The dogs play the role of Napoleon's enforcers in this excerpt and throughout the story. They are depicted as a group of loyal and powerful animals who carry out Napoleon's orders and maintain control over the other animals through force and intimidation. They serve as a symbol of the Soviet secret police, who were known for their brutal tactics and suppression of dissent during Joseph Stalin's rule.
In the broader context of the story, the dogs symbolize the oppressive regime and the lengths it would go to maintain power. Their loyalty to Napoleon and their willingness to use violence reflect the blind allegiance and brutality of those in power. By depicting the dogs as enforcers, George Orwell highlights the corrupt nature of authoritarian regimes and the dangers they pose to individual freedom and democracy.
Additionally, the dogs can also be seen as symbolic of the proletariat, the working class. They are described as hardworking farmhands who contribute to the labor on the farm. This representation reflects the role of the working class in society and their potential to be manipulated and controlled by the ruling elite, as seen in the allegorical portrayal of the animals' revolution turning into a dictatorship.
What role do the dogs play in this excerpt and throughout the story? What might they symbolize?
Napoleon's faithful companions, symbolic of Soviet royal servants
Napoleon's enforcers, symbolic of the Soviet secret police
Independent beasts, symbolic of those who stay out of politics.
Hardworking farmhands, symbolic of people who labor.
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