Pilkington (Animal Farm)

Mr Pilkington of Foxwood Farm is a fictional character in George Orwell's satirical book Animal Farm.

Role in the story

Pilkington is based on Winston Churchill and President Roosevelt. Mr Pilkington has a larger but more unkempt farm, and is on bad terms with Mr Frederick of Pinchfield Farm, whose farm is on the opposite side of Animal Farm. Despite the bickering between Frederick and Pilkington, there are two factors both respectfully agree upon: they are frightened of the animal revolution that deposed Mr Jones, the original owner, fearing that their own animals may stage similar revolutions on their farmsteads, and both continue to call "Animal Farm" by its original name of "Manor Farm", as they believe the name "Animal Farm" is an unofficial endorsement of the animal revolution. Mr Pilkington at first offered to buy Napoleon's pile of surplus timber, but the timber is "bought" (with counterfeit banknotes) by Frederick instead. Napoleon plays both sides by feigning friendship with Pilkington to get Frederick to pay a higher price for the timber. 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").

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.

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.

In the allegory

Pilkington represents western capitalist countries, specifically the sprawling British Empire which was crumbling during World War II, although to an extent he also represents the US. This is in contrast to Frederick, who has the opposite scenario of a smaller, better managed farm (an allegory of Germany). After the end of World War II, the Cold War began between the 'West' and the Soviet Union, similar to the end of the meeting where both Napoleon and Pilkington play a simultaneous Ace of Spades, then get into an argument over it.

Film

In the 1999 film, Pilkington is the first human to enter into trade agreements with Animal Farm, beginning regular deals with Napoleon as he considers it more practical to trade with the animals after learning that they can talk, considering that they are incapable of coping on their own, and dismissing claims that other animals are starving in favour of the benefits to himself. His final fate is unrevealed.

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