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  • Essay / A character analysis: the boxer and capitalism in George Orwell's Animal Farm

    Boxer… The proletariat-communism. What comes to mind when you hear the word communism? Do you think of evil leaders or do you think of a prosperous society? In The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx put forward his ideas on communism and discredited the capitalist system by describing the constant struggle between the bourgeoisie, the upper middle class, and the proletariat, the working class. Marx constantly informs the reader that the bourgeoisie has transformed people in previous professions into “wage earners,” how the proletariat becomes just another “part of the machine,” and how the bourgeoisie exploits the proletariat. All of these themes are prevalent in both The Communist Manifesto and Animal Farm, which manifest themselves in Boxer, the farm's "work horse." These themes support the idea that Orwell's depiction of Boxer fits into Marx and Engels' critique of capitalism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay Orwell's description of Boxer fits within Marx and Engels' critique of capitalism because it shows how Boxer, once a simple beast of money on the farm, transforms into a full-fledged worker. When Marx declares: “The bourgeoisie has stripped of its halo all professions hitherto honored and admired with respectful respect. He transformed the doctor, the lawyer, the priest, the poet, the man of science into hired workers” (TCM, page 16). It shows how the working class is stripped of what it was, and how they are transformed into workers. In Animal Farm, Orwell states: “The pigs did not actually work, but directed and watched over the others. With their supervisor's knowledge, it was natural for them to assume leadership. Boxer and Clover would harness themselves to the cutter or rake (no bits or reins were necessary in our day, of course) and stomp steadily around the field with a pig walking behind and shouting, "Come on, mate." ' or 'Woah back, mate!' depending on the case” (AF, pages 27-28), it is shown how the pigs give everyone worker roles, while they do not work. Marx and Engel's critique of capitalism fits well with the depiction of the Boxer in Animal Farm because it is shown how the Boxer, but many other working animals on the farm, are just another piece of the puzzle. When Marx states: “Due to the intensive use of machines and the division of labor, the work of the proletarians has lost all individual character and, consequently, all charm for the worker. He becomes an appendage of the machine, and it is only the simplest talent, the most monotonous, the easiest to acquire, that we ask of him” (TCM, page 20). It shows how the proletariats become part of a machine that works and produces constantly, without ever stopping. When Orwell shows: “The animals certainly did not want Jones to come back; if holding debates on Sunday morning risked bringing him back, then we must stop the debates. Boxer, who now had time to think, expressed the general feeling by saying: “If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be true. And from then on, he adopted the maxim “Napoleon is always right”, in addition to his private motto “I will work harder”” (AF page 56). It shows how Boxer does not question any of Napoleon's judgments and how he is submissive. Boxer is in fact just another appendage of the machine; he remains docile and does his job, and when Napoleon is not satisfied, Boxer responds: “I..