George Orwell Character Analysis in Only the Animals

Eric Blair, better known by his pen name George Orwell, inherits Plautus after Virginia dies in “Plautus: A Memoir.” Virginia believed that George had a menagerie and therefore would take good care of a tortoise—but the menagerie turns out to consist of only a dog and a rooster. George and Plautus never get along, in part because George feels that having a pet tortoise is too aristocratic. Plautus tries to be proud of her time with George by telling readers that she witnessed him writing his most famous work, Animal Farm. George is unwittingly responsible for igniting Plautus’s desire to go to space when he takes her to a lecture about space by the philosopher Bertrand Russell.

George Orwell Character Timeline in Only the Animals

The timeline below shows where the character George Orwell appears in Only the Animals. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

In her will, Virginia dictates that Plautus should go to Eric Blair, better known as George Orwell. She heard that he has a small menagerie on his family’s farm and hoped... (full context)

The Interconnectedness of Humans and Animals Theme Icon

Now, Plautus tries to be proud that she saw George working on Animal Farm, but at the time, she’s depressed and doesn’t care. What she... (full context)

Disguised as the tramp Burton, George takes Plautus to a lecture by the philosopher Bertrand Russell. He sits near the front... (full context)

Soon after this, Plautus runs away from George. She spends a number of years slumming and even spends 10 years at a wildlife... (full context)

...chance. She’s fascinated by solitude after spending her life with Oleg, Alexandra, Virginia, and even George—and space, to her, represents a chance to be truly alone. (full context)