Workplace Safety in Engineering Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Workplace Safety in Engineering - Research Paper Example fety cover a lot of areas like safety of the machines used in any industry, safety of the electronic components used in engineering related companies, safety of the warehouses in companies, safety of office and various equipment used in the office, safety of the suppliers who supplies raw material to the company, safety of the employees and health insurance cover, safety of the contractor involved in the projects and company, safety of and processes. Improving workplace safety may benefit employees’ productivity and create positive energy at work. Therefore, companies should have effective workplace safety programs, solid workplace policies, powerful HES, and facts. Workplace safety is important because it gives the employees the motivation to work owing to the fact that their health is given importance. Everyone at the workplace wants to be guaranteed safety for their lives. In fact, companies should organize programs to ensure the health of employees is never put at stake, especially for jobs that involve high level of risk. There should be strict safety policies and measures for jobs that expose employees to high health risk. Safety programs are aimed at educating employees how to react to probable risks and how to manage them when they occur. Companies should implement clear workplace safety policies and conduct regular safety training for employees in order to ensure that safety standards are adhered to by all employees the companies should manage employees’ health safety by following safety management programs rules. In engineering major, a lot of work has been done to ensure safe workplace for engineers. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was designed to test the delivery model and give advice on workplace safety. The HSE has goals and aims that are focused towards achieving engineering workplace safety. HSE evaluates the workplace safety through different sides and every year produces a report generated showing what changes were made and how much has

Ethanol Discussion Essay Example for Free

Ethanol Discussion Essay The use of alternative fuels to replace petroleum has grown considerably through the years, as nations like Brazil are trying to be self-sufficient in their energy needs. Ethanol made from crops is said to be cleaner than burning fossil fuels, and would contribute less to the problem of global warming. However, several issues remain with the ethanol debate. There is one thing I am quite certain though. The U. S. cannot replace gasoline completely in its cars since it uses so many of them. The eco-friendly effects of using ethanol as a fuel are well documented, for example, although it emits the same amount of carbon dioxide upon combustion like fossil fuels this CO2 comes from the air itself, therefore the combustion has zero net effect. Still, harvesting huge amount of crops for producing ethanol is energy inefficient and a waste of arable land. The effect on world food supply if ethanol was integrated to the economy in the U. S. as it is in Brazil would be very awful. Food prices would skyrocket, and there might be shortages of food everywhere. It is not feasible to have the world’s energy supply and food supply come from the same source. Fossil fuels need to be replaced soon, but ethanol is not the technology to go with it. There are several sources of energy that need to be looked at and are much more promising than ethanol. Electric cars are making resurgence; however, they use electricity which most of the time is still produced by a fossil fuel burning power plant. Fuel cell cars have been demonstrated and might well be ready in the next 20 years. The internal combustion engine has served humanity for several decades, I think it’s high time we replace it with a more 21st century design, not just replace the fuel it burns. Our environment and the world we live in is on the line. The response towards the ethanol debate is quite convincing, however I disagree with it on some points. First, ethanol doesn’t intend to replace gasoline fully, but just complement it. The surpluses in world food production are intended to cover up ethanol production for this purpose. Second, although we both agree that fossil fuels need to be replaced, I tend to differ in that I think ethanol is at least the immediate future. Electric cars are far from perfect, and it is correct, as you said, it uses electricity from fossil fuel plants. Fuel cell or hydrogen powered vehicles may or may not be feasible, since right now they still are very expensive to produce. The time to act is now, not later, and ethanol is the most viable solution to the problems of the environment at the moment.

An Analysis of Eliots Adam Bede

An Analysis of Eliots Adam Bede â€Å"Adam Bede†- George Eliot Summary: Dinah Morris is a Methodist preacher who arrives in Hayslope, a small village in England, during the late 18th century (1799). Dinah resides with her aunt and uncle named Mr. and Mrs. Poyser, however, she hopes to return to where she normally lives in Snowfield. Seth Bede, who is a local carpenter, loves Dinah and is still adjusting to her rejection of his marriage proposal. Seth’s brother, Adam Bede, also resides in Hayslope and works as the foreman at the local carpentry shop where he and his brother both work. Adam is smitten with a young girl of seventeen named Hetty Sorrel who lives in the village. Hetty is Mr. Poyser’s niece and lives with the Poysers’ where she helps with the chores. Thias Bede is the father of Seth and Adam. He drowns in the river near their house after he had gone on a drinking binge. Seth and Adam’s mother, Lisbeth, is distraught by this and so Dinah goes to comfort Lisbeth where she is able to soothe her where no one else can. Lisbeth also wishes for Dinah to become her daughter-in-law. Squire Donnithorne is the local landlord who governs the parish very strictly. His grandson and heir, Captain Donnithorne is a member of the regimental army and lives with the Squire. The local villagers all respect and adore Captain Donnithorne, who considers himself a man of great chivalry. Captain Donnithorne flirts secretively with Hetty after first meeting her at the Poyser’s residence. He asks Hetty when she will be visiting the Squire’s residence again and arranges to meet her unaccompanied in the woods when she passes through. When Captain Donnithorne meets up with Hetty in the woods this is the first time that they have been alone and are both bashful. Captain Donnithorne teases Hetty about her many suitors which makes her cry. He then puts his arms around her to comfort her but then he immediately panics at the inappropriateness of his advances and leaves Hetty alone in the woods. Later Captain Donnithorne meditates on what he has done and resolves that he needs to approach Hetty as to clear up what had happened. He meets her on her way back through the woods where they kiss. This encounter marks the beginning of a summer-long affair which ends when Captain Donnithorne leaves to rejoin his regiment once again. Hetty believes that Captain Donnithorne will join in matrimony and that he will make her into the great socialite she dreams of being. Although Hetty does not exactly love him she loves the wealth and privilege