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This Villain was Headlined on August 2020.

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Villain Overview

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
~ Napoleon's replacement for the Seven Commandments of Animalism.
Long live Animal Farm!
~ Napoleon's catchphrase.

Napoleon is the main antagonist of George Orwell's 1945 novel Animal Farm and its adaptations.

He is a ruthless Berkshire pig of the Manor Farm who takes part in the revolution to kick out the farm's owner, Mr. Jones, and becomes the tyrannical leader of Animal Farm after ousting his political rival Snowball, eventually turning the farm into a state no better than it was under Mr. Jones. He is also Benjamin's arch-nemesis.

Portrayals[]

Biography[]

NapoleonHD
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After Old Major's death, Napoleon and Snowball assumed control of the animals of Manor Farm and orchestrated a revolution, successfully overthrowing their irresponsible farmer and his "regime." Napoleon was initially considered a war hero; however, he soon revealed his true colors to all of the other animals, revealing himself as extremely corrupt, traitorous, selfish, and greedy, chasing Snowball away to declare himself the leader of Animal Farm and enacting changes to the administrative structure of the farm by replacing communal meetings with a committee of pigs who had the power to pass laws.

As he grew more authoritative and powerful, he began employing cruel methods to dispose of animals whom he deemed a threat and adopted tyrannical and undemocratic policies almost identical to those used by humans, even making hypocritical changes to the sacred Seven Commandments of Animalism, which was Animal Farm's core belief system.

Throughout the book, Napoleon constantly slandered Snowball, branding him a traitor who was working for Mr. Jones.

I will give you the same toast as before but in a different form. Fill your glasses to the brim. Gentlemen, here is my toast, to the prosperity of the MANOR FARM.
~ Napoleon, Chapter 10

By the end of the book, Napoleon and his fellow pigs (minus Snowball, who ran afoul of Napoleon and was disposed of) and human allies are so iniquitous and corrupt that the other animals can no longer tell the difference between the pigs and the humans.

Film Adaptations[]

However, in the 1954 film and 1999 live adaptation, Napoleon's actions are generally consistent with those of his novel counterpart. He and his fellow pigs (again, minus Snowball) gradually exert complete control over the farm, rewrite all of Old Major's commandments, and eventually start wearing human clothes, walking on two legs, and drinking. Just like in the book, by the end of the adaptations, the other animals can no longer tell the difference between the pigs and the humans. Also, in the animated adaptation, Napoleon had his dogs kill Snowball instead of simply chasing him off.

Napoleon's fate deviates from the original book, where he survives, and in both films, he dies. How so varies between the adaptations.

  • In the 1954 animated film, animal residents from several neighboring farms rallied to Animal Farm upon learning that Napoleon altered the seventh commandment for his own benefit. After spying on the pig's congress meeting, the now-elderly Benjamin reveals Napoleon's plans for further totalitarianism. Enraged at this, the rest of the animals decide that enough is enough. Under Benjamin's leadership, they stage another rebellion and advance upon the house. Napoleon, Squealer, and the other cowardly pigs hear them coming, and the villainous boar tries to summon his guards. Unfortunately, through means unspecified, the canines drink excessive amounts of alcohol and are completely wasted. Realizing that nobody is coming, Napoleon frantically looks around, realizing that it is too late, that all the escape routes are cut off, and that he is surrounded. Alone and helpless, Napoleon and the rest of his cowardly kind can only watch in horror as the animals they have mistreated and abused smash through every obstacle and bear down on them. The rebels' vanguard, led by several angry bulls, stampede through the house, trampling/beating all of the pigs to death in their dining hall and avenging the deaths of Snowball, Boxer, and all of the other animals who have been killed in the process, with the portrait of Napoleon getting smashed before falling off the wall. The film ends with a frontal view of Benjamin vindictively surveying the scene.
  • In the 1999 live-action version of the book, Jessie the dog saves some of the animals from Napoleon's evil schemes. Those that remained had to endure years of hardship under the cruel boar's rule, despite his proclamations that they were now free. Eventually, several years after Napoleon took over, the water towers collapsed during a bad storm. Napoleon and many of his loyalists perished in the resulting destruction. Jessie and the other escapees returned to find the farm in ruin, a far cry from Old Major's dream, a victim of Napoleon's madness. Another family of humans later purchased the farm, with Jessie vowing to ensure they never made the same mistakes as Napoleon.

