Benjamin

• 'He was devoted to Boxer'- Symbolism

  The intellectuals in society are devoted to the working class.

  They understand their fate.

  Power comes in numbers and knowledge.
• 'He was devoted to Boxer'- Symbolism
• 'Never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either'- Symbolism

  The intellectual class accept the monotony of life.

  They understand the cyclical nature of revolution.
• 'Never shirking and never volunteering for extra work either'- Symbolism
• 'Benjamin could read as well as any pig, but never exercised his faculty'- Irony

  The intellectuals will stand and watch on.

  They do not make the proletariat aware of their power in numbers.
• 'Benjamin could read as well as any pig, but never exercised his faculty'- Irony
• 'Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction'- Symbolism

  Intellectuals believe that everyone else is foolish and it is futile to pick sides.

  This leads to the destruction of the proletariat- Boxer's death.
• 'Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction'- Symbolism
• 'The cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time'- Allusion

  He thinks that he can outlast the doomed animalism.

  He does not realise that it could affect him in other ways.
• 'The cryptic remark that donkeys live a long time'- Allusion
• 'He refused to meddle in such matters'- Irony

  He thinks he is too intelligent for the current problems.

  He does not understand the true power of an intellectual government.
• 'He refused to meddle in such matters'- Irony
• 'Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?- Tragic Irony/Rhetorical Question

  Benjamin is asking this question to nobody.

  If he had realised the power of his knowledge, the animals would have been able to stand up to the pigs.
• 'Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?- Tragic Irony/Rhetorical Question
• 'Only old Benjamin was much the same as ever'- Symbolism

  Benjamin has not changed and will not be able to outlive the rebellion.

  His appearance reflects intellectuals' attitudes to revolution.
• 'Only old Benjamin was much the same as ever'- Symbolism