Discuss external factors (environmental or objects) that effect or influence the Napoleon in Animal Farm.

In terms of external factors that play a role in the
development of Napoleon's character, the rivalry with Snowball for leadership on the
farm is something that drives him.  Once Jones is overthrown and the pigs are given the
title of leaders on the farm, the antagonism between Snowball and Napoleon reaches a
fevered pitch.  Both of them hold fundamentally different viewpoints on the direction of
the farm and the power struggle between them becomes increasingly apparent.  This is
shown brilliantly in the construction and schematics of the windmill.  As Snowball
struggles day and night to design the windmill, filled with architectural details and
books abundant, Napoleon, who has been completely against the windmill, enters one
evening and studies the designs.  He then urinates on them to show his disgust.  When
the speeches in favor and against the windmill present themselves to the animals,
Napoleon's speech consists of a high pitched whistle in which his pups turned attack
dogs chase Snowball off the farm for good, enabling him to hold complete and unlimited
power over the farm.  This rivalry with Snowball helped to harden Napoleon, making him
more brutal, more intense, and more driven to hold and consolidate power over both his
fellow animals as well as other farms around Animal Farm.  The factor of competition
with Snowball and then ensuring that victory over him was a permanent state of being is
a very intense motivating factor for Napoleon and his development in the
novel.