What are ducks in Animal Farm represent?

In George Orwell's allegorical novella Animal Farm the ducks are a group of animals whose ultimate fate reflects their lack of agency and political awareness. The ducks initially join the rebellion against Mr. Jones, the oppressive farm owner, but they quickly become disillusioned when they realize that the pigs, who become leaders of the farm after the revolution, are just as tyrannical as Jones was. The ducks are aware that the pigs are manipulating them and other animals, but they are unable to resist their power.

Eventually, the ducks become so demoralized that they give up their revolutionary ideals altogether and simply focus on their own survival. They become content with the scraps that the pigs throw them and they lose their sense of community and solidarity. Ultimately, the ducks' fate symbolizes the failure of the revolution and the triumph of totalitarianism. They represent the tragic consequences of submitting to authority without critical thought or resistance.