise to power on their now human-less farm. While both have periods of success and failure, they accumulate and maintain their power in different ways. Orwell seeks to convey the leadership of Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin through the pigs, Snowball and Napoleon respectively, as they each use some similar techniques but implement their own skill sets differently. Both pigs take advantage of the animals’ intelligence, or lack thereof, but Snowball uses his charming personality and humility to make himself a leader equal to the other animals, while Napoleon uses fear tactics and manipulation to reign supreme. Orwell’s point of comparison in leadership between the …show more content…

Just like Stalin, the pig found it easier to instill his rules and principles if the a Jamal's feared him. Napoleon raised a small army of dogs (which represent Stalin’s secret police) to maintain a level of power that only fear can provide. The pure intimidating the animals felt was depicted vividly by Orwell, writing, “Silent and terrified, the animals crept back into the barn. In a moment the dogs came bounding back…Though not yet full-grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves” (53). The animals had no choice but to cower in fear to this new militant-like force that would punish them for any mistake. Since he head the power of fear in his hands, Napoleon (like Stalin) was able to use propaganda and manipulation to completely win over the animals. He did whatever he wanted, and convicted the animals it was all for the god of the farm. Even more, he would give them a common goal (the windmill) to distract them from tall the corruption on the farm, and unite them. A major factor of his manipulation was scapegoating Snowball, as Stalin did with Trotsky, to divert all negative feelings toward someone else. The most important example of this is when the windmill was knocked over, and Napoleon tells the animals, “Snowball has done this thing! In sheer malignity, thinking to set back our plans and avenge himself for his

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