More handpicked essays just for you.
The representation of power in the animal farm
The representation of power in the animal farm
Literary techniques used in animal farm
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The Pigs selling Boxer to a slaughterhouse shows that they don’t really value the other animals on the farms lives. They knew Boxer was getting old and couldn’t do much so they sold him. The Pigs are beginning to treat the other animals just Jones. They are resembling Jones because they are giving the animals low rations of food. They also began drinking beer and getting drunk like Jones did.
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.
Boxer is one of the many animals in this novel that was treated with great inequality, even though he was known for his hard work, loyalty, and determination. “... He had made an arrangement with one of the cockerels to call him in the mornings half an hour earlier than anyone else, and would put in some volunteer labor at whatever seemed to be most needed, before the regular day's work began. his answer to every problem, every setback, was ‘I will work harder!’ which he adopted as his personal motto” (Orwell 20).
He encouraged the other animals with his strength and inspirational words “I will work harder!” (Orwell 74). Boxer is a much different worker than the other animals on the farm because he motivates the other animals to keep going and not run off. He is determined and loyal when it comes to comrade Napoleon and the work on the farm.
In her critically acclaimed novel One Corpse Too Many, author Ellis Peters wrote, “All of the things of the wild have their proper uses. Only misuse makes them evil.” The possession and usage of power is an especially slippery slope. In George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, a main recurring theme revolves around power and how those who hold it will ultimately fall into corruption. The desire for power stems from greed, but power also fuels greed.
When Boxer is put on a truck to be sent to the “hospital”, it is Benjamin who reads that the truck is actually a horse slaughterers truck. He asks the animals if they understand what that means and that he’s being sent to his death. “A cry of horror burst from all the animals. - All the animals followed, crying out at the tops of their voices.” (pg. 122)
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.
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.
There is a common expression that says men are pigs, and in Animal Farm, Orwell shows us how pigs turn into men. For example, “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which” (Orwell p. 141). Orwell portrays the pigs as leaders that control the animals into believing that what they as pigs are doing is right which leads to corruption. So people’s ignorance contributes to social oppression in that quote from Orwell.
“Inside each of us, there is the seed of both good and evil. It's a constant struggle as to which one will win. And one cannot exist without the other.” This quote by Eric Burdon explains the idea of power and coexistence of good and evil. Animal Farm tells readers that with power, people will definitely become corrupt.
The quote by Lord Acton, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” is a good example of what is happening in the book Animal Farm by George Orwell. The pigs immediately gain control and leadership of the farm and eventually start to abuse the power. The pigs abuse their power by changing the commandments, living in luxury, and by treating the animals poorly. First and foremost, the pigs start changing the commandments to fit their acts and desires. In the beginning of the story, the animals decide on fair rules that everyone on the farm should abide by.
(ch.5 pg.47) It all clearly points to the fact that all animals (and humans) have different strengths and different jobs and that they are not equal. This is also the case because some of the animals capabilities elevated their status within their society. This inequality sometimes helped the farm by providing a firm government but often lead to harsh mistreatment of many of the animals. The only reason animals often listened to the leader was because he had ferocious dogs protected him and in certain cases he used that power to protect his own interests.
In Animal Farm, we see the sinister theme of abuse of power and corruption displayed throughout the story. The epitome on how the pigs abused the power was how they manipulated the 7 commandments to their own benefit. The 7 commandments were inscribed on the wall and they would form “an unalterable law by which all animals on Animal Farm must live for ever after”. Ironically, the 7 commandments were changed one by one to suit the benefit of the pigs. For example, when the pigs discovered a case of whiskey and got drunk, they got attracted to the taste of alcohol.
Power. It is the world’s most dangerous asset anyone can hold on to. It can be used for prosperity or for a complete destruction depending on the person. As the famous Lord Acton 's quote says, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Animal Farm stands for the best example that can display this matter in a clearer and funnier version.
Boxer, Clover, and Mollie are horses that represents the working class. Boxer portrays the proletariat workers because they are unskilled laborers. He is a cart-horse who has incredible strength, dedication, and loyalty towards Animal Farm. Boxer is not the most intelligent animal on the farm, but without him, nothing on the farm would be accomplished. Clover is a female cart-horse who is a friend of Boxer’s
