Animal Farm - Benjamin - Characterization and Symbolism

Beside the astounding, naive and gullible behaviour of the lower-class animals, a rather surprising attitude manifests itself during the revolution on Manor Farm. It is the careless and seemingly apathetic passivity of Benjamin. Why does a such sharp-witted and gifted donkey - with reasonable intelligence and profound perspective - refuse to take initiative or to intervene in such a crucial situation, when he realises that the original ideas of the revolution got abandoned?

It first may appear that Benjamin lacks courage or fortitude to take action against the rising abuse of power seen in the leadership of the pigs. But rather than that, it appears more to be his kind of wider, extensive mindset and perspective, which separates him form the rest of the animals and enables him to predict the final outcome of the revolution. It is also this overarching comprehension of the expanding abuse of power, which leads to his pessimistic and preposterous opinion of the revolution. This is expressed by his quiet, cynical comments and amused awaiting for the final outcome. It is thus his character, which indirectly contributes a philosophical and sceptical point of view to the story and assists to the awareness of the whole circling plot of the revolution. 

Benedict G. G2C