that he represents. Captain Donnithorne hosts a party for himself to which he invites all the members in the parish. Everyone attends and has a wonderful time with a feast, dancing and games that were provided. Adam notices that Hetty is wearing a locket that Captain Donnithorne had given her and becomes suspicious that she might have a secret lover, however, he concludes that it would not be possible for her to conceal such a thing from the Poysers. On the last night that Captain Donnithorne is in town, Adam surprises the guilty pair in the woods and forces Arthur to fight, Adam wins this fight. Captain Donnithorne lied to Adam and said that the affair was no more than a little flirtation. Adam responded by telling him that he must write a letter to Hetty letting her know that the affair is over. Captain Donnithorne obeys Adam and Adam delivers the letter. Hetty is heart broken by this news but after some time she resolves to marry Adam as a way out of her current life. When Adam proposed Hetty accepted. When Captain Donnithorne is due for departure, Hetty is pregnant, unknown to either of them. She resolves to go out and find Captain Donnithorne because she cannot tolerate to have those who know her discover her shame. She believes that Captain Donnithorne will help her even though she senses that he can never remove her shame. Hetty sets out to find Captain Donnithorne and at the end of an arduous journey Hetty learns that he has gone to Ireland. She then decides to head in the direction of home with the intention of visiting Dinah, who Hetty believes will help her without judging her. During this trip Dinah gives birth to her child. Distraught by this she takes the child into the woods and buries it under a tree. Hetty leaves the child there but she cannot escape the sound of the child’s cry. She returns to where she left the baby where a farm laborer and the Stoniton constable discover her and the take her into custody for the murder of her child. Adam is distraught when he cannot find Hetty and concludes that Captain Donnithorne must have lured her away from their impending marriage. Before traveling to Ireland to find him Adam goes to Mr. Irwine to tell him of his plan. Mr. Irwine tells Adam that Hetty is in jail for murder. Even though the situation distresses him Adam attends her trial. Dinah arrives and is able to convince Hetty that she must repent to save her soul. Hetty is then convicted and sentenced to die. At the last possible moment Captain Donnithorne arrives with a stay of execution. Hetty is sent away from England for her crimes and dies just before she is set to return to Hayslope. Captain Donnithorne leaves for a while because of the shame he has brought upon the Poysers’ and also Adam. Adam recognizes that he is in love with Dinah so he proposes to her but she rejects him until she comes to realize that it is God’s will that she marry Adam. They are married and have two children. Seth lives with them and does not marry. Captain Donnithorne eventually returns to Hayslope where he and Adam meet one last time at the conclusion of the novel. They are both able to stay friends despite all that has come between them. Narrative style: The narrator speaks primarily in the third person, centering on characters one at a time and revealing their thoughts and feelings in turn. At times the narrator breaks through to comment on the actions and feelings of the character in the first person. The narrator in Adam Bede butts into the story to offer ironic and often sarcastic commentary on the characters and the reader’s impression of them by the use of satire. The satire keeps the narrative sharp and the tone light. The narrator uses humor where a big part of that humor is in the sarcasm. Character analysis: Adam Bede- An intelligent and fairly well educated man for a peasant. He is industrious and loyal, as well as kind-hearted and a man of good morals and values. Adam is multi-faceted because his character develops throughout the novel. In the beginning Adam is a proud man and is judgmental, especially towards his father and his situation, however, at the end of the novel Adam’s pride is largely humbled and he is less judgmental towards others because of Hetty’s crimes where he is mellowed by the experience. Dinah Morris- A Methodist preacher who seeks to bring God’s love to all those around her. Dinah’s gentle manner and selflessness bring comfort to others. She is a woman of simplicity who lives to help others. Dinah is multifaceted because her character develops throughout the novel. In the beginning she feels compelled to help those in greatest need even when it results in the denial of her own happiness but eventually she comes to believe that her own happiness and God’s Will are not necessarily incompatible when she falls in love with Adam and marries him. Language and diction: Eliot’s language and diction that he uses is befitting of the time period in which this novel was written (late 1850s) and so the language is very formal and polished with a refined tone. Extensive descriptions are followed by dialogue. The descriptions set the scene to which the characters are subject to and the dialogue follows by elaborating on what is happening in the description. Vast uses of figures of speech assist the descriptions in being successful. The dialogue allows for the reader to get to know the characters better and to understand the relationships between one another. Imagery: By the extensive use of adjectives and figures of speech all the senses were met. Eliot describes the countryside effectively with a predominant use of such metaphors and personification in: â€Å"High up against the horizon were the huge conical masses of hill, like giant mounds intended to fortify this region of corn and grass against the keen and hungry winds of the north†, here my sense of sight was met most. I was also able to hear the sounds of Chad â€Å"beating the stick against the milk can by way of musical accompaniment† that appealed to my sense of hearing. The sense of touch was achieved when Mr Irwine went to Anne’s bedside and kissed her â€Å"delicate hands† to which he felt the â€Å"slight pressure from the small fingers†. Eliot uses â€Å"Fresh fragrance of new-pressed cheese, of firm butter, of wooden vessels perpetually bathed in pure water† to achieve the sense of smell as he describes the hot and dusty streets. Whilst t he Bede family and Dinah were in the kitchen having breakfast: â€Å"warm porridge and toasted oat-cake† appealed to my sense of taste as I could feel my mouth watering for the scrumptious breakfast about to be devoured. The most evident sense in Adam Bede, like most novels, was the sense of sight, however, all my senses where felt in this novel which made it a sensual experience. Themes: Inner and outer beauty Eliot contrasts inner and outer beauty throughout the novel to express the idea that external and internal authenticities do not always correspond. Although Hetty is more physically attractive than Dinah she is cold and ugly inside- this is the opposite of Dinah. Dinah’s inner beauty matches that of Hetty’s outer beauty. Hetty’s outer beauty masks her inner unattractiveness, especially to Captain Donnithorne and Adam. Even when Hetty cries or is angry she continues to appear as being charming to both men. Adam is blinded by Hetty’s appearance which causes him to