What Does Benjamin The Donkey Represent In Animal Farm?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Benjamin is Animal Farm’s donkey. He is intelligent and able to read, but he “never exercised his faculty. … Within the novella’s allegory of Soviet history, Benjamin represents

the intellectuals who failed to oppose Stalin

. More broadly, Benjamin represents all intellectuals who choose to ignore politics.

Is Benjamin a donkey in Animal farm?

Benjamin is

an old and pessimistic donkey

. No one on the farm knows exactly how old he is but it is hinted that he has been around for a very long time. He is never enthusiastic when things go well for the animals; likewise, he is never surprised or upset when things go wrong.

What is Benjamin’s role in Animal farm?

Film. In the 1954 film, Benjamin is voiced by Maurice Denham and is

the main protagonist

. In the film, it is Benjamin who leads the other animals in a counter-revolution against Napoleon when his abuses finally go too far. In the 1999 film, he is voiced by Pete Postlethwaite (who also played Farmer Jones in the film).

What does Benjamin mean when he says donkeys live a long time?

This is Benjamin the donkey’s favorite saying, true to his cynical nature. It means literally

that donkeys live much longer than the rest of the species of animals on the farm

, but it’s intended to convey that he’s been around long enough to see it all.

What does Benjamin mean when he says instead of a tail to keep flies away he would sooner have had no tail and no flies What does this reveal about his character?


He shows the stubbornness that is stereotypically associated with donkeys in his refusal to see the bright side of any situation

, as in his observation that it would be better to have no tail at all than a tail to keep flies away.

Why did Napoleon get rid of Boxer?

There was a promise made and a pasture set aside to be dedicated to retired animals and Boxer believed he would have a chance to spend his last days in leisure there. Napoleon

betrays Boxer by denying him the right to retire and tricks him into believing

that he is going to be treated for the injury he has sustained.

Who is Benjamin’s best friend?


The horse Boxer

is his best friend.

Who is the smartest animal in Animal Farm?

The

pigs and the dogs

are the smartest.

Who is to blame for boxer’s death?


Napoleon

is always right. ‘” Squealer shamelessly uses the dead Boxer as a propaganda tool, claiming that he wanted the other animals to trust in Napoleon over all other things.

Who is the wisest in Animal Farm?


Benjamin

is Animal Farm’s donkey. He is intelligent and able to read, but he “never exercised his faculty. So far as he knew, he said, there was nothing worth reading” (Chapter 3).

Why is Benjamin upset Animal Farm?

Moses is allowed to return to the farm and continues to tell the animals about Sugarcandy Mountain. Why is Benjamin upset when he sees the van taking Boxer away? … Benjamin is one of the few animals who can still read, which

allows him to see that Boxer is being taken away in a knacker’s van.

Why did Benjamin say Donkeys lives a long time none of you has ever seen a dead donkey?

Why did Benjamin say, “Donkeys lives a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey”?

He is trying to say the rebellion didn’t really affect him much because he is still going to live long.

Why did Benjamin not speak up in Animal Farm?

By his own nature, Benjamin

is cynical and less predisposed to speak in terms that would compel his speech to be consistent

. He is more of the mindset that he rarely speaks.

Is Benjamin partially to blame for boxer’s death?


Benjamin is not responsible for Boxer’s death

because he stayed with Boxer while the other animals went for help, and he was the one who read the sign on the truck and told everyone that they were taking Boxer to the glue factory, but I wouldn’t say that had he done things differently he woyuld have been able to stop …

What happens after Old Major dies and before the rebellion?

After the death of old Major,

the animals spend their days secretly planning the rebellion

, although they are unsure when it will occur. Because of their intelligence, the pigs are placed in charge of educating the animals about Animalism, the name they give to the philosophy expounded by Major in Chapter 1.

What comment does Benjamin the donkey?

He is sour and grumpy and seems to accept his destiny. This acceptance is illustrated by his remark that “

donkeys live a long time

.” Evidently, the suggestion is that he will outlive all the animals and will best know whether life, due to all the changes on the farm, will be better or not.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.