Pilkington (Animal Farm)
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Mr. Pilkington of Foxwood Farm is a human character in George Orwell's satirical book Animal Farm. Mr. Pilkington has a larger but thus more unkempt farm, and is on bad terms with Mr. Frederick of Pinchfield Farm, whose farm is on the opposite side of Animal Farm. Mr. Pilkington at first offered to buy Napoleon's pile of timber, but the timber is "bought" (with counterfeit banknotes) by Frederick instead. When Frederick invades Animal Farm, Pilkington refuses to help the animals (primarily because of the messages that Napoleon sent to Pilkington that read "Death to Pilkington").
[edit] The Meeting
Pilkington and several other of the men working on the farm were invited to a meeting by Napoleon and the pigs, where Napoleon reintroduces Animal Farm's "new" name of The Manor Farm. Pilkington praises Napoleon on his extreme strictness that he imposes upon the animals, forbidding them any time to enjoy themselves. He talks about the misunderstandings in the past that had been rectified. "You have your lower animals," the fat human jokingly consents, "and we have our lower classes." The men and pigs start playing cards, flattering and praising each other while cheating at the game, possibly representing the Tehran Conference.
At the end of the novel, both Napoleon and Pilkington draw the Ace of Spades (which in most games, is the highest-ranking card) at the same time and begin fighting loudly. This may symbolize the beginning of tension between the US and Soviet superpowers.
[edit] In the allegory
Pilkington represents western capitalist countries such as the United States and Britain. After the end of World War II, the Cold War was ignited between the US and the Soviet Union, similar to the end of the meeting where both Napoleon and Pilkington play a simultaneous Ace of Spades.
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