misinterpret her tears and delight as love for him. Hetty’s outer beauty also blinds and shades Captain Donnithorne judgement such that he loses control when she cries and thus kisses her. Unlike Hetty, Dinah has a deep inner beauty because she helps and cares for those around her. Dinah comforts Lisbeth through the mourning of her deceased husband. Adam does not thin k Dinah is as physically attractive as Hetty but he is drawn to her love and mission to aid the people surrounding her. His feelings for Dinah change after he witnesses Dinah consoling Hetty as he begins to realize that Dinah is outwardly beautiful. The consequences of bad behavior- Bad behavior and misconduct have consequences that extend far beyond the person doing wrong and even relatively small transgressions can have considerable collateral effects, this is seen in Adam Bede. The fundamental lesson from Hetty’s experience with Captain Donnithorne is that doing the right thing is more important because doing the wrong thing may hurt others in ways that cannot be controlled and measured. Although Captain Donnithorne is not inherently wicked he provokes bad behavior in Hetty because he does not make himself available to her when she seeks for his help once she learns that she is pregnant. Hetty is ashamed and selfish when she commits her crime. As Hetty awaits the trial, she does not think about how her bad behavior has affected anyone else as she does not consider the shame she has brought upon the Poysers’ or the effect that her crime has on Adam. Hetty feels no remorse for her sins and only wishes to not be re minded of any wrong she has done. In the end she apologizes to Adam and asks God for forgiveness but the moral of the story is that actions of bad behavior, evil, and wrongdoing cannot be undone or changed. Setting: The novel is set in a small village in England called Hayslope which is quaint and reflects the character of Hetty in the beginning of the novel as well as all the innocence in the other characters. The setting is cyclic which represents the life of the villagers as they do their day to day errands. The fact that the setting is a small village assists in also creating a sense of loneliness, which is something experienced by Hetty later on in the novel. The village setting is therefore accompanied by more forests and vegetation than the large city. Nature is seen to play a role in romance and love, in Hayslope there is this nature setting which accompanies and facilitates various forms of love in the novel. Genre: This novel is a fictional novel because the plot did not actually take place but was rather formulated from Eliot’s imagination. Adam Bede is also a romantic drama: the romance is seen between the webbed relationships of Adam Hetty, Hetty Arthur and Dinah Adam. The drama is portrayed in the actions of the characters: Lisabeth’s husband dying, Hetty and Arthur’s flirtation whilst Adam had proposed to her previously, Hetty’s pregnancy and how she dealt with it (killing her baby) and eventually the concluding matrimony of Dinah and Adam. The drama is seen through such trials and tribulations in the novel. Aspects I liked: For a novel of this time which was first published in 1859 I did not expect such a dramatic storyline with a drastic twist towards the end where Hetty murdered her baby, however, it was refreshing and something new, I enjoyed this aspect because one can truly never judge a book by its cover. I enjoyed the extensive descriptions of Eliot’s, however, at times it can be overpowering in the sense that it is unnecessarily long. The enjoyment of these descriptions comes from the vast use of figures of speech used by Eliot. I have not read a novel that uses as many figures of speech and so this was interesting for me. The dialogue which usually followed the descriptions was also thorough in that there was a lot of dialogue. This enabled me to understand the characters better and their relationships with one another, which in turn made me understand and follow the plot better. Recommendations: I would recommend this novel to people who are not lazy readers and those who enjoy thorough descriptions in novels. This novel would also appeal to people who do not enjoy novels with a ‘typical’ storyline as it contains a twist due to bad decisions. I would recommend this novel because of the moral of the story which is relevant in our day and age: bad behavior has consequences so think twice before taking action. I would not recommend this novel to people who are sensitive about religion as this novel speaks about this in its dialogue quite often and to people who do not enjoy dramatic novels.

One Small Pill for Womankind: One Big Dose for the U.S. Essay -- Healt

Gregory Goodwin Pincus created the birth control pill stimulating a new tidal wave of women's rights movements. From one small pill, new channels that had been dammed down to a trickle became a mighty flood again. With the ability to prevent pregnancy without risking a dangerous abortion women found the strength to fight against male-dominated areas that were still left untouched from the first series of movements by their predecessors. From how long they stayed in the workforce to the freedom of their sexuality to changing laws and stepping up for their rights, women came alive again with renewed ferocity. Women and the workforce met in few places, for only brief time and very rarely in the general public eye. If seen in the public eye they were with their male counterpart, their husbands or fathers. In the 1960s because it was legal and acceptable within society, companies openly discriminated against women based on their sex. â€Å"In 1961 there were 454 federal civil-service-job categories for college graduates, and more than 200 of them were restricted to male candidates† (Collin 7). Women were not doctors, if they were so inclined even after counseling they were advised and directed to towards taking a position as pediatrician. They were not lawyers and even those that were legally lawyers infrequently practiced because of the extreme lack of hiring firms, instead they would become clerks and secretaries. Their jobs only consisted of labor, only if a farmer's wife or daughter (Collin 6) or when the country was at war and all the men were unavailable and not wanting for the position. â€Å"There was, for all practical purposes, a national consensus that women could not be airplane pilots, firefights, television news anchors, c... ...950s† (17). Women, especially single women, found uncharted freedom of being able to find pleasure in their sexual activity that twenty, even five years ago would have been thought of as absurd and unlikely (MacLean 17). In 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) a civil rights group for women formed (MacLean 14) started with just one thousand members but its size grew to an incredible four hundred thousand by 1974 (MacLean 16). NOW originally was mainly focused on equal opportunity for women in the workplace but they also fought for â€Å"maternity leave and child care; equal education; a woman's rights to control her own fertility; and passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)...† MacLean 16). A new generation of activists was born and much like the women before them they began to realize the the abundance of â€Å"'sexism' (a word they coined)'† (MacLean 16).

