Benjamin (Animal Farm)

Benjamin is a fictional donkey in George Orwell's novel "Animal Farm". He is the longest-lived of the animals and is alive in the last scene of the novel. He is less straightforward than most characters in the novel and a number of interpretations have been put forward.

It has been suggested that he represents the aged population of Russia, or 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". [cite book |last=Orwell |first=George |authorlink=George Orwell |title=Animal Farm |year=1946 |publisher=The New American Library |location=New York |pages=p. 40] 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. The only outrage that inspires him into action is the pigs' betrayal of Benjamin's best friend, Boxer, after which he becomes more cynical than ever.

Benjamin is revisited in John Reed's controversial 9/11 follow up Snowball's Chance, where he states, "hard life goes on," and dies a heroic death.

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.

It is quite possible that Benjamin represents George Orwell himself.

Footnotes