What are Snowball's and Napoleon's platforms in Orwell's Animal Farm?
The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill.
The farm is divided on the issue of Snowball’s windmill. Snowball believes that modernizing and electrifying the farm will be good for all of the animals. He works out extensive plans. Some of the animals are concerned, however, that the windmill will be too much work.
Snowball did not deny that to build it would be a difficult business. … But he maintained that it could all be done in a year. And thereafter, he declared, so much labour would be saved that the animals would only need to work three days a week. (Ch. 5)
The greatest opponent of the windmill is Napoleon . He opposes all of Snowball’s ideas. Snowball has all of the animals placed into committees and is trying to organize them. He tries to teach all of the animals to read. ...
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Napoleon thinks that all of this is a waste of time, but his greatest objection is the windmill.
Napoleon, on the other hand, argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production, and that if they wasted time on the windmill they would all starve to death. (Ch. 5)
Snowball and Napoleon both try to convince the animals that they are right.
The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogan, "Vote for Snowball and the three−day week" and "Vote for Napoleon and the full manger." (Ch. 5)
Napoleon runs Snowball off the farm, saying that he is a traitor who was working with the humans. Then, miraculously, it comes out that the windmill was his idea all along and he is going to do it. Napoleon needs the windmill, now that Snowball is gone, to keep the animals busy. His goal is to make sure it never gets finished so the animals are always building it and he can work them constantly.
The windmill, representing technology or innovation, is an example of how the animals idealized Animal Farm. Napoleon used this idealism against them, making sure to take over all aspects of life. All Napoleon cares about is power, but Snowball really did have the interest of the animals in mind.
What are Snowball's and Napoleon's platforms, and what topic divides the animals?
These questions deal with the events of chapters four and five in Animal Farm.
Mr. Pilkington owns Foxwood Farm, and Mr. Frederick owns Pinchfield Farm. They often disagree and do not like each other. However, they both now fear the spread of the animal rebellion: they do not want this to spread to Foxwood and Pinchfield. United by this fear, they start to spread rumors that there is starvation and infighting on Animal Farm. Then they try to claim there is cannibalism and torture on the farm. Still, animals throughout the country begin to sing "Beasts of England," so Mr. Jones further unites the two farms by gathering their forces in an attempt to reclaim his farm and put an end to the rebellion.
Snowball leads the defense and is awarded the honor of "Animal Hero, First Class." Boxer also receives this award for his part in the battle. A sheep is killed and posthumously awarded "Animal Hero, Second Class." Boxer is upset, but Snowball tells him to get over it and that it is for the best:
All the men were gone except one. Back in the yard, Boxer was pawing with his hoof at the stable-lad who lay face down in the mud, trying to turn him over. The boy did not stir.
“He is dead,” said Boxer sorrowfully. “I had no intention of doing that. I forgot that I was wearing iron shoes. Who will believe that I did not do this on purpose?”
“No sentimentality, comrade!” cried Snowball from whose wounds the blood was still dripping. “War is war. The only good human being is a dead one.”
“I have no wish to take life, not even human life,” repeated Boxer, and his eyes were full of tears.
Following the battle, Snowball and Napoleon begin to grow their own factions.
These two disagreed at every point where disagreement was possible. If one of them suggested sowing a bigger acreage with barley, the other was certain to demand a bigger acreage of oats, and if one of them said that such and such a field was just right for cabbages, the other would declare that it was useless for anything except roots. Each had his own following, and there were some violent debates. At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches, but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times.
They both believe Mr. Jones will try to return, but they disagree on how to defend the farm. Snowball believes the best defense is spreading their cause and wants to send out more pigeons. Napoleon believes they should train a militia. Snowball develops plans for a windmill that will generate electricity, while Napoleon wants to focus on food production. Snowball is the better speaker, and he is able to gain more support through his speeches. Napoleon works "behind the scenes," training the sheep to bleat during Snowball's speeches and even secretly training dogs to chase Snowball away at his command.