Who is Leon Trotsky?
Leon Trotsky, aka Lev Davidovich Bronstein, was born in 1879 to Jewish parents. He was a russian revolutionist, most often known as “a man without a country”, as he was often exiled from one place to another. However managed to escape to start a new life.
In the year 1917, he went to New York city and became an editor for the newspaper “New World”. However, he was exiled for countless revolutionary acts. When he returned to Russia, he joined Lenin in battling The Czar Nicholas II.
After the Bolsheviks overthrew the Czar, Trotsky was appointed as the Chief Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, later on the Chief Commissioner of War. He then established the famous “Red Army”, an army constructed of peasants and workers.
After the death of Lenin in 1924, Trotsky and Stalin continued their struggle for power over the Soviet Union, as they both had very opposing minds.
In 1928, Trotsky was defeated by Stalin and exiled to live abroad. In Mexico of 1940, he was assassinated by Ranon Mercador.
In the year 1917, he went to New York city and became an editor for the newspaper “New World”. However, he was exiled for countless revolutionary acts. When he returned to Russia, he joined Lenin in battling The Czar Nicholas II.
After the Bolsheviks overthrew the Czar, Trotsky was appointed as the Chief Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, later on the Chief Commissioner of War. He then established the famous “Red Army”, an army constructed of peasants and workers.
After the death of Lenin in 1924, Trotsky and Stalin continued their struggle for power over the Soviet Union, as they both had very opposing minds.
In 1928, Trotsky was defeated by Stalin and exiled to live abroad. In Mexico of 1940, he was assassinated by Ranon Mercador.
Snowball as Trotsky
Leon Trotsky established a political ideology known as Trotskyism. Trotskyism is based off of Marxism, and Trotsky applied these principles during the Soviet Union. Trotskyism believes in a world economy instead of a national economy, and believes that in order to have a successful revolution in one country, there must be revolutions in other places as well. This was an ideology that opposed against Stalin’s wish, communism.
Leon Trotsky’s political ideology resembles the characteristics of Snowball, the leader of Animal Farm before Napoleon. Snowball had many ideas that opposes against Napoleon’s wish, which links to the ideology of Trotskyism. In the novel, Snowball also believed that in order to sustain the revolution in Animal Farm, they must have more revolutions in other neighboring farms in England. He did so by sending pigeons to the farms around England, teaching others the tunes of “Beasts of England”. This applies to the characteristic of Trotsky, as Trotsky believed in a world economy instead of a national economy.
Another resemblance between Snowball and Trotsky, is their behaviors. Trotsky is a very determined and passionate revolutionist. According to Spartacusschoolnet.co.uk, "Trotsky was brilliant, proud, and independent." (Spartacus Educational, n.d.). At the age of seventeen, Trotsky was acquainted with Marxism, and began to skip school, just to read illegal books, pamphlets and converse with exiled revolutionaries. Trotsky surrounded himself with other men who were also thinking, reading, debating about revolutionary ideas. Soon after, Trotsky’s life as a revolutionist took shape.
Snowball too is passionate about the revolution on Animal Farm. Even after the revolution, he devoted most of his time in the farmhouse, learning how to read and write. His skills in literacy led him to learn battle techniques from Mr. Jones books to create protection for the farm. "He was closeted there for hours at a time. With his books held open by a stone, and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter, he would move rapidly to and fro, drawing in line after line and uttering little whimpers of excitement."(Orwell, 1945). He believes these skills will aid him and the animals to help develop the new Animal Farm.
However, Snowball and Trotsky's idealistic characteristics and passion for revolution were the only sources that supported Snowball for a period of time. "At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches," (Orwell, 1945) Unlike Napoleon, who uses brute force to to strike fear into the Animals, was able to over power Snowball.
Leon Trotsky’s political ideology resembles the characteristics of Snowball, the leader of Animal Farm before Napoleon. Snowball had many ideas that opposes against Napoleon’s wish, which links to the ideology of Trotskyism. In the novel, Snowball also believed that in order to sustain the revolution in Animal Farm, they must have more revolutions in other neighboring farms in England. He did so by sending pigeons to the farms around England, teaching others the tunes of “Beasts of England”. This applies to the characteristic of Trotsky, as Trotsky believed in a world economy instead of a national economy.
Another resemblance between Snowball and Trotsky, is their behaviors. Trotsky is a very determined and passionate revolutionist. According to Spartacusschoolnet.co.uk, "Trotsky was brilliant, proud, and independent." (Spartacus Educational, n.d.). At the age of seventeen, Trotsky was acquainted with Marxism, and began to skip school, just to read illegal books, pamphlets and converse with exiled revolutionaries. Trotsky surrounded himself with other men who were also thinking, reading, debating about revolutionary ideas. Soon after, Trotsky’s life as a revolutionist took shape.
Snowball too is passionate about the revolution on Animal Farm. Even after the revolution, he devoted most of his time in the farmhouse, learning how to read and write. His skills in literacy led him to learn battle techniques from Mr. Jones books to create protection for the farm. "He was closeted there for hours at a time. With his books held open by a stone, and with a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter, he would move rapidly to and fro, drawing in line after line and uttering little whimpers of excitement."(Orwell, 1945). He believes these skills will aid him and the animals to help develop the new Animal Farm.
