Absolute Power In George Orwell's Animal Farm

Animal Farm, by George Orwell, was written to show how absolute power corrupts, just like Stalin’s power did following the Russian Revolution in 1917. In 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, Squealer, and manipulation, Orwell illustrates how Napoleon could gain and maintain control of the farm. The nine dogs that stay by Napoleon always are useful for Napoleon to gain and maintain control of the farm because they scare the other animals, intimidating them so

Society today thrives on power, whether it is good or bad. George Orwell’s, Animal Farm, is used to define power and the corruption that comes from absolute power. Orwell used animals to portray humans to prove how power leads to corruption. Proof of Napoleon becoming a power-hungry leader is shown on page 21 where Orwell says “Napoleon led them back to the store-shed and served out a double ration of corn to everybody, with 2 biscuits for each dog. Then they sang ‘Beasts of England’ seven times from end to end”. The song is both a battle cry for the rebellion on Manor Farm and an anthem that helps the animals keep the spirit of the rebellion alive in their hearts. After Manor Farm becomes Animal Farm, the feeling among the animals is that things will be better now that they are ruling themselves. They are no longer under the rule of the humans who has taken the animals for granted. The beasts of England are the humans who have abused the animals in some

In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Napoleon and the pigs use unknown language, change the Commandments to positively affect them, and create specific laws, giving them total control over the animals to suit their greedy desires, and to perform actions outside their realm of power. Proof that Animal Farm is a power greedy society is shown on page 59 where Orwell states “Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week, and in August Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well. This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.”. This quote specifically shows how Napoleon is taking advantage of his power in a way that is unusual. He is now forcing the animals to work 7 days a week. Although he says working Sunday is “voluntary”, it clearly states that if one does not work Sunday’s, he will not receive the usual food rations. Corruption occurs here as a result of these strenuous hours. For example, Boxer is eventually worked to exhaustion and has to leave the farm all together. An awful reality, which never would have happened if Napoleon would not have been such a power-hungry