Human Characters in George Orwell's "Animal Farm"

Human Characters in George Orwell’s Animal Farm

Besides the animal characters, there are a few human beings who also figure the story. They are Mr. Jones, Mr. Pilkington, Mr. Frederick, and Mr. Whymper. They are all drawn briefly but convincingly.

Mr. Jones is the man who originally owns Animal Farm, and who is overthrown by the animals at the beginning of the revolution. He symbolizes corrupt and fatally-flawed governments that create societies ripe for Revolution. He represents capitalism and Czarism.

Mr. Pilkington is the neighboring farmer, and the owner of Foxwood Farm. He most probably symbolizes Churchill, the Prime Minister of England at that time. Therefore, his farm represents Britain and the capitalist economy of the time.

Mr. Frederick is the neighboring farmer, and the owner of Pinchfield Farm. He is the evil and cruel farmer to whom Napoleon eventually sells the pile of timber; he pays in forged bank notes, thus cheating Animal Farm. Frederick symbolizes Hitler so that Pinchfield Farm would then represent Germany with her plans to annex (invade) other European countries.

Mr. Wymper is the man who acts as a trade agent for Animal Farm. His interests in the farm’s affairs are purely business-minded, and his lack of concern for the animal rights issues behind the Animal Farm regime offer up a parody of the activities of countries which conduct business with communist regimes. He is a solicitor who is engaged by Napoleon as an intermediary between himself and the human beings in connection with the trading and commercial activities of Animal Farm.

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