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Snowball is a character in ]'s ]. {{Short description|Character in George Orwell's 1945 novella Animal Farm}}
⚫ {{DISPLAYTITLE:Snowball (''Animal Farm'')}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}
{{notability|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Snowball
| image =
| caption =
| first = ''Animal Farm''
| creator = ]
| voice = ] (]) <br/> ] (])
| species = ]
| nickname =
| gender = Male
| occupation =
| family =
| relatives =
| based_on = ]
}}
'''Snowball''' is a character in ]'s 1945 novella '']''. He is largely based on ], who led the opposition against ] (]). Snowball is depicted as an intellectual white pig whose leadership, dedication, and feats for Animal Farm is unparallel to any others on the farm, however he is rivaled by ] who has hatred for Snowball. In the ] of ''Animal Farm'', he was voiced by ], and was voiced by ] in the ].


==Biography==
== Snowball's ideas ==
]
⚫ Snowball believes in a continued revolution: he argues that in order to defend Animal Farm and strengthen the reality of Old Major's dream of a life without humans, the animals should stir up rebellions in other farms throughout England. He is the only Pig on the farm who works with the other animals and is the kinder pig on the farm.
⚫ Snowball also writes the first version of the ]. These are later altered by ] under the orders of Napoleon to accommodate the actions of the pigs. For example, the commandment stating “No animal shall drink ]” is changed to “No animal shall drink alcohol ''to excess''”, and is later removed entirely. The rule that states, “No animal should sleep in a bed,” changed to “No animal should sleep in a bed ''with sheets''”.


⚫ Snowball believes in a continued revolution: he argues that to defend Animal Farm, he must strengthen the reality of ]'s dream of a life without humans and that they must stir up rebellions in other farms throughout England. However, ] always disagrees with any ideas that Snowball has because he does not want Snowball to lead Animal Farm, wanting to lead it himself with an iron fist.
Snowball is eventually forced out of the farm when Napoleon uses his guard dogs to chase Snowball. After that he is blamed for problems on the farm, and it is claimed he was in support of Jones from the start. Though he fought bravely at the Battle of Cowshed, the facts are altered to say he openly fought for Jones and the shot wounds are changed to wounds Napoleon inflicted on him. Those accused of supporting him are executed after being forced to confess, and a reward is offered for his capture.


⚫ Snowball writes the ] for Animal Farm, which are later altered by ] under the orders of Napoleon, to accommodate the actions of the pigs; the commandment stating "No animal shall drink ]" is changed to "No animal shall drink alcohol ''to excess''", "No animal shall sleep in a bed" has been changed to "No animal shall sleep in a bed ''with sheets''", and "No animal shall kill another animal" is changed to "No animal shall kill another animal ''without cause''". Later all the commandments are replaced with one phrase: "All animals are equal'', but some animals are more equal than others''".
Snowball was a very inventive and quick speech pig that influenced others to his side. It is never revealed what happened to him after his escape, although in the ] it is implied the dogs killed him. However, in the ], he is shown escaping the dogs and surviving. It is also implied when the altered rules are painted over at the beginning of the live-action film that he returns to Manor Farm and reunites with the animals that are left, seeing as how Napoleon is dead, Squealer had no reason to change the rules again, and Snowball was the only other animal who could write to any ability.

Once Napoleon gains control of Animal Farm he uses his guard dogs to attack Snowball, who escapes to an unknown fate, and manipulates the farm into believing what Snowball had done before was the cause of problems for the farm. Though Snowball had fought bravely for Animal Farm at the Battle of the Cowshed, Napoleon alters his account of the events to say Snowball had openly fought for Jones. Napoleon then conducts a purge of Snowball's supporters and has them executed as conspirators.

==Historical parallels with Trotsky==
] which advocated an ] to Stalin]]

Orwell depicts Snowball in a sympathetic manner and superior to Napoleon in regards to personal ], ], ], ] and ]. Orwell also highlighted the growing antagonism from Napoleon and Snowball such as the former’s frequent criticisms of Snowball’s economic plans, his eventual appropriation of the plans and later efforts to falsify history upon the latter’s exile. The personality traits and eventual defeat of Snowball mirrored the life of his historical counterpart Trotsky, including his contributions to the early Soviet Union and forced exile.<ref>{{cite web |title=Orwell and Trotsky |url=https://orwellsociety.com/orwell-and-trotsky/ |website=The Orwell Society |date=4 May 2022}}</ref>

