Boxer Vs. Napoleon In George Orwell's Animal Farm

Anna Navarrete

English 9

Mrs. Masters

April 12, 2023

The book Animal Farm written by George Orwell is a fable and allegory about a farm that overthrew their farmer but in the end, became what they resented. In the beginning, the animals were eager to be free and they earned that by banishing Mr. Jones from the farm, then the pigs began leading and things quickly got out of hand. The pigs began changing the commandments they had made and being selfish, and eventually ended up right where they started: the farm being ruled by an autocratic leader. Boxer and Napoleon are two characters in this story that greatly contrast each other. Even though Boxer is a much harder worker than Napoleon the reader learns that sometimes Boxer is much easier

Boxer works much harder than Napoleon and is kind, but would he work too hard and tire himself out, or maybe he’d be taken advantage of? In the book, it states, “Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer, whose strength seemed equal to that of all the rest of the animals put together. When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill, it was always Boxer who strained himself against the rope and brought the boulder to a stop. To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch, his breath coming fast, the tips of his hoofs clawing at the ground, and his great sides matted with sweat, filled everyone with admiration.” (Pg 61). Boxer holds the farm together, the farm could not be where they were without his help, he inspires others and this is a great quality for a leader. There is no doubt that if boxers were in charge things would be getting done faster with his help, but this brings up does he know when to stop. Can he comprehend that he too may need a break? In Animal Farm, it says, “Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” (Pg 141). In the end, Napoleon loses himself and defeats the whole purpose of starting a rebellion in the first place, he became what he had hated. Napoleon cannot commit to his morals. In the book it says, “Boxer was the admiration of everybody. He had been a hard worker even in Jones’s time, but now he seemed more like three horses than one; there were days when the entire work of the farm seemed to rest on his mighty shoulders. From morning to night he was pushing and pulling, always at the spot where the work was hardest.” (Pg 29). Everyone loves boxers, they all know his dedication to the farm and they