Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely- and this is vividly and eloquently proven in Orwell’s short novel. “Animal Farm” is a simple fable of great symbolic value and can be seen as the historical analysis of the causes of the failure of communism. “Animal Farm” resembles the Russian Revolution but it is also represents political revolutions where the fundamental ideas of justice and equality are tested. This novel was influenced by the overthrowing of Tsar Nicholas II in 1917. After he was overthrown, there was an opportunity to free the peoples who had been secluded in poverty and tyranny. “Animal Farm” reflects upon the issue of the replacement of one tyranny by another and of revolution and disloyalty. In this novel, the main animals which inspire and lead the revolution are the pigs, namely Napoleon. The other animals looked towards Napoleon and the pigs for leadership and guidance and by and large were willing to follow them. This essay will aim to examine just how they managed to maintain power over the animals and how they became corrupted and manipulated the animals’ minds to uphold this power.
At first things went well and having driven Mr. Jones away, all the animals worked together for the common good. However, the pigs begin to fight among themselves for power. They also start to exploit and abuse the position of authority they have over the other animals. Napoleon began maintaining power by being part of a powerful organisation, The Pig Elite. Napoleon had already been marked as a prominent pig because he had a ‘ reputation of getting things his own way’ .By being active in the debates, he received much attention and notice from the animals. He also garnered support from those who agreed with his views but were unable to express them themselves. Thus, he became a representative of these animals. However, Napoleon was quick to abuse this power through greed and selfishness. For example, he assigned the apples and milk for himself and his fellow pigs without distributing them fairly amongst all the animals. He also built up an army of followers and ejected all that opposed him, such as the four young porkers or his rivalry Snowball. He sustained power through terrorising the animals with his vicious guard dogs and executions. His power was controlled by manipulating the truth and directing history through propaganda and the media (Squealer).
The Essay on Napoleon Revolution
Napoleon Bonaparte did maintain the ideals of the French Revolution to some extent. He kept many of the changes that came with the Revolution. In the important areas such as the economy, the government and society and in religion, he succeeded in achieving the goals of the Revolution France was in a state of a very unstable economy before and during the Revolution. There was an inequality in ...
He introduced a cult of personality and seldom appeared to the crowds of animals. By rarely appearing in public he made it seem as if he had more important issues than the animals’ welfare and that they should be lucky when he did appear; that they should revere him. When he did appear, he was almost always accompanied by a great ceremony and made himself indispensible towards the animals, by menacing them of the consequences if they did not attend. Napoleon took advantage of the animals and treated them of a lower class; the commandments had been changed to read “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”. This shows that Napoleon has been corrupted by power to the upmost, that he has lost all sense of equality and parity, which held the farm together before the rebellion. He appeared to them as if he were a greater being and blackmailed them into following his every order. Therefore, the animals had no other option but to follow Napoleon or be killed.
Napoleon also gained absolute power through the exiling of Snowball. When, despite Napoleon’s efforts, Snowball managed to get most of the animals support on the matter of the windmill, Napoleon knew Snowball was a threat to his position. If Napoleon didn’t act fast, Snowball would soon become the unquestionable leader of Animal Farm. So, his goal was to be rid of Snowball and get the animals to his advantage. Using the dogs he had trained in secret, he banished Snowball from the farm. Without Snowball in the picture, Napoleon became the undisputed leader. Napoleon also managed to change the situation to suit in his favour. For example, when the windmill toppled, he told his comrades that Snowball was the cause and he consequently turned the animals against him. From then on he made Snowball a scapegoat. Whenever something went wrong, it was because of Snowball. This made the animals feel that they were lucky to have Napoleon instead. It was also an easy way out, as it kept the animals from finding out where the blame really lied. This secured Napoleon’s leadership position as then, he would not be blamed for anything wrong. This then created the illusion that Napoleon’s ruling was perfect, making him indispensable.
The Term Paper on Animal Farm Setting Animals Napoleon Snowball
... own advantage. Orwell is equally critical of the animals. Napoleon is most interested in gaining power from the battle, as from every situation. ... a dictator corrupted by power.The rivalry between Snowball and Napoleon reaches a crescendo. Snowball has won the support of the masses, in spite of ... a van takes him away to be killed and made into glue. The animals cry out in horror, but their cries go ...
