Jones (Animal Farm)
Encyclopedia
Mr Jones of Manor Farm is a human character in George Orwell
's allegorical novel Animal Farm
. Jones is an allegory for Tsar
Nicholas II. Jones was overthrown by the animals of his farm, who represent Bolshevik
and liberal
revolutionaries.
, the animals rebelled by driving out Mr and Mrs Jones and his workers and removed him from power
, supposedly ending the days of extreme hunger
and labor
.
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 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 (from the Foxwood and Pinchfield farms) were injured, including Jones himself. Jones never made an attempt to capture Animal Farm again and went off to live somewhere else. The animals heard that he died years later in a home for the elderly.
Jones was portrayed by Maurice Denham
, who provided all voices bar the narration. The story is fairly faithful to the novel, 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 and himself (Due to being drunk). Pete Postlethwaite
portrayed Jones in the 1999 live-action film
, as a brutish yokel, although his alcoholism is toned down. In this film, he and Mrs. Jones destroy the windmill.
Tony Robinson
portrayed Jones in the 1994
featurette Down on Animal Farm, a documentary about the making of the 1954 adaptation
.
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
's allegorical novel Animal Farm
Animal Farm
Animal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell published in England on 17 August 1945. According to Orwell, the book reflects events leading up to and during the Stalin era before World War II...
. Jones is an allegory for Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
Nicholas II. Jones was overthrown by the animals of his farm, who represent Bolshevik
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
and liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
revolutionaries.
Description
Mr Jones was once a capable farmer, but in the aftermath of a very damaging lawsuit he resorted to drinking and became known for his harsh rule over the animals. Instigated by Old MajorOld Major
Old Major is the first major character described by George Orwell in Animal Farm. This "purebred" of pigs is a kind, grandfatherly philosopher of change...
, the animals rebelled by driving out Mr and Mrs Jones and his workers and removed him from power
Power (sociology)
Power is a measurement of an entity's ability to control its environment, including the behavior of other entities. The term authority is often used for power perceived as legitimate by the social structure. Power can be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as endemic to...
, supposedly ending the days of extreme hunger
Hunger
Hunger is the most commonly used term to describe the social condition of people who frequently experience the physical sensation of desiring food.-Malnutrition, famine, starvation:...
and labor
Manual labour
Manual labour , manual or manual work is physical work done by people, most especially in contrast to that done by machines, and also to that done by working animals...
.
Jones attempted to reinstate himself in the farm by attacking
Invasion
An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of either conquering, liberating or re-establishing control or authority over a...
the animals; a skirmish the animals later called the Battle of the Cowshed. He was defeated by Snowball
Snowball (Animal Farm)
Snowball is a fictional pig in the book Animal Farm written by George Orwell. He is based on Leon Trotsky.- Snowball's ideas :Snowball believes in a continued revolution: he argues that in order to defend Animal Farm and strengthen the reality of Old Major's dream of a life without humans, the...
's tactics. The casualties
Casualty (person)
A casualty is a person who is the victim of an accident, injury, or trauma. The word casualties is most often used by the news media to describe deaths and injuries resulting from wars or disasters...
of the battle were only a single sheep lost by the animals, but many of the men whom Jones brought (from the Foxwood and Pinchfield farms) were injured, including Jones himself. Jones never made an attempt to capture Animal Farm again and went off to live somewhere else. The animals heard that he died years later in a home for the elderly.
Portrayals
In the 1954 animated adaptationAnimal Farm (1954 film)
Animal Farm is a 1954 British animated film by Halas and Batchelor, based on the book of the same name by George Orwell. It was the first British animated feature released worldwide, though Handling Ships was the first British animated feature ever made...
Jones was portrayed by Maurice Denham
Maurice Denham
Maurice Denham OBE was an English character actor who appeared in over 100 television programmes and films throughout his long career.-Life and career:...
, who provided all voices bar the narration. The story is fairly faithful to the novel, 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
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
and destroys the windmill and himself (Due to being drunk). Pete Postlethwaite
Pete Postlethwaite
Peter William "Pete" Postlethwaite, OBE, was an English stage, film and television actor.After minor television appearances including in The Professionals, Postlethwaite's first success came with the film Distant Voices, Still Lives in 1988. He played a mysterious lawyer, Mr...
portrayed Jones in the 1999 live-action film
Animal Farm (1999 film)
Animal Farm was a made for TV film version of the 1945 George Orwell novel of the same name. The film tells the story of how the animals of a farm successfully revolt against its human owner, only to slide into a more brutal tyranny among themselves. It was released in 1999 by Hallmark Films...
, as a brutish yokel, although his alcoholism is toned down. In this film, he and Mrs. Jones destroy the windmill.
Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
portrayed Jones in the 1994
1994 in television
The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
featurette Down on Animal Farm, a documentary about the making of the 1954 adaptation
Animal Farm (1954 film)
Animal Farm is a 1954 British animated film by Halas and Batchelor, based on the book of the same name by George Orwell. It was the first British animated feature released worldwide, though Handling Ships was the first British animated feature ever made...
.