Police Officer Job Description Essay

Police officers in cooperation with the general public are in front line to fight and prevent criminal activities. The officers respond to the needs of the people in the community. With the use of technology, the officers should be able to gather enough information that can help in the prosecution of offenders. The police officer is required to carry out some specific duties as directed by the shift sergeant, as a way of maintaining and enforcing laws. The officer has to investigate complaints, ensure order is maintained, help people, and identify criminals. Identifying problems associated with enforcing law, conflict resolution, and assisting the public whenever need be are also part of the officer’s duties. You will also be called to carry out some activities that require physique such as containing violent people or animals, and be able to run fast when responding to distress calls. The supervision for the officers is carried out in a general form (Higher Education Careers Professionals, 2008). Essential duties As an officer, there are essential duties you have to perform, but there are other duties that you might be required to carry out as well. The main duties include detecting and apprehending those who act against the laws. The officer will be required to take necessary steps incase of physical hazards and law breaking activities by criminals. You are also required to take necessary actions whenever there are distress and emergence calls (LS/TB/JO, 2006). While on shift, you will be required to carry out investigations on issues that might occur during the period, and come up with the best action to take. As an officer, you have to reassure the community of their safety by ensuring frequent presence. In all these, you will be required to write a report indicating all activities that took place while on shift. Finally, you have to complete a departmental report that will have to be forwarded to the relevant authorities (Higher Education Careers Professionals, 2008). Minor duties may include; carrying out a review on reports about the incidences occurring while on duty, giving testimony about such incidences, and finally, you will be required to carry out any duty assigned by the supervisor. Education, Ability and Skills Applicants must be at least high school graduates, but priority will be given to college graduates. The applicants should not be less than 21 years of age. The applicants should exhibit the ability to identify problems and come up with sound solutions from analyzing all the available alternatives. In case of unexpected situations, you should show the ability to respond very quickly and swiftly. There are different working conditions which you must have the ability to work in all of them. In case of emergency, you must have the ability to work with the patrol car, and must be able to get in and out of it easily. There is a physical and agility test that all the applicants must be able to pass during their graduation. With the increased technological use, you need to have knowledge of computer usage and cameras. Applicants must be able to communicate fluently both verbally and written means, to the departmental members and the entire public (LS/TB/JO, 2006). In general, the duties of the police expose the officers to the challenging tasks and diverse activities. After serving as a police officer for sometime, one is entitled to rise to the other specialized areas like the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Characters in Animal Farm Essay Example

Characters in Animal Farm Essay Example Characters in Animal Farm Paper Characters in Animal Farm Paper Essay Topic: Animal Farm Beauty and the Beast and Other Tales Communist Manifesto The Beast in the Jungle Animal Farm Characters Old Major is the inspiration which fuels the Revolution and the book. According to one interpretation, he could be based upon both Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. As a socialist, George Orwell may have agreed with much of Marx, and even respected aspects of Lenin. According to this interpretation, the satire in Animal Farm is not of Marxism, or of Lenins revolution, but of the corruption that occurred later. However, according to Christopher Hitchens: in the book, the aims and principles of the Russian Revolution are given face-value credit throughout; this is a revolution betrayed, not a revolution that is monstrous from its inception. Though Old Major is presented positively, Orwell does slip in some flaws, such as his admission that he has largely been free of the abuse the rest of the animals have had to suffer. Old Major introduces the animals to the song Beasts of England. Old Major (also called Willingdon Beauty, his show name) is the first major character described by George Orwell in Animal Farm. This purebred of pigs is the kind, grandfatherly philosopher of change; an obvious metaphor for Karl Marx, though some elements of Old Major are directly from Vladimir Lenin. Old Major proposes a solution to the animals desperate plight under the Jones administration (representing the tsar and autocracy) when he inspires a rebellion of sorts among the animals. The actual time of the revolt is unsaid. It could be the next day or several generations down the road. Old Majors Barn-Yard Speech at the very onset of the story could be a reference to the Communist Manifesto. Shortly after his death, the animals rise up in revolt and oust the men from power. Early on everything goes well and Old Majors dream seems to be coming true. The pig Snowball largely takes on the intellectual and political leadership of the farm and seems to share Old Majors principle of genuine concern for the animals of the farm. While Snowball is respected by most of the animals, the rest of the pigs, led by Napoleon, begin to move to oust Snowball. This occurs after the debate over the windmills when Napoleon unleashes his trained dogs to chase Snowball from the farm. The Seven Commandments that Snowball had transcribed, that were supposed to encompass Old Majors general philosophy, are gradually altered and deformed under Napoleon until they come to entirely opposite meanings than were originally intended. Also Beasts of England the song that came to Old Major in his dream was later banned on Animal Farm. In both film adaptations, Major dies while provoking the animals into rebelling. In the 1954 adaption, he dies suddenly while the animals are singing. The 1999 version is even more unfaithful- Jones slips in mud while investigating the sounds coming from the barn, fires his shotgun, and indirectly hits Major, killing him. Old Major in the allegory With Animal Farm being parallel to the formation of the Soviet Union, Old Major was based on both Lenin and Marx. The animals hold him in high esteem, and dig up his skull and walk past it and salute it every day, until the end of the novel when Napoleon announces that he had buried the skull, much as Lenins body was preserved and is kept on display in Moscow. Marx, author of the Communist Manifesto, died before the first communist revolution, whereas Old Major, founder of Animalism, dies before the Animal Farm revolution. His body was saluted by the soldiers everyday, even after the rebellion. NAPOLEON Napoleon, a Berkshire boar, is the main tyrant and villain of Animal Farm and is based upon Joseph Stalin. Napoleon begins to gradually build up his power, using puppies he took from mother dogs Jessie and Bluebell, which he raises to be vicious dogs as his secret police. After driving Snowball off the farm, Napoleon usurps full power, using false propaganda from Squealer and threats and intimidation from the dogs to keep the other animals in line. Among other things, he gradually changes the Commandments to allow himself privileges and justify his dictatorial rule such as eating at a table. By the end of the book, Napoleon and his fellow pigs have learned to walk upright and started to behave similarly to the humans they originally revolted against. (In the French version of Animal Farm, Napoleon is called Cesar, the French spelling of Caesar. Napoleon is a fictional character in George Orwells Animal Farm. While he is at first a common farm pig, he takes advantage of the animals uprising against their masters to eventually become the tyrannical President of Animal Farm, which he turns into a