Snowball and Trotsky (Q2: 12)

Quote: "One of them all but closed his jaws on Snowball's tail, but Snowball whisked it free just in time. Then he put on an extra spurt and, with a few inches to spare, slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more" (58)

This is describing Snowball being chased off of Animal Farm by Napoleon's bodyguard.

I chose this quote because it cements Snowball's allegorical representation of Leon Trotsky. Snowball's role in the politics of Animal Farm continues to be strong, so it is important to understand the circumstances of his leaving and what it represents.

Analysis: Snowball represents Leon Trotsky in Animal Farm. Trotsky was an integral part of the Russian Revolution, but was always at odds with Stalin. They put aside their differences for the duration of the Revolution, like Snowball and Napoleon did, but their political differences became clear in the following months, again like Snowball and Napoleon. Trotsky was a very good speaker and he was an especially talented writer; he would publish articles in local papers all across the country to explain his party's ideas about Communism and Soviets (Russian City Councils essentially). Like Snowball, he focused on the masses, and did not condescend them. Also like Snowball, after Stalin (Napoleon) rose to power, against Trotsky's (Snowball's) efforts, Trotsky was first denounced, then expelled from the Communist Party, then deported. The difference is that Trotsky was later assassinated on Stalin's orders in the home of Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera with an ice-pick which as far as we know, Snowball did not experience.