Summary:

Napoleon was the one from the most interesting personalities in the book. During reading of the Animal farm, we could see his change from a quiet pig to a cruel dictator. At the beginning of the book he worked in a group, he tolerates all the animals and he wanted to fight against the only enemy - a man. Later we could see that he wanted something more. He wanted to be the only leader. He wanted to be an autocrat. He started to hate Snowball and he tried to destroy him.

WHAT WERE HIS NEGATIVES?

He was very ruthless and jealous to Snowball and unbendable – too much. Then he stole nine puppies and changed all seven commandments for his profit. All things he did repeatedly because it was comfortable for him. After „case of windmill“ he expelled Snowball from a farm. He started to tyrannize all the animals. He ordered hens to lay eggs for a man, he started to walk on two legs and finally he united with all neighboured farmers. He forced all the animals to confess to things they did not do. Napoleon was an absolutely limitless leader and he proves to persuade Squealer to be his henchman.

Napoleon is a threatening and 'fierce looking' Berkshire boar. He is one of the three pigs that take Old Major's ideas and turn them into 'Animalism' - a system of thought that encourages the animals to rebel. He is not a gifted speaker but is known for getting his own way. He also manages to get the support of the sheep, he encourages them to chant 'four legs good, two legs bad' during debates, preventing others making their points.

He takes puppies from their mothers and brings them up himself. Once they have grown up, he uses them to take control of the farm. After he has done this, he and the other pigs start to break the Seven Commandments that the animals agreed to live by. He eventually becomes as much of a tyrant as Mr Jones ever was and exploits the other animals. Napoleon's can only be ascribed to his blatant lust for power. The very first description of Napoleon presents him as a "fierce-looking" boar "with a reputation for getting his own way." Throughout the novel, Napoleon's method of "getting his own way" involves a combination of propaganda and terror that none of the animals can resist. Note that as soon as the revolution is won, Napoleon's first action is to steal the cows' milk for the pigs. Clearly, the words of old Major inspired Napoleon not to fight against tyranny, but to seize the opportunity to establish himself as a dictator. The many crimes he commits against his own comrades range from seizing nine puppies to "educate" them as his band of killer guard dogs to forcing confessions from innocent animals and then having them killed before all the animals' eyes.

Napoleon's greatest crime, however, is his complete transformation into Jones — although Napoleon is a much more harsh and stern master than the reader is led to believe Jones ever was. By the end of the novel, Napoleon is sleeping in Jones' bed, eating from Jones' plate, drinking alcohol, wearing a derby hat, walking on two legs, trading with humans, and sharing a toast with Mr. Pilkington. His final act of propaganda — changing the Seventh Commandment to "ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL / BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS" — reflects his unchallenged belief that he belongs in complete control of the farm. His restoration of the name Manor Farm shows just how much Napoleon has wholly disregarded the words of old Major.

Who is he based of?

Napoleon is based on the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin. Stalin was involved in the Russian Revolution of 1917 and came to rule Soviet Russia after the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924. He ruled until his death in 1953. During his time in power, the country was gripped by famine and fear, millions of people starved to death and those who opposed him were imprisoned or killed.

The name also evokes the French military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte (1776-1821), who seized power after the French Revolution, crowned himself Emperor and ruled France until 1815.