Yet, Orwell remained skeptical of any substantial differences between Snowball and Napoleon as he expressed the view to his friend ]: "Trotsky-Snowball was potentially as big a villain as Stalin-Napoleon, although he was Napoleon’s victim. The first note of corruption was struck when the pigs secretly had the cows’ milk added to their own mash and Snowball consented to this first act of inequity.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Orwell and Trotsky |url=https://orwellsociety.com/orwell-and-trotsky/ |website=The Orwell Society |date=4 May 2022}}</ref>

However, literary critic ] who reviewed the political allegories in Orwell’s work stated that:

<blockquote>"Orwell ignores the fact that Trotsky passionately opposed ], which featured Siberian prison camps, the deliberately created ] and the massive slaughter during the ].” <ref>{{cite web |title=Orwell and Trotsky |url=https://orwellsociety.com/orwell-and-trotsky/ |website=The Orwell Society |date=4 May 2022}}</ref></blockquote>

Meyers also added that Orwell drew on the views of a ] combatant to reinforce his arguments. In contrast, Meyers cited historian ] biographical account of Trotsky which presented him to be a much more civilised figure than Stalin and suggested that he would not have ] or millions of Soviet citizens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Orwell and Trotsky |url=https://orwellsociety.com/orwell-and-trotsky/ |website=The Orwell Society |date=4 May 2022}}</ref>

==In adaptations and pop culture==
In the 1999 live-action film adaptation, he is shown escaping the dogs and surviving, though Napoleon declares him banished under pain of death. The ] portrays the character more accurately to the book, including his survival.

In the film ] Patrick Bateman's girlfriend introduces him to a pig she received as a present called Snowball.

When the novel ''Animal Farm'' was ] in the 1950s, the ] investors were greatly concerned that Snowball was presented too sympathetically in early script treatments and that Batchelor's script implied Snowball was "intelligent, dynamic, courageous". A memo declared that Snowball must be presented as a "fanatic intellectual whose plans if carried through would have led to disaster no less complete than under Napoleon." De Rochemont subsequently implemented these changes.<ref>''Orwell Subverted: The CIA and the Filming of animal Farm'', pp. 75–79</ref> The film, unlike the book, shows him being killed by the dogs, likely due to related pressure. Snowball's death mirrors the ].

The parody sequel novel '']'' depicts Snowball's return to the farm following Napoleon's death, and portrays him as having become a ] whose leadership mirrors the United States instead of Soviet Russia, culminating in him ] after they ].

In the 2020 action horror film '']'', the characters allude to ''Animal Farm'', with the main antagonist referring to the main protagonist as Snowball.<ref name=VF>{{cite web | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/03/the-hunt-movie-ending | title=The Hunt: So, Let's Unpack That Ending | website=] | date=13 March 2020 }}</ref><ref name=HR>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/how-hunt-twist-teaches-empathy-1284626/#! | title=The Surprising Empathy of 'The Hunt' | website=] | date=14 March 2020 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}


{{Animal Farm}} {{Animal Farm}}


] ]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]

]
]
]
⚫ ]
]

Latest revision as of 21:14, 3 December 2024

Character in George Orwell's 1945 novella Animal Farm
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Fictional character
Snowball
First appearanceAnimal Farm
Created byGeorge Orwell
Based onLeon Trotsky
Voiced byMaurice Denham (1954 film)
Kelsey Grammer (1999 film)
In-universe information
SpeciesPig
GenderMale

Snowball is a character in George Orwell's 1945 novella Animal Farm. He is largely based on Leon Trotsky, who led the opposition against Joseph Stalin (Napoleon). Snowball is depicted as an intellectual white pig whose leadership, dedication, and feats for Animal Farm is unparallel to any others on the farm, however he is rivaled by Napoleon who has hatred for Snowball. In the 1954 film adaptation of Animal Farm, he was voiced by Maurice Denham, and was voiced by Kelsey Grammer in the 1999 television adaptation.

Biography

The flag of Animal Farm designed by Snowball

Snowball believes in a continued revolution: he argues that to defend Animal Farm, he must strengthen the reality of Old Major's dream of a life without humans and that they must stir up rebellions in other farms throughout England. However, Napoleon always disagrees with any ideas that Snowball has because he does not want Snowball to lead Animal Farm, wanting to lead it himself with an iron fist.

