Discussion Topic
Symbolic Objects Representing Characters in Animal Farm
Summary:
In Animal Farm, Mollie is symbolized by ribbons, reflecting her vanity and desire for admiration, representing individuals who prefer comfort over freedom. She values her appearance and is indifferent to the collective struggle, ultimately escaping the farm's tyranny. Benjamin, the donkey, is likened to a cupboard, symbolizing his reserved nature and intelligence. He stores memories and offers insights only when necessary, embodying neutrality and skepticism towards the farm's changes.
What items represent Mollie in Animal Farm?
Mollie is one of the horses and is very vain and prideful. The narrative also declares her to be stupid, and she prefers to be taken care of rather than working on her own. She is characterized by her love of ribbons, showing that she wants to be admired for her physical appearance. The ribbons show up when Mollie is mentioned; they show how she is concerned only with herself, and uncaring about the troubles or concerns of other animals.
...the others found that [Mollie] had remained behind in the best bedroom. She had taken a piece of blue ribbon from Mrs. Jones's dressing-table, and was holding it against her shoulder and admiring herself in the glass in a very foolish manner.
(Orwell, Animal Farm, msxnet.org)
Mollie is concerned mostly with her own well-being, to the point of stealing sugar and ribbons even after ribbons are outlawed....
Unlock
This Answer NowStart your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
She also is unable to learn the alphabet, instead only learning to identify the letters in her own name; this shows her vanity. Mollie is lazy and unwilling to work as hard as the other animals, but in the end, she is one of the only animals who escapes the tyranny of the Animal Farm.
Which household items could represent Benjamin in Animal Farm?
Benjamin, the donkey, is presented as a somewhat aloof and reticent character who is just as intelligent as any of the pigs. He is also painted as stubborn and not very communicative. He rarely speaks and only comments in very conspicuous situations. Because he is so intelligent, it is easy for him to make astute observations about events unfolding or which are due to unfold around him. He hardly ever offers an opinion, although we are aware that he has as many opinions as any intelligent character would have. A few quotes which give us further insight into his character are the following:
Old Benjamin, the donkey, seemed quite unchanged since the Rebellion. He did his work in the same slow obstinate way as he had done it in Jones's time, never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either. About the Rebellion and its results he would express no opinion. When asked whether he was not happier now that Jones was gone, he would say only "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey," and the others had to be content with this cryptic answer.
Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. He refused to believe either that food would become more plentiful or that the windmill would save work. Windmill or no windmill, he said, life would go on as it had always gone on—that is, badly.
Benjamin was clearly indifferent and did not care much bout giving any opinion or support anyone, which also means that he was neutral about things.
In this regard, then, Benjamin can easily be compared with a cupboard which only gives up its contents when they are needed, much as Benjamin only offers an opinion or delivers an insight when it is needed, such as when he warned the animals that Boxer was being taken to the knacker or when he realized that the windmill was going to be blown up. A cupboard stores everything, just as Benjamin stores all his memories. It is quiet but carries much, as Benjamin does. It is neutral and has only that which it has been given, as with Benjamin, who judges on the basis of what he has experienced or seen.
What does Mollie represent in Animal Farm?
Mollie is described as "the foolish, pretty white mare who (draws) Mr. Jones's trap." When the animals are discussing the rebellion predicted by Old Major, Mollie asks if there will still be sugar and wether she will still "be allowed to wear ribbons in (her) mane." Snowball rebukes her by telling her that the ribbons she desires are "the badge of slavery." He tells her that "liberty is worth more than ribbons." However, Mollie seems unconvinced, and soon after the rebellion she is spotted on a neighboring farm, being fed sugar by a "fat red-faced man" and wearing "a scarlet ribbon round her forelock."
Mollie arguably represents those among the working classes who prefer the life of servitude they have become accustomed to over the independent life that they could have if they were prepared to work for it. The life of servitude has its comforts, represented in Mollie's case by the sugar and the ribbons, and many people, like Mollie, like to have rules to follow and masters to serve because it means that they don't have to think for themselves. It is sometimes comforting to have other people think for you and tell you what to do. And this is certainly easier, if you are accustomed to it, than a life of liberty where you have to (perhaps for the first time) think and act for yourself.