Manipulation In George Orwell's Animal Farm

In the novel Animal Farm, by George Orwell, the animals’ dreams of a utopia become a reality after they revolt and take over The Manor Farm. From the beginning, Napoleon teaches the animals how to find food, helps debate new policies, and overall establishes traditions and rituals that improve the daily lives of all the animals. However, due to an unrestricted amount of freedom and authority, Napoleon begins to use manipulation, cruelty, and violence as his means of taking control of the farm, which demonstrates how abusing power can quickly lead to a corrupted society. In the beginning, Napoleon’s good intentions quickly begin to give way as he becomes more oppressive and uses manipulation and lies to gain sovereignty. His subtle ways of exhibiting

‘You do not imagine, I hope that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? … Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig’ (p.35-36).” As can be seen, Napoleon is using manipulation to grant himself extra privileges, convincing the animals’ the food is necessary to enhance the pigs’ brainpower. Napoleon uses trickery and deception when he attempts at gaining an edge over Snowball in one of their meetings: “... but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times. He was especially successful with the sheep. Of late the sheep had taken to bleating “ Four legs good, two legs bad” both in and out of season, and they often interrupted the Meeting with this (p. 47-48).” The sheep possess a kind of innocent and unintentional power when they chant slogans that support Napoleon, who knew their monologues would influence the other animals into supporting him as well. After the pigs allegedly break one of the seven commandments, Clover questions their legitimacy: “‘Muriel,’ she said, ‘read me the Fourth commandment. Does it not say something about never sleeping in a bed?’ With some difficulty Muriel spelt it out. ‘It says, ‘No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets,’ (p.67)” The animals are left to blame their memory after Napoleon changes the fourth commandment to better fit the pigs’ needs. Although it seems to be a harmless act in

Napoleon achieves full supremacy after he exiles his fellow leader, Snowball: “At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws (p.52-53).” The unexpected and cruel means of forcing his comrade out of leadership reflects Napoleon’s thirst for power and his extreme ways of getting it. The years following Snowball’s banishment are full of overwork and starvation as the animals’ efforts’ are devoted to the completion of the windmill. “All that year the animals worked like slaves … they worked a sixty hour week, and in August Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well… any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half (p.59).” The cruelty of having their hours extended and food reduced affects the animals physically and mentally, as they struggle to survive the harsh conditions. Meanwhile, the pigs continue to live a life of increasing luxury. Meanwhile, Napoleon demands the hens to renounce their eggs in order to buy grain and meal to feed the farm. “One Sunday morning Squealer announced that the hens, who had just come in to lay again, must surrender their