Animal Farm Betrayal Essay

Betrayal is a common element in works of literature, whether it be prominent, disguised, or a bit of both. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, betrayal is consistent throughout the novel by means of Napoleon’s leadership. Napoleon manipulates some puppies in order to run Snowball off the farm, adjusts the seven commandments to make it appear that he never defied them, and had his most loyal, hard working animal killed for the money. Though the animals do not initially recognize this, when they do, there is not much they can do because of how long it went on and the power Napoleon had acquired that he wielded over them. When Old Major’s idea for an animal revolution came to light, the rules and regulations were clear, and the animals agreed

He always sent Squealer to the animals if they were questioning Napoleon’s decisions to reassure them that Napoleon knew best. As Napoleon is leader of the farm, he begins to spread the idea that Snowball was working for the humans all along, and that he was never dedicated to the revolution in the way he made it seem. He twists reality in such a way to make it seem that he is always the good guy. He even goes as far as altering the seven commandments that the original team of pigs had created for the farm, “1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. 2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings is a friend. 3. No animal shall wear clothes. 4. No animal shall sleep in a bed. 5. No animal shall drink alcohol. 6. No animal shall kill any other animal. 7. All animals are equal.” (Orwell 21). He first changes the fourth commandment, adding “...with sheets.” to justify himself and the other pigs sleeping in beds in the farmhouse. Napoleon then changes the fifth commandment, adding “...to excess.” to again justify himself going against the commandment by drinking whiskey. Following the pattern, Napoleon changes the sixth commandment so it reads “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.” (Orwell 80) after he executed supposed traitors of animal farm. Napoleon also changes an original chant of “Four legs good, two legs bad.” (Orwell 29 ) in a way that contradicts the first and second