What are Napoleon's feelings towards Snowball in Animal Farm, and why?
In George Orwell’s novel, pigs are presented as the most intelligent animals. After the rebellion succeeds in expelling the humans, several of the pigs share leadership of the Animal Farm. At first it seems that they can share the numerous duties involved in running the farm, but it soon becomes apparent that different pigs have distinct talents and goals.
Napoleon is clever, but egotistical and impatient. As his concerns are primarily political, he takes every disagreement personally. Consistent with his ambition to consolidate his personal power, he is often secretive in initiating changes. Snowball, who is more intellectual, is genuinely concerned not with the welfare of all the animals and advocates for a democratic structure. In planning for the long-term operations of the farm, he is a logical, methodical problem solver.
In Napoleon's view, these qualities in Snowball constitute a threat. Although he rapidly rises to power,...
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Napoleon becomes increasingly concerned about competition and rivalry. Snowball’s democratic approach makes him popular with the other animals because he takes their opinions into consideration. Napoleon does not want his authority to be challenged or his ideas to be questioned. With the aid ofSquealer’s skill at propaganda, Napoleon increasingly makes Snowball his scapegoat. When he discredits Snowball’s ideas, such as the windmill, he is disturbed when the collective vote is in favor of its construction. After Snowball disappears, Napoleon is free to blame him for every misfortune that befalls the farm.
In Animal Farm, what do Napoleon and the other animals think of Snowball?
Snowball, is at first, an inspiration to the other animals. Realizing that the humans might try to retake the farm, he devises a military strategy to defend the farm. He is wounded in battle and considered a hero.
Snowball fully embraces the ideology of animalism and comes up with the plans to build a windmill that will assist the animals on the farm by providing electricity.
"The biggest controversy stems from Snowball’s plans to build a windmill. He paints a picture of a new Animal Farm, powered by electricity produced by the windmill. He promises the animals heated stalls, modern machinery to make their lives easier, and a three-day work week."
Unfortunately, Napoleon's idea is not to make life easier for anyone but himself. Clearly, his vision of Animal Farm consists of the other animals working as hard as they have to and Napoleon and the pigs sitting around doing nothing.
Snowball, when he becomes too popular with the other animals must be removed. Since Napoleon cannot garner the devotion of the other animals the way Snowball can, he uses threats and physical violence to take control.
"Napoleon makes a high-pitched sound and nine enormous dogs rush in and chase after Snowball. They are the nine puppies taken from their mothers and secretly raised by Napoleon. The startled Snowball runs for his life and barely escapes through the hedge. He is seen no more."
In Animal Farm, how do the animals view Snowball during and after the Battle of the Cowshed?
In George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, the other animals’ attitudes toward Snowball change significantly between the Battle of the Cowshed and his expulsion from the farm.
In the Battle of the Cowshed, Snowball not only coordinates and leads the defensive maneuvers of the animals but also displays great individual bravery. Even after the animals have proven themselves victorious, Snowball, despite his own injuries, takes a leading role in dealing with those who have misgivings about the battle:
“No sentimentality, comrade!” cried Snowball from whose wounds the blood was still dripping. “War is war.”
In light of Snowball’s leadership and heroism, it is not surprising that the other animals feel gratitude toward him:
The animals decided unanimously to create a military decoration, “Animal Hero, First Class,” which was conferred there and then on Snowball and Boxer.
Later, however, when Napoleon and Snowball become obvious rivals and competitors, Snowball is chased viciously from the farm by huge dogs under Napoleon’s command. He is even accused of being a criminal.
“He fought bravely at the Battle of the Cowshed,” said somebody.
“Bravery is not enough,” said Squealer. “Loyalty and obedience are more important. And as to the Battle of the Cowshed, I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball's part in it was much exaggerated.”
Squealer, Napoleon’s propagandist, does his best to tarnish Snowball’s reputation. Snowball is now denounced as “a dangerous character and a bad influence.” Later he is accused of various crimes, such as the destruction of the very windmill he himself had proposed. Most of the animals accept this new characterization of him, thus illustrating the effectiveness of propaganda in a dictatorial regime.
Orwell thus suggests how quickly and easily the original heroes of a revolution can be painted as its enemies.
What is Snowball's perspective towards Napoleon at the end of Animal Farm?
In Chapter Five of Animal Farm, Snowball gives a speech to the animals in which he convincingly outlines the advantages of building a windmill. Sensing Snowball's increase in popularity, Napoleon releases his guard dogs in a frightening display of power. Fortunately, Snowball is able to escape the farm but Orwell never reveals his fate, making it difficult to know his perspective towards Napoleon at the closing stages of the novel.
Considering the violent nature of his exile, however, it is likely that Snowball feels betrayed by and terrified of Napoleon: up to this point nobody, including Snowball, had any idea that Napoleon had raised Jessie and Bluebell's puppies to be his personal bodyguards. In addition, Snowball probably feels great resentment towards Napoleon because he truly believed that the windmill could bring positive changes to the farm, particularly in terms of reducing labour and improving productivity. It is, therefore, likely that he resents Napoleon because he never got the chance to turn his dream into a reality.