Although Boxer of Animal Farm and Parsons of 1984 express very similar traits, with both characters being ideal citizens under their respective government, many readers view the two as near opposites due to the ability of a protagonist to bias our view of them.
On the most basic level, Boxer and Parsons appear to be nearly identical characters. Even though the reader can recognize that the governments in each novel are horrendous and abusive dictatorships, neither Boxer nor Parsons realize how severe his personal situation truly is because they are both so loyal, trusting, and unquestioning. Boxer is described as being one of Animal Farm’s two “most faithful disciples” (Animal Farm 18), though he is not considered to be intelligent by any …show more content…
From the very start, Boxer strives to put his utmost effort into working for Animal Farm and will not allow himself to fall below his own personal standard of being the best toiler he can. “Boxer was the admiration of everybody. He had been a hard worker even in Jones’s time, but now he seemed more like three horses than one; there were days when the entire work of the farm seemed to rest on his mighty shoulders” (Animal Farm 29). In addition, he assists the others even when he has an injured hoof and is in great pain due to the simple fact that he wishes to witness the completion the windmill (Animal Farm 111), which suggests that Boxer feels a great dedication to Animal Farm and its renovation. If he were any less devoted, then Boxer would allow himself to relax and heal rather than push himself to his physical limits. In a similar fashion, Tom Parsons is an incredibly hardworking and committed citizen under Oceania’s totalitarian government. He often brags about his nightly attendance at the Community Center for the past four years, and how he is a “leading figure on the Sports Committee and all the other committees engaged in organizing community hikes, spontaneous demonstrations, saving campaigns, and voluntary activities generally” (1984 22). Parsons spends nearly all of his available time working for or with the Party, even though it is not required of him to do so. A less-than-ideal citizen would ignore these optional events, but because Parsons chooses freely to participate in them, it can be confirmed that he truly wishes
On the most basic level, Boxer and Parsons appear to be nearly identical characters. Even though the reader can recognize that the governments in each novel are horrendous and abusive dictatorships, neither Boxer nor Parsons realize how severe his personal situation truly is because they are both so loyal, trusting, and unquestioning. Boxer is described as being one of Animal Farm’s two “most faithful disciples” (Animal Farm 18), though he is not considered to be intelligent by any …show more content…
From the very start, Boxer strives to put his utmost effort into working for Animal Farm and will not allow himself to fall below his own personal standard of being the best toiler he can. “Boxer was the admiration of everybody. He had been a hard worker even in Jones’s time, but now he seemed more like three horses than one; there were days when the entire work of the farm seemed to rest on his mighty shoulders” (Animal Farm 29). In addition, he assists the others even when he has an injured hoof and is in great pain due to the simple fact that he wishes to witness the completion the windmill (Animal Farm 111), which suggests that Boxer feels a great dedication to Animal Farm and its renovation. If he were any less devoted, then Boxer would allow himself to relax and heal rather than push himself to his physical limits. In a similar fashion, Tom Parsons is an incredibly hardworking and committed citizen under Oceania’s totalitarian government. He often brags about his nightly attendance at the Community Center for the past four years, and how he is a “leading figure on the Sports Committee and all the other committees engaged in organizing community hikes, spontaneous demonstrations, saving campaigns, and voluntary activities generally” (1984 22). Parsons spends nearly all of his available time working for or with the Party, even though it is not required of him to do so. A less-than-ideal citizen would ignore these optional events, but because Parsons chooses freely to participate in them, it can be confirmed that he truly wishes