Final answer:
Napoleon and Snowball in 'Animal Farm' are leaders with the same goal but differ significantly; Napoleon is cunning and strategic, while Snowball is vivacious and innovative, setting the stage for the story's central conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing and contrasting two characters from George Orwell's "Animal Farm", we can look at Napoleon and Snowball as two pivotal figures in chapters 1 and 2. Both pigs emerge as leaders, following Old Major’s death, sharing the vision for a utopian farm society; however, their personalities and tactics contrast sharply. Napoleon is depicted as a large, rather fierce-looking Berkshire boar who is not much of a talker but has a reputation for getting his own way, suggesting a more forceful and cunning nature. Snowball, in contrast, is described as more vivacious, quicker in speech, and more inventive. He is shown to be active in organizing the other animals and has a plethora of ideas for improving the farm.
Despite similar goals for Animal Farm, their methods begin to diverge even from these early stages. Napoleon is more inclined towards getting support behind the scenes, creating a power base without ostentation. Snowball, meanwhile, is more openly engaging with the animals, helping to develop the Seven Commandments and planning for the defense of the farm. The first two chapters lay the groundwork for the conflict that defines much of the later narrative between these two characters, with Napoleon's focus on power and control and Snowball's focus on reforms and betterment of the community. This initial characterization establishes the protagonist vs. antagonist dynamic that will unfold as the story progresses.