Snowball writes the Seven Commandments for Animal Farm, which are later altered by Squealer under the orders of Napoleon, to accommodate the actions of the pigs; the commandment stating "No animal shall drink alcohol" is changed to "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess", "No animal shall sleep in a bed" has been changed to "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets", and "No animal shall kill another animal" is changed to "No animal shall kill another animal without cause". Later all the commandments are replaced with one phrase: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others".

Once Napoleon gains control of Animal Farm he uses his guard dogs to attack Snowball, who escapes to an unknown fate, and manipulates the farm into believing what Snowball had done before was the cause of problems for the farm. Though Snowball had fought bravely for Animal Farm at the Battle of the Cowshed, Napoleon alters his account of the events to say Snowball had openly fought for Jones. Napoleon then conducts a purge of Snowball's supporters and has them executed as conspirators.

Historical parallels with Trotsky

Trotsky served as the model for Snowball and was leader of the Left Opposition which advocated an alternative set of policies to Stalin

Orwell depicts Snowball in a sympathetic manner and superior to Napoleon in regards to personal intellect, rhetorical skills, economic theories, literary writings and military leadership. Orwell also highlighted the growing antagonism from Napoleon and Snowball such as the former’s frequent criticisms of Snowball’s economic plans, his eventual appropriation of the plans and later efforts to falsify history upon the latter’s exile. The personality traits and eventual defeat of Snowball mirrored the life of his historical counterpart Trotsky, including his contributions to the early Soviet Union and forced exile.

Yet, Orwell remained skeptical of any substantial differences between Snowball and Napoleon as he expressed the view to his friend George Woodcock: "Trotsky-Snowball was potentially as big a villain as Stalin-Napoleon, although he was Napoleon’s victim. The first note of corruption was struck when the pigs secretly had the cows’ milk added to their own mash and Snowball consented to this first act of inequity.”

However, literary critic Jeffrey Meyers who reviewed the political allegories in Orwell’s work stated that:

"Orwell ignores the fact that Trotsky passionately opposed Stalin’s dictatorship from 1924 to 1940, which featured Siberian prison camps, the deliberately created Ukraine famine and the massive slaughter during the Moscow Purge Trials of 1937.”

Meyers also added that Orwell drew on the views of a right-wing combatant to reinforce his arguments. In contrast, Meyers cited historian Isaac Deutscher's biographical account of Trotsky which presented him to be a much more civilised figure than Stalin and suggested that he would not have purged the Red Army generals or millions of Soviet citizens.

In adaptations and pop culture

In the 1999 live-action film adaptation, he is shown escaping the dogs and surviving, though Napoleon declares him banished under pain of death. The later live-action adaptation portrays the character more accurately to the book, including his survival.

In the film American Psycho Patrick Bateman's girlfriend introduces him to a pig she received as a present called Snowball.

When the novel Animal Farm was adapted for the screen in the 1950s, the CIA investors were greatly concerned that Snowball was presented too sympathetically in early script treatments and that Batchelor's script implied Snowball was "intelligent, dynamic, courageous". A memo declared that Snowball must be presented as a "fanatic intellectual whose plans if carried through would have led to disaster no less complete than under Napoleon." De Rochemont subsequently implemented these changes. The film, unlike the book, shows him being killed by the dogs, likely due to related pressure. Snowball's death mirrors the assassination of Leon Trotsky.

The parody sequel novel Snowball's Chance depicts Snowball's return to the farm following Napoleon's death, and portrays him as having become a capitalist whose leadership mirrors the United States instead of Soviet Russia, culminating in him declaring war on a community of fanatical woodland animals after they destroy twin windmills built under his rule.

In the 2020 action horror film The Hunt, the characters allude to Animal Farm, with the main antagonist referring to the main protagonist as Snowball.

References

  1. "Orwell and Trotsky". The Orwell Society. 4 May 2022.
  2. "Orwell and Trotsky". The Orwell Society. 4 May 2022.
  3. "Orwell and Trotsky". The Orwell Society. 4 May 2022.
  4. "Orwell and Trotsky". The Orwell Society. 4 May 2022.
  5. Orwell Subverted: The CIA and the Filming of animal Farm, pp. 75–79
  6. "The Hunt: So, Let's Unpack That Ending". Vanity Fair. 13 March 2020.
  7. "The Surprising Empathy of 'The Hunt'". The Hollywood Reporter. 14 March 2020.
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