Joseph Stalin.
Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the Russian Communist party, and is represented by Napoleon in Animal Farm. There are many parallels between Stalin and Napoleon, but perhaps the defining similarity is their use of terrorism. Stalin set up a secret police known as the NKVD, much like Napoleon did with the nine pups. In the same way that Napoleon used his dogs to threaten the animals, Stalin also used police force to silence potential opponents. Stalin had Leon Trotsky executed even after his expulsion from the communist party to make sure that his position would not be threatened (Library of Congress, 2010), Napoleon parallels this in Animal Farm by murdering Snowball.
Napoleon = Stalin.
Napoleon does not actually contribute to the animals' cause until the handover of control from the humans to the animals is stable. In the beginning, he is known as one of the more intelligent pigs, but does not play a particularly active role. When the animals transform Manor Farm into Animal Farm and begin to restructure their community, Snowball takes the reigns and creates the various committees. The only work Napoleon volunteered to do was train the new litter of puppies, which he, as we later find out, turned into his own private guard.
Napoleon has been represented and hinted as tyrannical from the beginning, just from his being named after one of the most notorious dictators in history. Orwell made the parallels between Napoleon and Stalin obvious to show, through Napoleon, the repressive nature of Russia's communist regime, but even more so to show that tyranny and totalitarianism in general does not work (SparkNotes Editors, 2007). Although Orwell was anti-Stalinist and anti-communist, he still identified as a "democratic socialist" (Georgeorwell.org, n.d). Therefor, Animal Farm is a criticism of the methods of the communist party during the Russian Revolution, and not directly targeted at their cause and reason.
Napoleon has been represented and hinted as tyrannical from the beginning, just from his being named after one of the most notorious dictators in history. Orwell made the parallels between Napoleon and Stalin obvious to show, through Napoleon, the repressive nature of Russia's communist regime, but even more so to show that tyranny and totalitarianism in general does not work (SparkNotes Editors, 2007). Although Orwell was anti-Stalinist and anti-communist, he still identified as a "democratic socialist" (Georgeorwell.org, n.d). Therefor, Animal Farm is a criticism of the methods of the communist party during the Russian Revolution, and not directly targeted at their cause and reason.
Was orwell successful?
Orwell was extremely successful in showing that Napoleon’s methods were wrong, but what was especially effective was his showing the lack of doubt and suspicion from the other animals. Although the animals were slightly suspicious, they were easily convinced otherwise time and time again by Squealer. This shows Napoleon’s, and many leader’s, use of manipulation, propaganda and how the public are so often clueless. Orwell shows through the frightening naivety and cluelessness of the animals, the adverse effects of dictatorship and how often the public do not see it happening.
Sources.
Georgeorwell.org. (n.d.). George Orwell Biography - A Biography of George Orwell. The Complete Works of George Orwell. Retrieved April 2, 2013, from http://www.george-orwell.org/l_biography.html
Library of Congress. (2010). Repression and Terror: Stalin in Control. Revelations from the Russian Archives. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/archives/reps.html
SparkNotes Editors. (2007). SparkNote on Animal Farm. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/
Library of Congress. (2010). Repression and Terror: Stalin in Control. Revelations from the Russian Archives. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/archives/reps.html
SparkNotes Editors. (2007). SparkNote on Animal Farm. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/