In the allegorical novel Animal Farm, George Orwell uses animals to represent humans or groups in Stalin's Russian Revolution. A character who is integral to the development of the storyline is Benjamin, an old donkey. It is not clear which group or person Benjamin represents in the Stalinist revolution. However, one theory is that Benjamin is used to describe skeptics living in the revolution, particularly those who do not publicly criticize Stalin's regime. Orwell uses Benjamin to represent the skeptics because he is strong-minded, but intelligent enough to keep his beliefs discreet so as not to face repercussions. His interactions with other animals are generally abrupt and rude, and he is not known for his hard work. However, he is respected by all animals. His stubbornness is evident throughout the text and, despite his rudeness, he is undeniably loyal and helpful to those in need. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Disclosure of Benjamin's Intelligence and Mental Strength Throughout the novel, it becomes apparent that Benjamin is an extremely intelligent and mentally strong animal. Orwell states that Benjamin "could read as well as any pig", which immediately leads the reader to assume that he is one of, if not the most intelligent, animals on the farm. Benjamin's apathy throughout the story is also presented in this passage as we are told that "Benjamin could read as well as any pig, but never exercised his faculties." As far as he knows, he says, "there's nothing worth reading." Benjamin has a cynical attitude, although he is educated and well aware of what is really happening, which shows readers that education is essentially useless without action to support it. He insists throughout the story that nothing ever changes, which ultimately becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. However, this is not the only piece of evidence that suggests Benjamin is intelligent or strong-minded. He is the only animal on the farm who immediately differentiates his opinion from what the pigs want him to believe. This is seen through the general impression of skepticism he gives off, this can be inferred from his opinions on minor matters of the farm. Benjamin believes that as far as he knows, "there is nothing worth reading" and he also refuses to "get involved in such matters as reading a commandment for Clover." Boxer's insightful beliefs can be compared to the beliefs of another animal such as Boxer, who is willing to devote his entire life, after retirement, to learning and studying the "remaining twenty-two letters of the 'alphabet'. Through his ability to resist the "propaganda" spread by the pigs, particularly Squealer, Benjamin's mental strength is demonstrated. Another demonstration of Benjamin's intelligence is demonstrated by his approach to his beliefs mentioned above. Not only does he have the mental strength to formulate these opinions, but he also has the intelligence not to brag about what he believes. Orwell suggests to the reader that Benjamin keeps a low profile about his beliefs and skepticism on the farm. As readers, we can draw this conclusion because we never hear his beliefs expressed in front of a large audience or in front of many people – they are always phrases whispered by Benjamin under his breath to other trusted animals. He does this because he knows that if he propagates or makes his beliefs known, he will bekilled, just like the chickens who died of starvation after their rebellion to protest against Napoleon who wanted to sell their spring eggs. All these traits of Benjamin's personality can be brought back to the characters that Benjamin represents in Stalinist Russia. These quiet skeptics were not drawn into the vortex of propaganda, they had the mental strength to form their own opinions and constantly avoided trouble by keeping their opinions discreet. As is now clear, Benjamin's intelligence and mental strength are designed to represent the skeptics of that era. Benjamin's characteristics as references to Stalinist RussiaBenjamin's interactions with animals also give us insight into his characteristics and of their parallels with the skeptics of Stalinist Russia. We can see two major characteristics when watching Benjamin's interactions: mystery and undeserved respect. Orwell leads us to conclude that Benjamin is a respected animal by evading his seniority. On the first page, he states that Benjamin is "the oldest animal on the farm." Instantly, Benjamin is considered a high-ranking figure, and with seniority comes a kind of respect. Another example of Orwell inferring the mutual respect the animals have for Benjamin is the way the other animals turn to him for help. An example of this is Clover who instantly turns to Boxer to help him read the commandments. The reader is invited to conclude that because the animals value Benjamin, this value gives him a natural, although unwanted and most likely undeserved, leadership position. With this leadership comes respect for animals. Benjamin is also a mysterious character. he remains mostly alone throughout the text, but he nevertheless forms very strong opinions. It is clear that Benjamin has strong preferences. However, when asked whether to vote for Snowball or Napoleon to lead Animal Farm, he "did not side with either faction" and chose to remain impartial. This act of indifference could be seen as a sign of rebellion: it is by saying nothing that he makes the greatest statement. It is also the only sign of rebellion that is not realized and stopped by the pigs. These actions add to Benjamin's mysterious figure by separating him from the rest of the animals. The same can be said of the skeptics of Stalinist Russia. The mystery that surrounds their lives is what sets them apart from the working class and earns them the respect of those around them. This is another example of how Benjamin's characteristics can be used to connect him to skeptics of the Russian Revolution. Benjamin is an ass with mixed emotions, he is extremely stubborn, but shows uncompromising loyalty and helpfulness to those in need. This shows that even if Benjamin is sometimes egocentric, deep down he also wants the best for others. The quality of stubbornness can be related to Benjamin by analyzing his quotes. He repeatedly states that “donkeys live a long time”. None of you have ever seen a dead donkey. This cryptic remark leaves the animals perplexed, but he continues with this remark. Through this quote, we can infer that Benjamin is a determined character who can be seen as stuck in his ways. The repetition of this quote suggests that he only sees things a certain way and is unwilling to change his mind. His physical appearance also links him to stubbornness. Mules, descendants of donkeys, are notoriously stubborn. Benjamin's loyalty is a surprising quality to attribute to such a crude animal. When the boxer is injured after the second battle against the humans,