"Napoleon was a large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar, the only Berkshire on the farm, not much of a talker, but with a reputation for getting his own way"
- Napoleon is a cowardly, shrewd, calculating and selfish pig.
- Represents Stalin in his constantly changing policies and actions, his secret activities, his intentional deception and manipulation of the populace, and his use of fear tactics and atrocities.
- His selfishness leads him to build a totalitarian government based on terror and lies that gives him more power over the animals than Mr Jones ever had
Napoleon has an insatiable lust for power.
- He shirks the common good, instead seeking more and more power
- He trains nine puppies from birth and then uses them as a military force to consolidate his power
It is clear that Napoleon prizes power over the ideals of Animalism.
- As the novel progresses, he becomes a figure in the shadows, increasingly secluding himself.
- In private, he enjoys a life of huge material luxury.
- "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."
- Jones has been completely replaced by Napoleon in both his decadent lifestyle and heartless control of the animals.
- When we see Napoleon fighting with the farmers over the card game, we realise that, in their petty greed, the animal and capitalist leaders are indistinguishable
Napoleon's name may have come from the French dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte
- Trotsky often likened Stalin to Napoleon.
- Napoleon was also had a great yearning for power.
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- Napoleon knows that he is more intelligent than the other animals, and he uses this advantage to ruthlessly exploit them.
- He manages to establish himself as an honourable figure, who should be respected and venerated.
- Many of the animals come to equate him with Animalism, and therefore believe that since Animalism is right, then Napoleon must also always be right.
"Comrades, do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!"
- Just as Stalin demonised Trotsky after his banishment, Napoleon vilifies Snowball, and uses him to legitimise his rule.
- This is a cowardly move - Snowball is an easy scapegoat, as he cannot defend himself against any of Napoleon's allegations.