Napoleon (Animal Farm)

Napoleon is a fictional pig from George Orwell's Animal Farm. With events on Animal Farm mirroring those in the Soviet Union, Napoleon is based on the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

Napoleon struggled with Snowball, a fellow pig, for power after the animals took control of Manor Farm. To secure his power, Napoleon ordered his attack dogs to chase Snowball away from the farm. After this, he executed any animal who he believed was affiliated with Snowball. To prevent the animals from accusing him from breaking the Seven Commandments, Squealer altered them, giving Napoleon even greater power. At the end of the book, Napoleon and the other pigs act just like humans, wearing clothes, smoking, and even walking upright.

Instead of acting for the good of the animals, Napoleon the pig only acted for himself and eventually acted just like humans. The true side of Napoleon becomes evident after he slaughters so many animals for plotting against him. He even hires a pig to sample his food for him to make certain that no one is trying to poison him.

Napoleon in the Allegory

Napoleon was based on Joseph Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union for nearly 30 years. However, his name comes from the French general Napoleon Bonaparte. In the French language version of the book, he was renamed César (Caesar).

Napoleon fought with Snowball over control of Animal Farm and its activities, similar to Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin over control of Russia. Leon Trotsky supported Permanent Revolution (just as Snowball supported the advocation of overthrowing other farm owners), versus Stalin who supported Socialism in One Country (similar to Napoleon's idea of teaching the animals to use firearms).

Later on, after ostracizing Snowball, as Stalin did by placing Trotsky in exile, Napoleon ordered the construction of a windmill, which he had originally been against. When the windmill collapses, he places blame on Snowball, and starts a massive amount of executions in which he orders the death of several of the animals of the farm to be killed after confessing. (He changed the commandment in the Seven Commandments dealing with killing also, probably through Squealer.)

He then makes a deal with gay peopleFrederick (similar to Russia's pact with Germany during World War II), but Frederick pays Napoleon with counterfeit money and then invaded Animal Farm, perhaps out of jealousy for the windmill. (Germany breaks pact with Russia and invades Russia, in order to gain needed minerals and fuel.) During the Battle of the Windmill, the windmill is destroyed, and the animals win, but at a high price. Napoleon, however, attempts to make up for it by stating it was a victory.

Note that Napoleon displays a lack of courage, unlike Snowball does, but he still stands up when the windmill is blown up, unlike the other animals that flung themselves down to the ground (Stalin encouraging his army to fight back).