dictatorship. Napoleon in the Allegory Napoleon was based mostly on Joseph Stalin, who ruled the Soviet Union for nearly 30 years. However, his name comes from that of the French general Napoleon Bonaparte, who Orwell, like many Britons of his time, considered to be a repressive powerseeker and dictator. In the French version of the book, he was renamed Cesar (Caesar). [1] From the start, he is made out to be a villain. Napoleon fights along with fellow pig Snowball to free the farm from human control, only to turn on his former comrade and seize control of the farm; this mirrors the relationship between Stalin and Leon Trotsky. Trotsky supported Permanent Revolution (just as Snowball advocated overthrowing other farm owners), while Stalin supported Socialism in One Country (similar to Napoleons idea of teaching the animals to use firearms). Later on, after ostracizing Snowball as Stalin placed Trotsky in exile, Napoleon ordered the construction of a windmill, which had been designed by Snowball and which he had opposed vigorously. When the primitive windmill collapses due to Napoleons poor planning, a reference to Stalins backward approach to the Five-Year Plans, he blames Snowball and starts a wave of terror. During this period he orders the execution of several of the animals after coercing their confessions of wrongdoing. He also changes the Seven Commandments prohibition against killing. He then commands the building of a second, stronger windmill while severely cutting rations to all of the animals - except the pigs and dogs. He later makes a deal with Frederick (similar to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact shortly before World War II); Frederick tricks Napoleon by paying him with counterfeit money and then invading the farm, much as Germany broke its pact with the Soviet Union and invaded, in order to seize its minerals and fuel. During the Battle of the Windmill, the windmill is destroyed, but the animals win, although they pay a high price. Napoleon attempts to cover the losses by stating it was a grand victory for the animals. While Napoleon exhorts the other animals to fight and die for the good of the farm, he himself is a coward, in contrast to Snowball. Nonetheless, Napoleons historical revisionism rewrites himself as a hero, claiming responsibility for the animals victory during the Battle of the Cowshed when in reality it was Snowball who had performed heroic acts in this battle. Ultimately, Napoleon becomes a tyrannical, oppressive dictator and seems to become human through his adoption of human ways. At the end of the novel he has decided to abolish the use of comrade. In the end of the 1954 film, Napoleon wears dictator-like clothing and pictures of him, similar in nature to that of Chairman Maos famous picture, are put up. On top of this, it seems that he is ultimately killed by a horde of animals who destroy his homestead. SNOWBALL Snowball is Napoleons rival. He is an allusion to Leon Trotsky. He wins over most animals, but is driven out of the farm in the end by Napoleon. Snowball genuinely works for the good of the farm and devises plans to help the animals achieve their vision of an egalitarian utopia but is chased from the farm by Napoleon and his dogs, and rumours are spread about him (by Napoleon) to make him seem evil and corrupt and that he is secretly sabotaging the animals efforts to improve the farm. In his biography of Orwell, Bernard Crick suggests that Snowball was as much inspired by POUM leader Andres Nin as by Trotsky. Nin was a similarly adept orator and also fell victim to the Communist purges of the Left during the Spanish Civil War. Fictional biography Together with the pig Napoleon, Snowball leads the animals revolt against the human farmer, but is driven away from the farm (a comparison to the Russian government) by his former comrade Napoleon in the later part of the story. Unlike Napoleon, he has the best interests of the animals in mind. He is most attuned to the thinking of Old Major (whose role resembles that of Vladimir Lenin or perhaps Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels). He devotes himself to bettering the animals in intellectual, moral and physical ways. His role on the farm bears a significant and intended resemblance to the role of Leon Trotsky in the early Soviet Union. In his short-lived time as a leader, Snowball actively works to change Animal Farm, and although not all of his ideas work very efficiently, he is shown to have genuinely good intentions. Like Trotsky, Snowball is exiled after Napoleon seizes power by force, modeled after Joseph Stalin. After Snowball is exiled, he is used by Napoleon as a political scapegoat and is blamed for various problems on the farm. For example, he is blamed for allegedly mixing weed seeds into the wheat seeds under the cover of night to explain the growth of weeds in the farms crops. He is also blamed for the destruction of the windmill the animals had created. Other animals make false confessions (an idea Orwell expands in 1984) saying they helped him in his nightly visits, or he came to them in a dream telling them to do bad deeds and they are executed brutally in public. The killing is likely a parallel to the Great Purge started by Stalin in 1936 when he tried and executed many of his political adversaries using forced false confessions. ) There is never a sure confirmation that Snowball is alive or dead as he was never seen again after his exile. Snowballs ideas Snowball believes in a continued revolution: he argues that in order to defend Animal Farm, the animals should stir up rebellions in other farms throughout England. He continues striving for the betterment of the Animal Farm. He tries to accomplish this through many failed committees, like the Cleaner Tails League for the cows. Napoleon is shown to have been Snowballs enemy from the very start of the revolution, disagreeing with almost all of Snowballs ideas. For example, when Snowball proposes inspiring more revolutions on other farms in order to protect Animal Farm (similar to Trotskys idea of Permanent Revolution), Napoleon proposes learning to use firearms and other more advanced weapons. When Snowball actively organizes the animals into groups of committees, Napoleon simply states that the education of the young is all that was needed. Snowball also writes the first version of the Seven Commandments. These are later altered by Squealer under the orders of Napoleon to accommodate the treacherous actions of the pigs. For example, the commandment stating No animal shall drink alcohol is changed to No animal shall drink alcohol to excess. SQUEALER Squealer, a small fat porker, serves as Napoleons right hand man and minister of propaganda. Inspired by Vyacheslav Molotov and the Soviet paper Pravda, Squealer manipulates the language to excuse, justify, and extol all of Napoleons actions. He represents all the propaganda Stalin used to justify his own heinous acts. In all of his work, George Orwell made it a point to show how politicians used language. Squealer limits debate by complicating it and he confuses and disorients, making claims that the pigs need the extra luxury they are taking in order to function properly, for example. However, when questions persist, he usually uses the threat of Mr. Joness return as justification for the pigs privileges. Squealer uses statistics to convince the animals that life is getting better and better. Most of the animals have only dim memories of life before the revolution; therefore, they are convinced. Allegory In the allegorical form chosen by Orwell for Animal Farm, the pigs are easily identified with the Soviet leaders of the time. Napoleon and Snowball clearly represent Stalin and Trotsky, respectively. However, for those unfamiliar with the Soviet hierarchy in the 1930s and 1940s, Squealers human counterpart may be obscure. However, there is merit in the interpretation of Squealer being a representation of propaganda overall. Squealer certainly was the key spokesman for the pigs. His command of persuasive language and self-serving re-interpretations of facts illustrates the power of propaganda to control the under- and un-educated masses. Some authors have gone so far as to suggest that Squealer specifically represented the state-run newspaper Pravda. The downfall of this interpretation is that it fails to associate Squealer with a specific