Benjamin (Animal Farm)
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In George Orwell's novel Animal Farm, Benjamin is a donkey that represents the aged population of Russia. It has also been suggested that he represents the Menshevik intelligentsia: as intelligent, if not more so, than the novel's pigs. He is very cynical about the Revolution and life in general. For the most part he represents the skeptical people in and out of Russia who believed that Communism would not help the people of Russia, but who did not criticise it fervently enough to lose their lives or approve of a gradualist alternative. He is also quite significant in that he is not quite a horse (the working peasantry) and yet definitely not a leader like the pigs—even if his intellect is equal to theirs. The fact that he also has a Biblical name could also imply that he also represents the Jewish populace of Russia whose lives were not remotely improved under Stalin's leadership. In fact, when asked if he was happier post-Revolution than before the Revolution, he simply remarks, "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey." He is one of the wisest animals on the farm, and is able to "read as well as any pig".[1] However, this is an ability he does not exercise until the end of the book, and for all his age, he is never given the option of retirement.
Seen from a wider perspective, Benjamin is a symbol of intelligence that during the times of revolution and its aftermath is very much aware about what is going on, but does nothing about it. The general (manipulated) masses are represented by the sheep, who are not aware about their misuse, but it is Benjamin who can see how the basic rules of their society are changing and does not get in any way involved.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Orwell, George (1946). Animal Farm. New York: The New American Library, p. 40.
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