Early Trotsky
Lev Davidovich Bronshtein was born on November 7, 1879 in the Ukrainian Soviet Republic (Britannica, 2013). During his adolescence, Bronshtein was introduced to Marxism, and became involved in underground political activities, soliciting reforms in the political landscape of Russia. After attending university, Bronshtein coordinated a revolutionary organization called the South Russion Workers’ Union. In 1898, he was arrested for his illegal actions and then exiled to Siberia for the first time, where he joined the Social Democratic Party. He fled Siberia in 1902 with a counterfeit passport displaying his adopted alias ‘Trotsky.’ (Aprelenko, n.d.). After escaping Siberia, Trotsky came to London where he joined the Mensheviks, the democratic faction of the Russian Revolution party against the Bolsheviks and Lenin. He returned to Russia in 1905, where he helped organize revolutionary riots and strikes against the Czar, the then leader of Russia. Trotsky was again arrested for his illegal activities, and during his imprisonment in Siberia developed theories of permanent revolution. After spending two years in exile, Trotsky made his way out of Siberia and arrived in Vienna, where he collaborated with Adolf Joffe to issue the communist Russian newspaper, Pravda, meaning truth.
Banding with the Bolsheviks
Trotsky’s recognition was growing, and he was viewed as an important revolutionist ‘Vladimir Lenin asked Lev Kamenev to try and persuade him-Trotsky-to join the Bolsheviks.’ (Britannica, 2013). Following many failed attempts, Trotsky successfully came back to Russia in May 1917, after the overthrow of Czar Nicholas the Second. He deplored the Mensheviks for supporting the Czar’s provisional government, and switched sides, accepting Lenin's request to join the Bolshevik party, and earning membership in its Central Committee. Trotsky ‘..played a decisive role in the communist take-over of power in the same year.’ (BBC, n.d.). He acted as a foreign official, compromising and discussing terms with Germany. He was later appointed a war official, and led the Soviet Union’s national army, the Red Army, against the anti-communist White Russian forces. It was predicted that Trotsky would succeed Lenin, but the odds turned against him due to Stalin, his few allies, being of Jewish decent. Following Lenin’s death, Trotsky ‘..was easily outmaneuvered by Stalin.’ (Aprelenko n.d.). In 1927, Stalin expelled Trotsky from the Bolshevik Party.
Trotsky's Murder
Throughout his exile, Trotsky continued condemning Stalin through his works. Stalin ordered Trotsky’s murder, and on August 20, 1940, Spanish assassin Ramón Mercader stabbed Trotsky to death using an ice axe.
Trotsky/Snowball: Strive Against the Oppressor
In the novel Animal Farm, Leon Trotsky is represented by the character Snowball the pig. It soon becomes clear to the reader that Snowball's importance is channeled through Napoleon (Stalin), in that he is always brought up alongside Napoleon. In fact, we are first introduced to Snowball on account of Napoleon and how they compare. 'Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon, quicker in speech and more inventive, but not considered to have the same depth of character.' (9) This description of Snowball contrasted with Napoleon is indicative of foreshadowing the future of Napoleon's success over Snowball. It is also arguably accurate in relation to the pig's two human counterparts. Trotsky was more well educated than Stalin, and a better public speaker. However, Stalin was extremely clever and cunning, and ultimately succeeded Trotsky through his schemes, much like Napoleon was described as being '..not much of a talker but with a reputation for getting his own way.' (9)
Trotsky/Snowball: Organized
Another similarity between Snowball and Trotsky is their leadership and coordination skills. In the middle of the book, Mr. Jones, the original owner of the farm (who represents Czar Nicholas II), bands together with fellow English farmers in an attempt to reconquer the farm. Snowball had assumed that this would happen at some point, and so makes all the appropriate arrangements. For example, he studied a book regarding Julius Caesar's military operations in preparation for the day. In charge of the defense administration, Snowball was able to give '..his orders quickly, and in a couple of minutes every animal was at his post.' (26). The good leadership performed by Snowball in what was later named The Battle of Cowshed corresponds with the significant role that Trotsky played during the civil war. Trotsky was eventually commissioned war commissar, and essentially led the Red Army, just as Snowball controlled defensive operations during their revolt against the humans. Another similarity between Snowball and Trotsky is their desire to spread ideas. Trotsky put forward ideas of globalizing communism, and spreading it across countries. However, Stalin was against this idea, and wished to fortify power in Russia. Similarly, Snowball proposed spreading Animalism to farms all over England, but Napoleon objected to this.
Trotsky/Snowball: Matching Ending
Trotsky and Napoleon share a similar fate. For years, Trotsky and Stalin struggled to succeed each other, and Stalin considered Trotsky a roadblock to his gaining control. Eventually, however, there proved to be a successor to Lenin, and the outcome was Stalin. In the parallel Animal Farm universe, Snowball and Napoleon were in constant disagreement. For example, Snowball brought up the plans to construct a windmill on the farm of which Napoleon put down immediately. Lenin became supreme leader of the Soviet Union and in doing so abolished Trotsky from Russia, and eventually ordered for his brutal murder. Likewise, Napoleon and his minion dogs attacked and chased Snowball out of the farm, essentially exiling him.
Orwell's Portrayal of Trotsky
It can be argued that Orwell poorly illustrated Trotsky, because he did so in a potentially biased manner, bringing his personal understanding into play. That is, Orwell’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War in part inspired him to write Animal Farm. Specifically, he fought as a member of a Trotskyist group. This may be attributable to why Snowball is represented in a seemingly more positive light than Napoleon, who clearly evolves into an oppressor. For example, Snowball in fact genuinely cares for the wellbeing of the farm animals and the prosperity of Animalism, unlike Napoleon who only wishes to strengthen his power. Snowball plans different projects in advanced so as to protect and ensure prosperity of the farm, like the Battle of Cowshed and windmill construction. In doing so, he studies in his own time to gain knowledge and skills, and then makes an effort to educate the animals. Throughout the novel, Napoleon makes virtually no contributions to the farm. The only project he undertakes is that of raising the puppies, which he does only for his benefit, as they eventually become his minions/police force. Snowball can therefore be seen as a protagonist in the story that is mainly full of characters classified as anti heroes, which may reflect prejudice on the part of Orwell.
However, I think that Orwell’s portrayal of Trotsky is successful because he was able to identify Snowball’s-Trotsky’s-strengths, but also faults, and wrote based on what really happened during the Russian Revolution. Snowball’s weaknesses are also based on comparing him with Napoleon. His main reason for not being the superior leader is that he is not as tactful in making the animals side with him as Napoleon is. This is similar to how Stalin was much better at joining forces with those he needed to and removing the people he wanted to do without, Trotsky included. Moreover, Snowball was oblivious to Napoleon’s plans to abolish him from the farm, just as Trotsky probably did not foresee Stalin exiling and ordering his murder.
However, I think that Orwell’s portrayal of Trotsky is successful because he was able to identify Snowball’s-Trotsky’s-strengths, but also faults, and wrote based on what really happened during the Russian Revolution. Snowball’s weaknesses are also based on comparing him with Napoleon. His main reason for not being the superior leader is that he is not as tactful in making the animals side with him as Napoleon is. This is similar to how Stalin was much better at joining forces with those he needed to and removing the people he wanted to do without, Trotsky included. Moreover, Snowball was oblivious to Napoleon’s plans to abolish him from the farm, just as Trotsky probably did not foresee Stalin exiling and ordering his murder.