figure in Stalins inner circle. In contrast, Molotov is a near-perfect fit with Orwells description of and central role given to Squealer. Squealer is a close companion and protege of Napoleon; Molotov was a close companion and protege of Stalin. Squealer serves mainly as Napoleons propaganda minister; Molotov was Stalins Prime Minister (1930-1939) and Foreign Minister (1939-1949) and constant spokesman. When the animals suspect that the pigs are breaking the laws, Squealer justifies their actions. For instance, when the other animals want to have the milk and apples, Squealer says that milk and apples help the pigs think; so, eating the apples and drinking milk would prevent Mr. Jones from returning. Similarly, Molotov was a constant apologist for Stalin, rationalizing Comrade Stalins tyranny as being in the best interests of the people. Squealers arguments Throughout the book, Squealer justifies his arguments using his great powers of persuasion, his eloquent words and his charismatic intellect. His foundation for many of his arguments is that the animals do not want Mr. Jones back in power in the farm, and therefore must support Napoleon. He devises various other reasons to convince the other animals of the farm to believe him, backing them up with claims of scientific evidence (for example, apples and milk), recently discovered documentary evidence (proving the complicity of Snowball in working with the enemy) and using difficult reasoning, which confused the other animals. Squealer takes the central role in making announcements to the animals, as Napoleon appears less and less often as the book progresses. Breaking of the Seven Commandments Throughout the book, Napoleon and Squealer break the Seven Commandments, the tenets on which governance of the farm is based. To prevent the animals from suspecting them, Squealer preys on the animals stupidity and alters the Commandments from time to time as the need arises. This is proven on page 73 of the British version when Squealer falls off the ladder while trying to change the commandments in the night. Orwell uses Squealer to mainly show how some governments and politicians use propaganda to get their ideas accepted and implemented by the people. In the end, Squealer reduces the Seven Commandments into one commandment, that All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. MR. JONES Mr. Jones represents Nicholas II of Russia, the deposed Czar, who had been facing severe financial difficulties in the days leading up to the 1917 Revolution. The character is also a nod toward Louis XVI. There are also several implications that he represents an autocratic but ineffective capitalist, incapable of running the farm and looking after the animals properly. Jones is a very heavy drinker and the animals revolt against him after he drinks so much that he does not feed or take care of them. Ironically, Napoleon himself becomes almost obsessed with drinking and eventually changes the commandments to suit his needs. Toward the end of the book, the pigs become the mirror image of Jones, though they thirst for more power than ever before. Mr. Jones was once a capable farmer, but after the aftermath of a very damaging lawsuit, deteriorated into drinking and became known for his harsh rule over the animals. Instigated by Old Major, the animals rebelled against Mr. Jones and removed him from power, supposedly ending the days of extreme hunger and labor. Mr. Jones attempted to reinstate himself in the farm by attacking the animals; a skirmish the animals later called the Battle of the Cowshed. He was defeated by Snowballs tactics. The casualties of the battle were only a single sheep lost by the animals, but many of the men whom Jones brought (which were from Foxwood and Pinchfield farms) were injured, including Jones himself. Jones never made an attempt to capture Animal Farm again and went off to live someplace else. He later died in an inebriates home in another part of the country. In the same way that the books other characters are representative of historical figures, Jones is an allegory for Tsar Nicholas II. MR. FREDERICK Mr. Frederick is the tough owner of Pinchfield, a well-kept neighbouring farm. He represents Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in general. Mr. Frederick of Pinchfield Farm was a human character in the satirical novella Animal Farm by George Orwell. Mr. Frederick was one of Animal Farms neighbours, and kept a small but organized farm. He was constantly in bad terms with the other farm on the opposite side of Animal Farm owned by Mr. Pilkington. [edit] Frederick in the allegory Mr. Frederick played the role of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in Orwells book. After Germany broke its treaty with Russia, Hitler promptly invaded Russia, jealous of the resources, and nearly succeeded. The Russians eventually defeated the Germans. During this invasion, many of the Russians started starving and many were being killed by Germanys better equipped army. The Allies failed to offer much help to the Russians (such as Pilkingtons message: SERVES YOU RIGHT). However, the Russians managed to defeat the Germans and push them out of the country. MR. PILKINGTON Mr. Pilkington is the easy-going but crafty owner of Foxwood, a neighbouring farm overgrown with weeds, as described in the book. He represents the western powers, such as the United Kingdom and the U. S.. The card game at the very end of the novel is a metaphor for the Tehran Conference, where the parties flatter each other, all the while cheating at the game. The irony in his last scene is present because of all of the Pigs being civil and kind to the humans, defying all for which they had fought. This was present in the Tehran Conference with the Alliance that the Soviet Union formed with the United States and the United Kingdom, capitalist countries that the Soviet Union had fought in the early years of the revolution. [4] At the end of the novel, both Napoleon and Pilkington draw the Ace of Spades (which in most games, is the highest-ranking card) at the same time and begin fighting loudly, symbolising the beginning of tension between the U. S. nd Soviet superpowers. Mr. Pilkington of Foxwood Farm is a human character in George Orwells satirical book Animal Farm. Mr. Pilkington has a more unkept farm, and is on bad terms with Mr. Frederick of Pinchfield Farm, whose farm is on the opposite side of Animal Farm. Mr. Pilkington at first offered to buy Napoleons pile of timber, but the timber is bought (with counterfeit banknotes) by Frederick instead. When Frederick invades Animal Farm, Pilkington refuses to help the animals (primarily because the messages that Napoleon sent to Pilkington that read Death to Pilkington). edit] The Meeting Pilkington and several other of the men working on the farm were invited to a meeting by Napoleon and the pigs, where Napoleon reintroduces Animal Farms new name of Manor Farm. Pilkington praises Napoleon on his extreme strictness that he imposes upon the animals, forbidding them any time to enjoy themselves. He talks about the misunderstandings in the past that had been rectified. You have your lower animals, the fat human jokingly consents, and we have our lower classes. The men and pigs start playing cards, flattering and praising each other while cheating at the game, representing the Tehran Conference. At the end of the novel, both Napoleon and Pilkington draw the Ace of Spades (which in most games, is the highest-ranking card) at the same time and begin fighting loudly this symbolizes the beginning of tension between the U. S and Soviet superpowers. [edit] Pilkington in the Allegory Pilkington represents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill of the Allies. After the end of World War II, the Cold War was ignited between the U. S and the Soviet Union, similar to the end of the meeting where both Napoleon and Pilkington play a simultaneous Ace of Spades. Horses There are two horses and one mare: Clover Boxer and Mollie the mare Boxer is one of the main characters. He is the tragic avatar of the working class, or proletariat: loyal, kind, dedicated, and physically the strongest animal on the farm, but naive and slow. His ignorance and blind trust towards his leaders leads to his death and their profit. In particular, his heroic physical work represents the Stakhanovite movement. His maxim of I