Compare how Mr. Jones and Napoleon ruled the animals in Animal Farm.

As the other
educators have noted, Mr. Jones andboth ruled the animals using a combination of violence and
oppression.

Remember that the character of Mr. Jones is a representation of
Tsar Nicholas II. Like the tsar, Mr. Jones is not a malicious dictator. The rebellion to oust
him from the farm, for example, is caused by Mr. Joness forgetfulness. Instead of feeding the
animals as he ought to, he forgets because he has spent all day drinking alcohol. Similarly, the
people considered Tsar Nicholas to be an inept leader, out of touch with the needs of his
people.

In contrast, Napoleon is a representation of Joseph Stalin. Like
Stalin, Napoleon is power-hungry and determined to rule absolutely. The show trials in Chapter
Seven, for instance, show that unlike Jones, Napoleon was an active oppressor of the animals,
determined to root out any hint of discontent on the farm. This event mirrors what happened in
Russia in the 1930s.

Through his depictions of the rule of Mr. Jones and
then...