Although very sparing with his words, Benjamin the donkey is naturally a cynical character, demonstrated through his passive role in the revolution and its ensuing events. Much like a donkey, he is stereotypically stubborn and adheres to his philosophy that life is inevitably riddled with struggle and grief. Throughout the story, he provides very cryptic messages to the animals: “Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey.” He seems to be the only animal who understands the motivations behind the actions of the pigs, yet continues to remain tight-lipped, for a reason that is not fully elucidated in the novella. One of the only times he intervenes is when his friend Boxer is sent to be slaughtered. In the last chapter, we see that Benjamin’s observation that “life would go on as it had always gone on – that is, badly” is an accurate depiction of the future, underscoring his lack of faith in the possibility of meaningful change. Benjamin allegorises the individuals in Russia who were aware of Stalin’s oppressive policies but were averse to the idea of taking decisive action.
