Absolute power can influence individuals to obtain destructive characteristics. Animal Farm, by George Orwell, explores the idea that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The story tells of the rise in power of a pig named Napoleon, who takes control over a farm after the animals rebel against their owner. Napoleon becomes so focused on the extent of his power that he turns the farm into a dictatorship. Napoleon’s corruption is shown by his lack of concern for others, avarice, and willingness to participate in violence. Power can compel leaders to show a lack of concern for others. As the animals are preparing stones to build the windmill, Boxer strains himself: “When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried …show more content…
When Napoleon places the blame for the windmill's destruction on Snowball, he puts out a bounty: “This traitor has crept here under cover of night and destroyed our work of nearly a year. Comrades, here and now I pronounce the death sentence upon Snowball. 'Animal Hero, Second Class,' and half a bushel of apples to any animal who brings him to justice. A full bushel to anyone who captures him alive!" (64). Napoleon is willing to commit violence, to any extreme, while he has absolute power. He has the free will to do what he wants but chooses to use it for acts of violence. Furthermore, Napoleon kills any animals that have ever broken any rule: “They were all slain on the spot. And so the tale of confessions and executions went on, until there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon's feet and the air was heavy with the smell of blood, which had been unknown there since the expulsion of Jones.” (76). The absolute power obtained by Napoleon has led to the brutal violence and deaths of the animals he’s supposed to be protecting. He lets the power turn him into a dangerous leader. Leaders in powerful positions often become inclined to participate in