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 plot is Benjamin, an elderly donkey. It is unclear which group or person Benjamin represents in Stalin's revolution. However, one theory is that Benjamin is used to portray skeptics living in the revolution, especially those who do not publicly criticize Stalin's regime. Orwell uses Benjamin to represent the skeptics as he is strong minded, but intelligent enough to keep a low profile in his beliefs so as not to face repercussions. His interactions with other animals are typically abrupt and rude and he is not renowned 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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Disclosure of Benjamin's Intelligence and Mental Strength Throughout the novel, it becomes evident 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, smartest 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 he never exercised his faculties. As far as he knew, he said, there was nothing worth reading.” Benjamin has a cynical attitude, despite being educated and well aware of what is really happening, which shows readers that education is essentially useless without action to back it up. Throughout the story he insists that nothing ever changes, which ultimately becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. However, this is not the only evidence to suggest that 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 demonstrated by the general impression of skepticism he gives off, which can be deduced from his opinions on minor matters on the farm. Benjamin believes that, as far as he knows, "there is nothing worth reading" and also refuses to "meddle in such matters as" reading a commandment for Clover. Boxer's insightful beliefs can be compared to the beliefs of another animal like Boxer, who is willing to dedicate 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 shown. Another demonstration of Benjamin's intelligence is shown by his approach to his beliefs mentioned above. Not only does he have the mental strength to form these opinions, but he also has the intelligence not to brag about what he believes. Orwell lets the reader infer that Benjamin keeps his beliefs and skepticism low-key on the farm. As readers, we can come to this conclusion because we never hear his beliefs uttered in front of a large audience or many people: they are always phrases muttered by Benjamin under his breath to other trusted animals. He acts this way because he knows that if he spreads or publicizes his beliefs he will be killed, just like the chickens who starved to death after their rebellion to protest against Napoleon who wanted to sell their spring eggs. All of theseBenjamin's personality traits can be traced back to the characters Benjamin represents from Stalinist Russia. These silent skeptics were not drawn into the vortex of propaganda, had the mental strength to forge their own opinions, and consistently avoided trouble by keeping their opinions low profile. As is now clear, Benjamin's intelligence and mental strength are designed to represent the skeptics of this era. Benjamin's Characteristics as References to Stalinist Russia Benjamin's interactions with animals also give us insight into his characteristics and their parallels with skeptics of Stalinist Russia. We can ascertain two main characteristics by observing Benjamin's interactions: mysteriousness and undeserved respect. Orwell leads us to conclude that Benjamin is a respected animal by eliding his seniority. On the first page he states that Benjamin is "the oldest animal on the farm." Immediately Benjamin is seen as a senior figure, and with seniority comes a kind of respect. Another example of Orwell inferring the mutual respect the Animals have for Benjamin is in the way the other animals turn to him for assistance. An example of this is that Clover immediately turns to Boxer to help her read the commandments. The reader is invited to conclude that animals value Benjamin, this value gives him a natural, albeit unwanted and most likely undeserved, leadership position. With this leadership comes respect for animals. Benjamin is also a mysterious figure. he mostly keeps to himself throughout the text, yet he still forms very strong opinions. It is clear that Benjamin has strong preferences. However, when asked to vote for Snowball or Napoleon to lead Animal Farm, he "did not side with either side" and chose to remain impartial. This act of indifference could be seen as a sign of rebellion: by saying nothing he is making the biggest statement. It's also the only sign of rebellion that isn't realized and stopped by the pigs. These acts add to Benjamin's mysterious figure as they separate him from the rest of the animals. The same can be said of the skeptics of Stalinist Russia. The mystery surrounding their lives is what separates them from the working class and earns them the respect of the people around them. This is another example of how Benjamin's characteristics can be used to link him to skeptics of the Russian Revolution. Benjamin is a donkey with mixed emotions, he is extremely stubborn, but shows uncompromising loyalty and helpfulness towards those in need. This shows that although Benjamin may be self-centered at times, deep down he wants the best for others too. The quality of stubbornness can be linked to Benjamin by analyzing his quotes. On several occasions he says 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 deduce that Benjamin is a single-minded character who can be perceived as stuck in his ways. The repetition of this quote suggests that he only sees things a certain way and does not want to change his opinions. His physical appearance also links him to stubbornness. Mules, descendants of donkeys, are notoriously stubborn. Benjamin's loyalty is an amazing quality to attribute to such a seemingly rough animal. When the boxer is injured after the second battle with the humans, he takes care of him and is at his side. He also risks his life for his friend Boxer when Boxer is taken away in a horse slaughter van. As soon as he understands what