However, Snowball and Trotsky's idealistic characteristics and passion for revolution were the only sources that supported Snowball for a period of time. "At the Meetings Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches," (Orwell, 1945) Unlike Napoleon, who uses brute force to to strike fear into the Animals, was able to over power Snowball.
How Is Snowball Seen?
Orwell viewed Trotsky as someone, who thirsts for power, but in a rather positive light compared to Napoleon. His lack of violence and brute force on the animals, proves that he is much more civilized and truthful character.
Orwell often viewed Trotsky as being very idealistic about his ideas, and is blinded by his intentions for a better society, and ignores the complexity of the plan itself.
Many of Snowball’s ideas such as the Windmill, shows a representation of him being blinded by his idealistic behavior, as animals are unable to operate tools and lack experience in construction. He ignores the difficulty and instability of the plan, and only focuses on the actual benefits after the completion - to provide electricity for the farm, and improve working conditions.
Snowball is viewed as more of an optimistic and loyal character compared to Napoleon, as he has true passion and commitment to lead the animals. In fact, Snowball spend most of his time on the farm reading and studying ways to help improve living conditions on the farm. "...and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation." (Orwell, 1945) However, his passion was the only motivation for gaining support from the other animals.
Orwell again shows a great example, of how a character's speech, action, emotion, and behavior can help determine an author's opinion on that character. "No sentimentality comrade...the only good human being is a dead one." (Orwell, 1945). In this case, George Orwell used Snowball's idealistic behavior, determination, and commitment to help present both his positive and negative opinions on Trotsky.
References:
Category. (n.d.). Leon Trotsky - A Biography of Leon Trotsky. 20th Century History. Retrieved February 20, 2013, from http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/p/trotsky.htm
Category. (n.d.). Stalin vs. Trotsky. 20th Century History. Retrieved February 20, 2013, from http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/ss/Stalin_5.htm
Trotsky, Leon. (2013). In Britannica Student Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://school.ebonline.com/comptons/article-9277432
Trotskyism. (2013). In Britannica Student Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://school.ebonline.com/comptons/article-9313892
Radical Heroes: Leon Trotsky. (2013, January 12). Radical Heroes: Leon Trotsky. Retrieved February 27, 2013, from prolecenter.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/radical-heroes-leon-trotsky/
Bolshevik, 1. t. (n.d.). Leon Trotsky : Biography. Spartacus Educational. Retrieved April 7, 2013, from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUStrotsky.htm
Images:
Category. (n.d.). Leon Trotsky - A Biography of Leon Trotsky. 20th Century History. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/p/trotsky.htm
Animal Farm: Character Profiles. (n.d.).Animal Farm. Retrieved April 6, 2013, from http://kevin-animalfarm.blogspot.hk/p/characters_19.html
Orwell often viewed Trotsky as being very idealistic about his ideas, and is blinded by his intentions for a better society, and ignores the complexity of the plan itself.
Many of Snowball’s ideas such as the Windmill, shows a representation of him being blinded by his idealistic behavior, as animals are unable to operate tools and lack experience in construction. He ignores the difficulty and instability of the plan, and only focuses on the actual benefits after the completion - to provide electricity for the farm, and improve working conditions.
Snowball is viewed as more of an optimistic and loyal character compared to Napoleon, as he has true passion and commitment to lead the animals. In fact, Snowball spend most of his time on the farm reading and studying ways to help improve living conditions on the farm. "...and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation." (Orwell, 1945) However, his passion was the only motivation for gaining support from the other animals.
Orwell again shows a great example, of how a character's speech, action, emotion, and behavior can help determine an author's opinion on that character. "No sentimentality comrade...the only good human being is a dead one." (Orwell, 1945). In this case, George Orwell used Snowball's idealistic behavior, determination, and commitment to help present both his positive and negative opinions on Trotsky.
References:
Category. (n.d.). Leon Trotsky - A Biography of Leon Trotsky. 20th Century History. Retrieved February 20, 2013, from http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/p/trotsky.htm
Category. (n.d.). Stalin vs. Trotsky. 20th Century History. Retrieved February 20, 2013, from http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/ss/Stalin_5.htm
Trotsky, Leon. (2013). In Britannica Student Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://school.ebonline.com/comptons/article-9277432
Trotskyism. (2013). In Britannica Student Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://school.ebonline.com/comptons/article-9313892
Radical Heroes: Leon Trotsky. (2013, January 12). Radical Heroes: Leon Trotsky. Retrieved February 27, 2013, from prolecenter.wordpress.com/2013/01/12/radical-heroes-leon-trotsky/
Bolshevik, 1. t. (n.d.). Leon Trotsky : Biography. Spartacus Educational. Retrieved April 7, 2013, from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUStrotsky.htm
Images:
Category. (n.d.). Leon Trotsky - A Biography of Leon Trotsky. 20th Century History. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from http://history1900s.about.com/od/people/p/trotsky.htm
Animal Farm: Character Profiles. (n.d.).Animal Farm. Retrieved April 6, 2013, from http://kevin-animalfarm.blogspot.hk/p/characters_19.html