Are the characters in Animal Farm stereotypes?If so, explain the usefulness of employing stereotypes in the book. If they are not, explain how they...

To a certain extent, there is some level of stereotyping
in the book.  This is done to bring out a couple of elements.  The first would be that
in stereotyping the animals, it helps to bring out aspects of their humanity, reflecting
specific groups in our own setting.  If the driving force of Orwell's work is to create
a world that strongly parallels our own, then Orwell has to stereotype or group specific
behaviors into singular characters in order to effectively forge this link.  At the same
time, I think that this stereotyping is critically important in order reflect how each
particular animal represents some behavior in our own condition that is worthy of
critique or better understanding.  For example, in making Boxer one dimensional, a
stereotype of the working man, the reader is able to understand how those who are
working blindly for the government and place their trust implicitly within it can be so
easily misled and manipulated.  Napoleon is the stereotype of the evil genius and the
autocrat so that the reader can sense these traits in their own leaders and be able to
make connections that exist.