"If there is hope, it lies in the Proles."

BOXER AND THE PROLES

Dear Danish students:

In answer to your questions: "Who is the actual person Boxer is named after; the person the award in Russia was named after?. What does Orwell want the reader to think of Boxer?", I've taken an excerpt "right from the horse's mouth" so to speak, or in other words, right from Orwell's own words:

"Boxer was an enormous beast, nearly eighteen hands high, and as strong as any two ordinary horses put together. A white stripe down his nose gave him a somewhat stupid appearance, and in fact he was not of first-rate intelligence, but he was universally respected for his steadiness of character and tremendous powers of work." [end quoting]

Boxer represents the indispensable working man without whom the elite would be incapable of surviving in the comfort and manner to which they've become accustomed and to which they intend to stay - lording it over the masses of humanity who are nothing but a human resource to them.If they were the only beings left on the planet, the oligarchs, elites, or rulers would die out as a species because they depend on the blood, sweat and toil of others to survive. Their main challenge in life is to find out how to harvest the energies of others to the benefit of themselves. Boxer is of use to them because he knows how to get things done, and his example is a model for others to follow:

"Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer, whose strength seemed equal to that of all the rest of the animals put together. When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill, it was always Boxer who strained himself against the rope and brought the boulder to a stop. To see him toiling up the slope inch by inch, his breath coming fast, the tips of his hoofs clawing at the ground, and his great sides matted with sweat, filled everyone with admiration. Clover warned him sometimes to be careful not to overstrain himself, but Boxer would never listen to her. His two slogans, 'I will work harder' and 'Napoleon is always right', seemed to him a sufficient answer to all problems." [end quoting]

But in spite of Boxer's apparent commitment to the Leader, Orwell does give indications that Boxer is mulling things over in his mind and that given enough time, he would be capable of rebellion against the pigs. His ability to snuff the life out of the ravaging dogs wasn't lost on Napoleon, and after that Boxer was watched very closely.

Boxer is to Animal Farm what the Proles are to 1984.

"If there was hope, it must lie in the Proles because only there - in those swarming disregarded masses - could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated. ...The Proles, if only they could somehow become conscious of their own strength. ...They needed only to rise up and shake themselves like a horse shaking off flies. ...Surely sooner or later it must occur to them to do it?" [end quoting]

I hope this gives you a general idea of the importance Orwell places on Boxer in Animal Farm and the Proles in 1984.

All the best,
Jackie Jura

Reader asks: "Who is the actual person Boxer is named after; the person the award in Russia was named after?"

HORSE DEATH IN ANIMAL FARM

GULLIVER DESCRIBES YAHOOS

Jackie Jura
~ an independent researcher monitoring local, national and international events ~

email: orwelltoday@gmail.com
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