When somebody receives incredible power, they also receive a large burden of responsibility. Some people, such as Napoleon, disregard these responsibilities and become corrupt. In reality, we have seen this in leaders such as Stalin, who became corrupt once into power. In “Animal Farm”, Napoleon, a totalitarian pig, is a great example of how too much power is equal to corruption. Throughout the story, Napoleon becomes more and more corrupt. In chapter 9 of the story, Napoleon wins the presidential election. However, “...There was only one candidate, Napoleon, who was elected unanimously.” This shows how Napoleon is a totalitarian. There was nobody else that was resistant to him, so he used that against the people to win and go into total power. This also starts to corrupt Napoleon's mind to a larger extent. He eventually becomes so corrupt that he can not tell what's good or bad. …show more content…
The animals start recognizing Napoleon for any good achievement done that day. For example, one of the hens recognizes Napoleon for just one stroke of good fortune. “Under the leadership of our Leader Comrade Napoleon, I have laid five eggs in six days…”(78). These poor animals are tricked into thinking that everything good that happens is due to “Comrade Napoleon's Leadership”. Every quote we see is a deeper level of corruption in Napoleon, and now, his influence on the farm is tearing what the revolution was all about. Freedom and prosperity, but instead, has now become “ Napoleon is always
Napoleon Bonaparte was a ruthless dictator who rose and fell during the turbulent French Revolution because of his singular combination of ego, toxic masculinity, and authoritarian methods. He was first hailed as a military genius for his victories, but his fortunes changed when he lost battles while defending the very nation he had fought to rule. After attending military academies and rising through the ranks to finally hold the prestigious title of General, Bonaparte developed an unquenchable craving for power. But eventually, his stratospheric ascent and unavoidable collapse resulted from his unbridled ambition, his bloated ego, the continuation of toxic masculinity, and totalitarian leadership. Napoleon possessed one of the most notorious egos in the world.
Power, and the way it is distributed, has changed over the years. The democratic system seen today in most 1st world countries which embodies the motif of the common man having power over his own destiny is a stark contrast to the despotisms, empires, and monarchies of the past. The greatest upheaval of this old system happened in the waning years of the 18th century, with the French peasantry throwing off their heavy yokes burdened upon them by their greedy and unqualified royal masters and becoming the masters of their own destiny (by appointing for themselves an emperor instead of a king). What happened in those years long past still echoes today as the model method for overthrowing oppression and taking ownership of one’s own destiny from the selfish clutches that they first had been stricken to.
The sway of power perverts the human conscience, developing wicked
These three reasons are why animals were too scared to overthrow him and to be free from his rule. One example of how Napoleon stays in charge is Animalism. Animalism was meant to be set in place keeping any animal from having more power than the others. Napoleon uses this to his advantage by having a basic first set of commandments which is “reduced to… ‘Four legs good, two legs bad.’
In George Orwell's Animal Farm, Napoleon, a pig leader that represents Stalin from the Russian Revolution plays a big role in the book as the pig leaders are a superior group among the population of Animal Farm. In the story Napoleon is representing Stalin in Animal Farm as the main leader after Mr.Jones is ran out of the farm and Old Major died, resembling how Stalin took over rising to power in Russia. Napoleon started as a seemingly good leader but that soon changed… Napoleon, just like Stalin started to have problems with citizens of their own community and tried to hurt people and take things away. Both leaders can be shown using their superiority and power to their advantage to get everything they wanted and felt was necessary.
For example, Napoleon decides that “It was about this time that the pigs suddenly moved into the farmhouse and took up their residence there... It was absolutely necessary, he said, that the pigs, who were the brains of the farm, should have a quiet place to work in. It was also more suited to the dignity of the Leader (for of late he had taken to speaking of Napoleon under the title of "Leader") to live in a house than in a mere sty” (21) meaning that he is starting to take control of the farm. This shows that Napoleon is slowly starting to become the leader of the farmhouse and concludes that he deserves more than the others because of his high position. Furthermore, this also illustrates that the animals do not understand that Napoleon is becoming the thing that he feared most; human.
In her critically acclaimed novel One Corpse Too Many, author Ellis Peters wrote, “All of the things of the wild have their proper uses. Only misuse makes them evil.” The possession and usage of power is an especially slippery slope. In George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, a main recurring theme revolves around power and how those who hold it will ultimately fall into corruption. The desire for power stems from greed, but power also fuels greed.
It is seen that the power rid of Napoleon’s conscience, and created a ruthless dictator.
Napoleon also took this for granted by allowing the other animals to do it themselves and allowing the pigs to help at critical moments. This is a smart tactic that Napoleon uses by the animals thinking that they are working for the farm , but, instead they are working for him. This was a good tactic that Napoleon used but, the next one is even
What would you do if you were given absolute control over a nation- Make it a place people will be happy to call home or strip the land to support yourself? The allegorical story Animal Farm (1944) by George Orwell, written at a time of great social change and totalitarianism ideas, explores the idea of human nature and also the positive and negative ways it can be expressed through people. Two characters that reveal some truth about human nature and existence are Napoleon, the manipulative pig, and Boxer, the naïve horse. Napoleon and Boxer are polar opposite examples within the spectrum of human nature. the former showing …and the latter… (just short summaries of your overall points here.
The greed of power will always blind the leader’s judgment. Napoleon was not excluded in this matter as he often takes advantages knowing that the animals cannot read or write. Although there are many examples to support this fact, but one stands out the most, Boxer’s ending. As can be seen throughout the story, Boxer is the one who worked hard for that farm’s welfare from the beginning to the end. His never-failing cry of ‘I will work harder’ often inspired the rest of animals to work hard despite facing failures such as destruction of the windmill for the second time.
Napoleon’s initial desire to rule the Farm grows into a monstrous greed for power which is what brings destruction to the corrupted society of Animal Farm. His foolish pursuit to obtain more increasingly becomes destructive just as the capacity does to increase. The greed has taken over him and tempts him to lie in order to obtain everything he desires. He drives Snowball out of power to keep the power all to himself, separates himself from the commoners to officialise his high status within the Animal Farm, kills Boxer to acquire money for whiskey, and adapts human idiosyncrasies in order to prove that Napoleon and the pigs are more superior and can control the commoners to obtain anything that they
And it’s getting worse when he selled boxer to a slaughterer to have money for buying more alcohol, even if all of the barley is already reserve to the pigs. He begin to act like a human, meet them, smoke, drink alcohol and wear clothes. To show that all of the goal of the first rebellion never continue that way, they change the song Beast of England and the name of the farm for “Manor farm”. Napoleon didn’t do what the revolution had wanted. The animals follow him, respect him even if they didn’t have to.
Power can have the persuasive action in undoing the moral ethics of one’s character. This can be seen throughout history, such as World War II and proven by the actions of Napoleon in the allegory, Animal Farm, by George Orwell. As Lord Acton said “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In history what was viewed as a villain, is never the same as the perception. A leader does not begin wanting to do wrong, they start with the best intentions, but power is a tricky thing.
Napoleon also uses manipulation to gain and maintain a firm control by changing the Commandments for the farm in ways that work to his benefit. Squealer, Napoleon’s propaganda department, Keeps the farm animals believing in Napoleon by describing what they hear and see to make it seem harmless. Using effective tactics of fear, convincing propaganda, and manipulation, Napoleon gains and maintains control of Animal Farm. “Animal Farm” has corruption and equality in a way the animals try to succeed and achieve a goal to make the farm better. Power corrupts in “Animal Farm” because the pigs have a goal which is working together and helping one another.