Asked by julie

How does the characterization of Snowball best support the author’s purpose?

Snowball, characterized as a spy, shows how dictators use people to do their dirty work for them.
Snowball, characterized as a traitor, shows how dictators use scapegoats to ramp up fear and keep control.
Snowball, characterized as a villain, shows how even the most loyal subjects can turn against a leader.
Snowball, characterized as a loner, shows how vital it is for people to escape from dictators like Napoleon.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Snowball, characterized as a traitor, shows how dictators use scapegoats to ramp up fear and keep control.

Explanation: After Napoleon drives Snowball off the farm, he and Squealer repeatedly portray Snowball as a treacherous conspirator (blaming him for the windmill’s damage, claiming he met with Jones, staging forced confessions about being "in league with Snowball"). By inventing and amplifying Snowball’s guilt, Napoleon creates a convenient scapegoat to explain failures, justify repression (the executions, the dogs’ violence), and keep the animals fearful and obedient — which supports Orwell’s purpose of exposing how totalitarian leaders manipulate truth and use scapegoats to consolidate power.