In the case of the timber, he used Snowball to back up his decision. Since the animals were against him, the party he did not sell to would have Snowball residing there. This caused the animals to support his decision. He then banned the debates and told the animals they would follow orders instead. This was so that the animals would not be able to have a say in the running of the farm and would not be able to disagree on any matters. He later sent Squealer to justify his actions. Squealer minced the truth with lies which confused the animals. They became brainwashed and thought that Napoleon was right to exile Snowball. “Do not imagine leadership is a pleasure” and “it is a deep and heavy responsibility” are some of the truths he used. These made Napoleon seem sacrificial and would then gain the animals’ sympathy. He also used the animals’ fear of Jones coming back to convince them that he was always right.
Napoleon also used many tools of propaganda to gain power. The sheep perhaps were his most important tools of propaganda throughout the novel. They were, for sure, a deciding factor in Napoleon’s rise to power. Snowball, the other pig who shared the position of leadership with him did not agree with him on many counts. However, he was a good speaker and could easily gain the animals support with his speeches alone. So, Napoleon trained the sheep to break into their favourite slogan of ‘ four legs good, two legs bad’ at vital parts of Snowball’s speeches making it hard to convey his points to them. Because of this, Snowball would not gain much support which was exactly what Napoleon wanted. All Napoleon had to do was to put down the idea to gain support as the animals would have not been convinced by Snowball if they could not have listened to him.
The Essay on Napoleonfrom Animal Farm Power
... about because Napoleon didn?t like Snowball so after Napoleon banished Snowball he got Squealer to tell the animals horrible lies about Snowball. For example, Squealer said that Snowball was ... he gained power, the main character, Napoleon, committed sins against Animal Farm. In the novel Animal Farm, by George Orwell, Napoleon was corrupted by his power. Napoleon abused ...
Napoleon’s corrupted antics became evident as he created power through many methods. He made the animals file past Old Major’s skull, this shows a reinforcement of his leadership and a way of allying himself with the beloved father of animalism. It makes the animals respect the new leader as much as the old leader. He uses the word ‘sacrifice’ and ‘own contribution’ to make the animals feel that what they were doing was for a greater cause which made them willing to “sacrifice’ for the ‘greater need’. Napoleon used Squealer to explain away anything and everything. Squealer used powerful vocabulary which confused the simple-minded animals. When the animals protested, squealer’s eloquence, combined with the threat of violence (the dogs) made the animals cease with their questioning. The sheep then used, to smooth the awkwardness, their slogan. It then became impossible for the animals to object again. Throughout the novel, it became customary for the dogs to be seen in this double act with the sheep.
Napoleon also made the animals work so hard that they were too tired to think about their situation and realise napoleon’s intentions. In fact, he corrupted their simple minds with plans and ideals which seemed great, even though he had no intention of helping to fulfil them. Due to all the work that Napoleon set them, they had no time to consider rebellion. He did this by making the animals build the very windmill that he thought useless in the start. To explain his first opinion, he tells the animals that it was originally his idea. Napoleon exploit’s the animals’ inferiority complex. When he changed the seven commandments to justify his actions, the animals were doubtful as their memories told them that the seven commandments were different. However, Squealer told them that they were wrong and it was just a figment of their imaginations. The animals were so brainwashed by Napoleon that they thought that whatever he intended was correct, so they let him get away with it.
Animal Farm Essay Napoleon Animals Power
... was changed to "no animal shall kill another without cause." Napoleon had gone from follower to dictator. Napoleon had claimed absolute power over Animal ... the earth to be ran by animals. When Old Major died, Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer replaced him. At first things started ... decisions. When the animals of Animal Farm took over there main beliefs were based on their made up commandments called ...
Napoleon used brilliance, cunning, treachery, propaganda and a host of other skills to gain, create and maintain power. Throughout the novel, Napoleon had become power hungry and became used to manipulating the truth to keep his position. He used squealer to brainwash the animals and made them believe that they were petty and simple-minded. Napoleon viewed power as a way to reflect his own identity, or his own “cult of personality. Accordingly, as his faith in himself increased, so did his power. It is here where the notion of corruption was evident. Napoleon viewed control as essential to ensuring that his power was unquestioned. Napoleon’s rise to power was accomplished so easily that he pursued for far more. Napoleon and the pigs were never granted power, they took it. As time went by on Animal Farm, it became easier for him to make changes to the farm on his basis, he had absolute power and thus he became corrupted absolutely. Napoleon and the pigs put themselves into government without a balance of power. They simply changed the commandments to justify their actions before the changes occurred. In the end, Napoleon had become so corrupted for and maintenance of absolute control that the values and goals of the original “Animal Farm” were forgotten and destroyed. Nobody could stand up to Napoleon and the pigs and they become what they feared the most, two legged men.