Appearance[]

Napoleon is described as a mature stud boar, although he was the runt of his litter and had to fight for food growing up to become big and strong, contributing to his socially Darwinistic view of the world and his place in it. During his reign over the farm, he becomes quite overweight due to his excessive eating and alcoholism. In the animated film, he is depicted as bipedal, sneering, imperious, autocratic, and authoritative, wearing dark, double-breasted suits. In the adaptations, he is depicted with black and white fur.

Personality[]

Napoleon is depicted as a cruel, horrible, sadistic, brutal, oppressive, gluttonous, hypocritical, heartless, ruthless, deceptive, vile, and tyrannical dictator defined by his unquenchable thirst for power. Napoleon is a remorseless and psychopathic sadist who abuses his power as soon as he obtains it and is only concerned with furthering his own selfish goals rather than benefiting Animal Farm. He is also extremely manipulative and charismatic, so he can inspire the other animals to turn against Snowball's vision of a peaceful Animal Farm, although it could be argued that Snowball had visions of a dictatorial government himself.

Although he initially presents a facade of self-effacing modesty, describing himself as "a practical pig of few words" who would "work hard and say little", Napoleon predominantly uses words to manipulate others. He is a supercilious and narcissistic elitist, ordering that many poems and songs be written about himself, singing his praises as the savior and leader of Animal Farm, and insisting that it reverts to its original name of Manor Farm after he had established himself as its dictator and succeeded in rallying the other farmers to his cause. He is also a hedonistic and parsimonious alcoholic who sired many illegitimate piglets. Whilst being obviously intelligent, knowledgeable, and self-confident, Napoleon rarely contributed any ideas of his own, preferring to discredit the ideas of his opponents and then claim those ideas as his own once he had driven out his rivals. This is to further convince his fellow animals that he is a great leader and keeps his opponents in line.

Napoleon is also extremely opprobrious, vituperative, persuasive, deceitful, and bitter. He had to fight his way to power through cruelty and cunning because he was the smallest of his litter of pigs. He sees the world as a socially Darwinistic place where the ends always justify the means. He even goes as far as to make a deal with the humans at the end of the book. This shows that Napoleon is nothing more than a heartless tyrant who would do anything to remain in power.

Quotes[]

Animal Farm (1954)[]

The revolution is now complete. We have no more use for that song. Singing it is now forbidden under penalty of death!
~ Napoleon after overhearing the animals' sad song.
Loyal followers, on farms owned and operated by pigs, there is order and discipline. Our lower animals do more work and eat less than other on farms. [gives medals] With this, we encourage you to make your lower animals work even harder and eat even less! To a greater Animal Farm! For peace and plenty under pig rule! To the day when pigs own and operate farms EVERYWHERE.
~ Napoleon to the other pigs, as well as his last words before his death.

Animal Farm (1999)[]

Any animal seen giving food to a hen, will be punished BY DEATH!
~ Napoleon declaring the hens are now "criminals".
Animals, never again will we be threatened by our enemies! I decree that this farm shall now devote itself to the making of weapons! To the building of walls! For the protection of ourselves and our way of life, the revolution is over! ALL ANIMALS ARE NOW FREE!!!
~ Napoleon to the other animals, before his demise.

Trivia[]

  • Napoleon is based on the late real-life Soviet revolutionary and dictator Joseph Stalin and is named after the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon arguably represents Communist Russia (maybe even the idea of government corruption) as a whole, while Snowball represents the Provisional Government that was overthrown in the October Revolution (or maybe any benevolent government that is replaced by a less benevolent one) or Stalin's early ideological rival, Leon Trotsky. Old Major represents Marxism (or any political ideology).
  • In the French version of the story, Napoleon is called Caesar instead because the translator preferred this name. This choice was the source of an urban legend, according to which it is forbidden in France to call a pig Napoleon. Actually, there's no such law in France.[1]
  • In the live action, in several moments of the film, 4 strands of saliva are seen in Napoleon mouth that resemble fangs like the ones his animated counterpart has.

External links[]

References[]

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