Snowball
Extended Snowball Character Analysis
Snowball is a boar on Manor Farm who helps in the revolt against Mr. Jones and in leading the farm animals afterwards. He is vivacious, quick, and inventive. Although he possesses these qualities, Snowball has less “depth of character” than Napoleon. In the story's allegory of the Russian Revolution, Snowball represents Leon Trotsky, who was in power alongside Joseph Stalin after Vladimir Lenin passed away. Snowball helps to expand on Old Major’s teachings alongside Squealer and Napoleon. They write seven commandments, which Snowball paints on the barn.
Snowball finds green fabric for a flag and paints the symbol of a hoof and horn onto it—similar to the Soviet Union's hammer and sickle. Snowball says the flag represents the community of animals that will arise after all humans are overthrown. Snowball here shows enthusiasm for how the power of symbolism and ritual gives his followers a sense of comfort. Early on, voting and debates only take place among the pigs—and especially between Snowball and Napoleon. Snowball and Napoleon tend to disagree over everything. However, it is Snowball that works to continue the somewhat democratic meetings with the animals.
Snowball is responsible for instituting many committees. He creates committees for the hens and the cows and even tries to create a “re-education” committee to tame wild animals. While taming wild animals fails, Snowball’s idea of teaching all animals to read and write proves successful and popular. Yet, Snowball often shows a disconnect between himself and the other animals. His explanations are long winded, and many of the other animals have a hard time understanding him.
Despite his difficulties connecting, it is thanks to Snowball that the other animals are given an education. It is also Snowball who reads through Mr. Jones’s books to glean new ideas for the farm. When the humans attack the farm, Snowball leads a great tactical defense against the humans. He fights bravely in what becomes known as “The Battle of the Cowshed.”
The animals begin to create factions devoted to following Snowball or Napoleon. Snowball is able to inspire through great and rousing speeches, whereas Napoleon creates his own following in the background. Unlike Napoleon, Snowball is full of ideas to improve the farm. Napoleon and Snowball finally come to a head over the idea of building a windmill. Snowball believes that an electricity-generating windmill would improve the lives of the animals. However, Napoleon claims that creating the windmill would only cause the animals to starve. The animals on Snowball's side adopt the slogan, “Vote for Snowball and the Three-Day Week”; Napoleon's side adopts “Vote for Napoleon and the Full Manger.”
When the windmill comes to a vote, Snowball’s eloquent speech and fantastical ideas clearly sway the animals. Napoleon, who secretly has trained several dogs for himself, sets them on Snowball and runs him off the farm. This event represents Leon Trotsky’s forced exile from the Soviet Union. After Snowball is exiled, Napoleon begins to spread hateful rhetoric about him. Snowball is then painted as a criminal and scapegoat; he is made responsible for all the hardship and mishaps on the farm. The animals accept this rhetoric, even when blaming Snowball is illogical. Later, Snowball is even blamed for selling himself to the farmers and for being in league with Mr. Jones the entire time. Snowball and his idealistic visions for Animal Farm eventually fall out of the animals’ memories.
Expert Q&A
How would things on the farm change if Snowball had driven out Napoleon?
If Snowball had driven out Napoleon, the farm would likely have been more communitarian and true to Old Major's vision. Snowball focused on education and productivity, contrasting Napoleon's autocratic rule. However, some argue that power corrupts universally, suggesting Snowball might have also become corrupt. Overall, Snowball's leadership could have led to better conditions and stability, avoiding Napoleon's extreme measures and corruption.
In Animal Farm, what is foreshadowed when Snowball's heroism is "much exaggerated" post-expulsion?
The statement about Snowball's heroism being "much exaggerated" foreshadows his demonization and scapegoating after his expulsion, as Napoleon uses propaganda to manipulate the animals. It highlights Napoleon's impending tyrannical rule, where truth is distorted to serve his interests, and fear is employed to control the farm. This mirrors Stalin's historical rewriting in the Soviet Union and marks the demise of the animals' utopian dreams of equality and respect.
In Animal Farm, why are Snowball and Boxer decorated and how do they feel about it?
Snowball and Boxer are decorated as heroes for their roles in the Battle of Cowshed. Snowball is awarded the "Animal Hero, First Class" medal for his bravery and is proud and inspired by the victory, urging all animals to be ready to die for Animal Farm. Boxer, also a courageous fighter, feels remorseful, believing he killed a stable boy, as he lacks the heart for violence despite his commitment to Animalism.
In Animal Farm by George Orwell, what happens to Snowball after his disappearance?
After Snowball's disappearance in George Orwell's Animal Farm, he is never seen again. Although Orwell doesn't specify Snowball's fate, his character parallels Leon Trotsky, who was exiled and later assassinated. Snowball's expulsion by Napoleon's dogs mirrors Trotsky's banishment by Stalin. Snowball's leadership and plans for spreading rebellion reflect Trotsky's revolutionary activities, highlighting the allegorical connections to the Russian Revolution.
Why did Snowball signal for retreat in Animal Farm?
Snowball signaled for a retreat during the battle against Mr. Jones and his men as part of a strategic plan inspired by military tactics from Julius Caesar. He aimed to create a false sense of victory for the humans by leading them into a trap. As the humans pursued the retreating animals into the yard, they were ambushed by the waiting cows, pigs, and dogs, leading to the animals' ultimate victory.
What could have resolved the conflict between Snowball and Napoleon in Animal Farm?
Conflict between Snowball and Napoleon cannot be avoided, as they are two powerful personalities with fundamentally incompatible political visions.
Differences in Napoleon and Snowball's Leadership and Strategies for Protecting Animal Farm
Napoleon and Snowball have contrasting leadership styles and strategies for protecting Animal Farm. Napoleon is authoritarian, using fear and propaganda to maintain control, while Snowball is more idealistic, promoting education and innovation. Napoleon focuses on consolidating power internally, whereas Snowball emphasizes external threats, advocating for projects like the windmill to improve the farm's defenses and productivity.
Techniques used by Snowball and Napoleon to gain power and support in Animal Farm
Snowball and Napoleon use propaganda, manipulation, and strategic planning to gain power and support. Snowball employs persuasive speeches and ideals of progress, while Napoleon uses fear tactics, lies, and the loyal attack dogs to intimidate and control the other animals. Both leverage the animals' hopes for a better future to consolidate their leadership.
Snowball's Scapegoating and Fate in Animal Farm
In Animal Farm, Snowball is scapegoated and expelled by Napoleon, who uses him to deflect blame for failures on the farm. Initially a hero and advocate for the animals' cause, Snowball is falsely accused of sabotage and collaborating with humans, becoming the farm's enemy in absentia. This mirrors Stalin's treatment of Trotsky, allowing Napoleon to consolidate power and maintain control by fostering fear and manipulating the animals' perception of Snowball as a constant threat.
Snowball's Leadership and Symbolism in Animal Farm
In Animal Farm, Snowball is depicted as an intelligent and capable leader, representing Leon Trotsky. He is honest, hardworking, and forward-thinking, evident in his initiatives like simplifying the Seven Commandments and planning the windmill. Snowball's leadership style contrasts with Napoleon's, as he focuses on education and innovation for the animals' benefit. His expulsion by Napoleon reflects Trotsky's fate in the Soviet Union, highlighting the triumph of raw power over intellectual ideals.
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