John Dalberg-Acton once declared, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." This quote applies to George Orwell 's political novella, Animal Farm, which symbolizes the Russian Revolution by portraying various leaders and supporters through allegorical characters. Throughout the satire, Orwell strongly emphasizes the point of how power can easily corrupt the ruler of a society. At the beginning of the story, the animals of Manor Farm defeat the tyrannical Mr. Jones in an effort to create a better life for themselves. However, when a new leader comes to power, their original idea of an idealistic society, when put into reality, becomes a dystopia. Napoleon utilizes fear and manipulation in order to dominate even his most …show more content…
However, Napoleon 's success would not have been possible without the help of one of his most faithful followers, Boxer, who is a strong, hardworking, and loyal stallion. Boxer also demonstrates that he is naive by not realizing that the animals are losing their freedom and equality because he assumes that what Napoleon is saying is true and that he only cares about the well being of the animals without perceiving the reality of the situation. Boxer unintentionally gives up his freedom and helps weaken equality on Animal Farm by blindly listening to Napoleon. Boxer also spends all of his energy on his work on the farm. The farm 's prosperity and productivity is dependent upon him; when he is no longer there, the farm begins to fall apart. Due to his dedication and loyalty on the farm, Boxer influences the other animals in some ways; he tries to convince the animals that they will be able to solve all of their problems if they listen to Napoleon and work harder on the farm. Boxer is extremely committed to his work and to his comrade,Napoleon, which is why he is frequently used as an example that should be followed by the other animals. His behavior is similar to the other followers on the farm, but when they start to rebel, Boxer tries to convince them that they are wrong and Napoleon
Whenever the other animals start to doubt Napoleon, Boxer reassures them that “If comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right” (Orwell 82). Boxer and the other animals on the farm get mistreated in many ways such as, Napoleon takes away their food rations while the pigs and dogs get a large amounts of food and better living conditions. If Boxer wasn't on the farm the book would be different in many ways because the animals would have probably turned against Napoleon by now. The animals wouldn't have anyone to look up to or have to encourage
George Orwell’s Use of Power. In Animal Farm, a novel written by George Orwell uses the symbols: Stalin, the working class and the upper class to convey that the more intelligent someone is, the more power they will have. George Orwell writes a novel about animals who represent human beings to show that the less intelligent someone is, the harder life will be. Stalin was very intelligent so he could own anything, if they did not listen or obey Stalin, they were punished.
Even though Boxer is one of the least intelligent animals on the farm, he has the most morality. Beginning from this action, Boxer develops into the purest character in the story. After reading the entire story, this short sentiment impacted me more than anything else. Boxer is the physically strongest farm animal, but he only wants to use his strength to help the animals, not to kill. Even though Boxer is more than capable of killing most people, he values all life and refuses to kill again.
Not only boxer but all the animals on the farm, except the pigs are considered the working class, because all they do is the dirty work. While the pigs live being wealthy, having everything handed to them, and people listening to their every word. Pigs use the animals for labor while living bloated themselves. Since the pigs are the leaders and the other animals don't argue with them they remain doing all the work while being yelled and tortured by the power hungry pigs. The novel describes, “The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others.
Boxer was the first animal to wake up and the last animal to sleep. He worked day and night restlessly under the guidance of Napoleon. He was the greatest supporter of animal farm and Animalism, the ideology that runs the animal farm. However, he had to sacrifice his own animal right for the sake of animal farm and the better life of all of us. Also, he was loyal retainer of Napoleon.
In Animal Farm, George Orwell warns how power will often lead to corruption. Napoleon was placed in a position of power after Major died, and he slowly starts to lavish in his power and become addicted to the lush life of a dictator. When Napoleon first becomes a leader, he expresses how everyone will work equally, but as his reign goes on, he shortens the work hours. At the very end of the novel, the observing animals even start to see that pig and man had become the same. The irony present in the above example, illuminates how regardless of how much a ruler promises to maintain equality and fairness, the position of power that they hold, will corrupt them.
He worked hard until the day he falls due to lung failure. Instead of treating him, Napoleon sent Boxer to horse slaughter house and lied to the animals that Boxer died in the hospital and even ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer’s two favourite maxims, ’I will work harder’ and’ Comrade Napoleon is always right’. This is what happens to the most faithful animal in the Animal Farm due to Napoleon’s cool-blooded judgment as he could not have any form of benefits from dying Boxer. In the end, the name ‘Animal Farm’ was abolished and changed to ‘Manor Farm’, the original name by Napoleon. Napoleon and his pigs also join arms with the humans who were believed to be the animal’s enemy in the beginning by Old Major and the
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
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.
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.
“Animal Farm” by George Orwell, is a story to show how absolute power corrupts, just as Stalin’s power did during the Russian Revolution in 1917. In the allegory “Animal Farm” each character represents a political figure from the days around the Russian Revolution. For example, Joseph Stalin is represented by a pig named Napoleon, Squealer, another pig, represents Stalin’s propaganda department, and the dogs represent the Secret Police (KBG). Using the nine dogs that Napoleon raises (intimidation), Squealer (propaganda), and manipulation, Orwell illustrates how Napoleon was able to gain and maintain control of the farm. The nine dogs that stay by Napoleon at all times are useful for Napoleon to gain and maintain control of the farm because they scare the other animals, intimidating them so that they do not disobey Napoleon.
Everyone perceives power differently. Some might say, power is the ability to control others, others might say, power is when you can influence others around you and such. The book Marked by Steve Ross and Animal Farm by George Orwell perfectly portray power in a unique, interesting way that will change your perspective about power. Marked is a graphic novel, which is a retelling of the Gospel of Mark in a modern way, while Animal Farm is a fable that is a satire of the Russian Revolution. In Marked, power is represented mostly through the graphics of the novel and camera angles, while in Animal Farm, power is represented through the use of language.
Using the examples of Napoleon and Boxer this essay will discuss the truths of human nature and express the traits of these characters both good and bad including; loyalty and obedience as well as selfishness and greed. Napoleon represents the corrupt political dictators that have been in power before and even after the novel was written. He slowly and subtly put himself into power of the farm and was very manipulative in the way he got there. The animals were always ensured that everything he did was for the good of the farm but as the book goes on Napoleon’s hunger for power is revealed.
The ensuing rebellion under the leadership of the pigs Napoleon and Snowball leads to the animals taking over the farm. Vowing to eliminate the terrible inequities of the farmyard, the renamed Animal Farm is organised to benefit all who walk on four legs. But as time passes, the ideals of the rebellion are corrupt, then forgotten. This is all due to the lust for power that the pigs Napoleon and Snowball have that made them all selfish and corrupted. Animal farm in context to The Russian Revolution in terms of corrupting influence of power : Orwell 's goal was to portray the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the early years of the Soviet Union that resulted in a more oppressive and deadly government than the one it overthrew.
One dominant theme in animal farm is totalitarianism and abuse of power. Totalitarianism is defined as a political system in which the state possesses complete authority over the society and controls all aspects of public and private life whenever necessary. The author criticized totalitarianism and believed that it was inevitable in a communist system, as those put in charge will result in the abuse of their power. The theme Orwell intended to get across was that all totalitarian regimes are the same and those who hold power will do anything to maintain it. The pigs, who were the leaders, frequently displayed this throughout the novel.