will work harder is reminiscent of Jurgis Rudkus from the Upton Sinclair novel The Jungle. His second maxim, Napoleon is always right is an example of the propaganda used by Squealer to control the animals. It was not adopted until later in the book. Boxers work ethic is often praised by the pigs, and he is set as a prime example to the other animals. When Boxer is injured, and can no longer work, Napoleon sends him off to the knackers and deceives the other animals, saying that Boxer died peacefully in the hospital. When the animals cannot work, Napoleon tosses them aside, for they mean nothing to him. Boxer is a fictional horse from George Orwells Animal Farm, he is the farms most hard-working and loyal worker. He serves as an allegory for the Russian working class who helped oust the Czar and establish the Soviet Union, but were eventually betrayed by the Stalinists. He is one of the most popular of the books characters. Boxer is the tragic avatar of the working class, or proletariat: loyal, kind, dedicated, and strong. By contrast, he is not very clever and seldom progresses beyond the fourth letter of the alphabet. His major flaw, however, is his blind trust in the leaders, and his inability to see corruption, leading to his manipulation and abuse by the pigs in more or less the same manner as he was by Jones. His two mottos, seen below, sum up the double side of his character. He fights very bravely in the Battle of the Cowshed and the Battle of the Windmill but is upset when he thinks he has killed a stable lad when, in fact, he had only stunned the poor boy. When Boxer defends Snowballs reputation from Squealers revisionism, the pigs designate the workhorse as a target for the Great Purge, but he easily outmuscles his canine executioners, sparing them at Napoleons request. His eventual death serves to show just how far the pigs are willing to go - when he collapses due to working too hard, the pigs supposedly send him to a veterinarian, when in fact he was sent to the knackers yard to be slaughtered and made into dog food and glue, in exchange for money to buy a case of whiskey for the pigs, in what is perhaps their single most despicable action. A strong and loyal draft horse, Boxer played a huge part in keeping the Farm together prior to his death and was the only close friend of Benjamin, the cynical donkey. Ironically, during Old Majors speech which inspired the principles of animalism a specific reference is made to how he would be turned into glue under Jones rule, thus implying that it would not happen to him under Animalism. This is possibly a further decline from animalism to Napoleons government. Boxer may have been inspired by Aleksei Grigorievich Stakhanov, a miner in the Soviet Union who became a hero in 1935 for his great productivity, or the Soviet Stakhanovite movement named after him, which was aimed at increasing worker productivity. His name was possibly based upon the Boxer Uprising in China. Boxers Mottos I will work harder is Boxers response to nearly all problems. He ends up overstraining himself and collapses. This motto may be a reference to the novel The Jungle, which illustrates the abuse and swindling of the working class, as it was the motto of the main character in that novel also. Napoleon is always right- similar to Mussolini is always right- is Boxers statement where he always show a belief in Napoleon no matter what. Clover is Boxers mother and a fellow draft horse. She helps and cares for Boxer when he splits his hoof. She blames herself for forgetting the original Seven Commandments when Squealer had actually revised them. Clover is compassionate, as is shown when she protects the baby ducklings during Majors speech; albeit made out to be somewhat vain in the opening of the novel by the narrator, who remarks that she never recovered her figure after giving birth to her fourth foal. She is also upset when animals are executed by the dogs, and is held in great respect by three younger horses who ultimately replace Boxer. Mollie is a self-centred and vain white mare who likes wearing ribbons in her mane, eating sugar cubes (which represent luxury) and being pampered and groomed by humans. She represents upper-class people, the bourgeoisie and nobility who fled to the West after the Russian Revolution and effectively dominated the Russian diaspora. Accordingly, she quickly leaves for another farm and is only once mentioned again. Other animals Benjamin is a wise, old donkey that shows slight emotion and is one of the longest surviving of the Manor Farm animals; he is alive to the very last scene of the book. The animals often query him about his lack of expression but always answers with: Donkeys live a long life. None of you have ever seen a dead donkey. Benjamin can also read as well as any pig, but rarely displays his ability. He is a dedicated friend to Boxer and is sorely upset when Boxer is taken away. Benjamin has known about the pigs wrongdoing the entire time, though he says nothing to the other animals. He represents the cynics in society. It has also been speculated that Benjamin could also represent the role of Jews in society, although this is unlikely since so many of the early supporters of the Russian Revolution were Jews. Another possibility is that Benjamin is an allegory for intellectuals who have the wisdom to stay clear of the purges. Yet another representation is possibly that Benjamin is an allegory of the author himself. Benjamin is a fictional donkey in George Orwells novel Animal Farm. He is the longest-lived of the animals and is alive in the last scene of the novel. He is less straightforward than most characters in the novel and a number of interpretations have been put forward. It has been suggested that he represents the aged population of Russia, or that he represents the Menshevik intelligentsia: as intelligent, if not more so, than the novels pigs. He is very cynical about the Revolution and life in general. For the most part he represents the skeptical people in and out of Russia who believed that Communism would not help the people of Russia, but who did not criticise it fervently enough to lose their lives or approve of a gradualist alternative. He is also quite significant in that he is not quite a horse (the working peasantry) and yet definitely not a leader like the pigs- even if his intellect is equal to theirs. The fact that he also has a Biblical name could also imply that he also represents the Jewish populace of Russia whose lives were not remotely improved under Stalins leadership. In fact, when asked if he was happier post-Revolution than before the Revolution, he simply remarks, Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey. He is one of the wisest animals on the farm, and is able to read as well as any pig. [1] However, this is an ability he does not exercise until the end of the book, and for all his age, he is never given the option of retirement. The only outrage that inspires him into action is the pigs betrayal of Benjamins best friend, Boxer, after which he becomes more cynical than ever. Seen from a wider perspective, Benjamin is a symbol of intelligence that during the times of revolution and its aftermath is very much aware about what is going on, but does nothing about it. The general (manipulated) masses are represented by the sheep, who are not aware about their misuse, but it is Benjamin who can see how the basic rules of their society are changing and does not get in any way involved. It is quite possible that Benjamin represents George Orwell himself. Muriel is a wise, old goat who is friends with all the animals on the farm. She, like Benjamin and Snowball, is one of the few animals on the farm who can read (with some difficulty, she has to spell the words out first) which helps Clover know that the Seven Commandments have been surreptitiously changed throughout the story. She possibly represents the same category as Benjamin. The only difference is that she dies at the end of the book due to age. The Puppies, who were raised by Napoleon to be his security force may be a reference to the fact that a major factor in Stalins rise to power was his appointment as General Secretary of the Communist Party by Lenin in 1922, in which role he used his powers of appointment, promotion and demotion to quietly pack the party with his own supporters. He did this with such effectiveness