Jones (Animal Farm)

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Pete Postlethwaite played Jones in the 1999 film adaption of Animal Farm.

Mr. Jones of Manor Farm was a human character in George Orwell's satirical book Animal Farm.

[edit] Depiction

Mr. Jones was overthrown by the animals of the farm early in the book for his harsh rule over the animals. Instigated by Old Major, the animals rebelled against Mr. Jones and removed him from power, supposedly ending the days of extreme hunger and labor.

Mr. Jones attempted to reinstate himself in the farm by attacking the animals, a skirmish the animals later called the Battle of the Cowshed. He was, however, defeated by Snowball's tactics. The casualties of the battle were only a single sheep lost by the animals, but many of the men whom Jones brought (which were from Foxwood and Pinchfield farms) were injured, including Jones himself. Jones never made an attempt to capture Animal Farm again and went off to live someplace else. He later died in an inebriates' home in another part of the country.

[edit] Jones in the Allegory

Mr. Jones represents Czar Nicholas II, who especially during World War I was despised for his harsh rule which resulted in many of the peasants and lower classes starving. The Russian Revolution of 1917 toppled Nicholas II, who was killed by the Soviets.

[edit] Adaptations

The 1954 animated adaptation of the book plays out much the same, except Jones never leaves the area and instead remains in his local pub. When the other major farmers decide to make an attempt to seize Animal Farm, Jones offers to join them but is turned down. Instead, he acquires a large quantity of dynamite and destroys the windmill, apparently dying in the explosion.