that Lenins Testament eventually called for Stalins removal from this post. Lenins request was ignored by the leading members of the Politburo most notably Trotsky, represented in the novel by Snowball. The puppies represent Stalins secret police. Dogs The dogs represent the military/police. In the beginning of the book, they voted against accepting the rats rabbits as comrades. Shortly after the revolution, several pups are stolen from their mothers. Later in the book, these pups (now fully grown and fully trained) protect Napoleon from a second potential revolution, and help to enforce his decrees. Jessie, Bluebell, Pincher The only three dogs that are mentioned by name. They do not have a very active role in the novel. All three are mentioned as being present at old majors meeting, but Pincher is never mentioned again (except in the epilogue, when it is mentioned that all three dogs are dead) Jesse and Bluebell are the mothers of the pups which serve as Napoleons bodyguards (and I assume Pincher is the father). Jesse and Bluebell also participate in the Battle of the Windmill. The Sheep represented the masses, manipulated to support Stalin in spite of his treachery. The Rats may have represented some of the nomadic people in the far north of the USSR. Birds The primary motto of Animalism is Four legs good, two legs bad. The birds argued with this saying since it seems to exclude birds, which have two legs and two wings. Squealer set them at ease by explaining, A birds wing, comrades, is an organ of propulsion and not of manipulation. It should therefore be regarded as a leg. The distinguishing mark of man is the hand, the instrument with which he does all his mischief. In real life, there were several classes of citizens left out of socialist rhetoric as well. Most of the communistic slogans dealt with the proletariat which was primarily a reference to urban factory workers. The rural farmers, the clergy, the intelligentsia, and other non-labour union types probably felt left out, just as the birds did in the novel. And, just as in real life, most would be left out or killed after the revolution. The birds were different from the other animals they stood on two legs. And in real-life, the peasant farmers were unique as well many of them owned land. Though the land was eventually collectivized by the state in the 1930s, these peasants were allowed to own land (walk on two legs) for the first decade of communism. Property owners in the city lost their land (were forced to walk on four legs) immediately following the revolution. And the primary reason for this, as Squealer explained above, was that the peasants werent using their ownership of property to enrich themselves on the backs of the workers they generally farmed the land themselves, and so their land ownership was tolerated for some time (their wings were an organ of propulsion, not of manipulation). Moses The raven Moses symbolizes the Russian Orthodox Church. In the beginning of the novel, Moses was Mr. Joness pet. Moses fled the farm shortly after the revolution, but eventually returned. Moses never did any work. All he did was sit around telling stories primarily of Sugar Candy Mountain, a paradise where animals lived on after they have died. At first Napoleon tried to get rid of Moses. But eventually Moses was allowed to stay on the farm and was even given a small ration of beer. Moses the raven is an old bird that occasionally visits the farm with tales of Sugarcandy Mountain, where he says animals go when they die, but only if they work hard. He represents religion, specifically the Russian Orthodox Church, which is banned when the pigs come to power. He leaves after the rebellion, for all animals are supposed to be equal, and religion is not part of equality, but returns later in the novel because he convinces the animals to work harder. Nobody does anything to harm Moses, due to the fact that all animals (and Moses being an animal) are equal. In the end, he is one of few animals to remember the rebellion, along with Clover, Benjamin, and the pigs. Hens Peasant Farmers. In Chapter seven, Napoleon calls for the hens to surrender their eggs. This is a reference to Stalins attempt to collectivize the peasant farmers of Russia. The hens attempted to resist the order at first, just as the peasant farmers of the Ukraine. But, just as in real life, they were eventually starved into submission. In the book, 9 hens died during the incident. In real-life, it is estimated that somewhere between 4 and 10 million Ukrainian peasants were starved to death by Stalin. In the book, it was also said that the Hens smashed their own eggs to protest Napoleons actions. In real-life, Ukrainian farmers would slaughter their own livestock before joining a collective as a form of protest. So many farmers engaged in this practice, that livestock in the Ukraine dwindled by 50%-80% between 1928 and 1935. The problem got so out of hand that Stalin eventually executed any farmer found guilty of engaging in this practice. Even the act of neglecting your livestock was punishable by death. Three young Black Minorca pullets The leaders of the hens resistance. The book says that these three chickens made a determined effort to thwart Napoleons wishes. The dictionary defines a Minorca Hen as A domestic fowl of a breed originating in the Mediterranean region and having white or black plumage. a reference to the Ukrainians possibly? (although not exactly on the Mediterranean, the Ukraine is in the same general area) Never the less, It was the Ukrainian peasants who formed the primary resistance to Stalins attempts to collectivize farming, so the black Minorcan Pullets are almost certainly a reference to the Ukrainians. But it is also possible that Orwell may be referring to specific group of Ukrainians the Ukrainian Kulaks. The Kulaks were middle and upper class peasants that owned farmland in Ukraine. It was they that had the most to lose by collectivizing. (And as a side note, Minorca is A Spanish island in the Balearics of the western Mediterranean Sea. Held by the British and the French at various times during the 18th century, it was a Loyalist stronghold in the Spanish Civil War. This is curious since Orwell had personally participated in the Spanish Civil War, and was probably well aware of this islands act of resistance. ) Cockerels Serve as an alarm clock for Boxer. Napoleon had a black cockerel who marched in front of him and acted as a kind of trumpeter (He would let out a loud cock-a-doodle-doo before Napoleon spoke. ) Frederick (Hitler) was said to hold cockfights where the combatants had splinters of razor-blade tied to their spurs. Pigeons The pigeons, who fly out each day to spread the word about animalism to the other farms in Willingdon, represent the Communist World Revolution The Communist International, or Comintern, as it is widely known. Geese ? Mentioned in the Beast of England Turkeys ? Mentioned in the Beast of England Ducks They are generally only mentioned in conjunction with the hens, and, just like the hens, are portrayed as being less intelligent than the other animals. The obviously represent some type of peasantry, but it is unclear as to with specific group Orwell is referring to since Orwell never gives any specifics of the Ducks role on the farm. The book merely states that some ducklings (who have lost their mother) were present at Old Majors meeting, and that clover has protected them so the other animals wouldnt trample on them. The ducks are mentioned as assisting with building the windmill. It is also said that they helped the hens save five bushels of corn at the harvest by gathering up the stray grains. The book also states that the Ducks, along with the Sheep and the hens, were on the lower end of the intelligence scale completely incapable of grasping the full ideas of animalism. Since ducks are water-borne foul, it is possible that they may represent the farmers of the sea fishermen perhaps The Hens may have represented the Kulaks as they destroy their eggs rather than hand them over to Napoleon, similar to how during collectivisation some Kulaks destroyed machinery or killed their livestock. The Cat represents laziness (for she, along with Mollie, did not do any work on the farm) and possibly racism (for she is the only one who says the rats are enemies). Bibliography: www. wikipedia. org/wiki/Animal_Farm