Animal Farm by George Orwell is a thought-provoking novel that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The story takes place on a farm where the animals overthrow their human owner and establish a society run by animals. However, the pigs, who are the most intelligent animals, gradually become corrupt and oppressive rulers. One of the main themes in Animal Farm is the abuse of power. In this essay, I will examine this theme by analyzing two examples from the novel. The first example of the abuse of power in Animal Farm is the pigs' manipulation of the other animals. Led by Napoleon, the pigs use propaganda and lies to maintain their control over the other animals. They change the commandments of Animalism to suit their own interests and convince the other animals that they are working for the common good. As Squealer, the pigs' propaganda chief, says, "Comrades, you do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege?" (Orwell 72). This quote illustrates how the pigs use persuasive language to justify their actions and deceive the other animals. …show more content…
The pigs, aided by their loyal canine companions, quash any opposition or dissent among the animals. Through fear and intimidation, they ensure that the other animals remain submissive and compliant. Whenever the animals dare to question the pigs' decisions or challenge their authority, Napoleon promptly commands his dogs to attack them. Orwell vividly portrays this act of violence when he writes, "They dashed straight for Snowball...and the next moment he was out of sight" (Orwell 57). This quote serves as a chilling illustration of how the pigs employ violence as a tool to silence their adversaries and perpetuate their
One of the leaders, Snowball, stole apples and milk from the other animals and then tried to make this a good thing by making an excuse; “We do not enjoy apples or milk, we simply need them to grow stronger”. None of the other animals questioned this and simply followed, the book is written from a point of view that shows the negative influence of Snowball, Napoleon and Squealer on the animals by providing insight into the effect of their decisions, “Bravery is not enough. Loyalty and obedience are more important” this was said by Squealer after the battle of the Cowshed, the pig 's unrivalled intelligence allows them to convince the other animals that certain events did or did not happen to gain leadership on Animal Farm. The first instance where the pigs convince the animals where an event occurred but really did not is when they convince the animals that Snowball betrays them by being in league with farmer Jones. The pigs are only trying to diminish what the animals think of Snowball.
In George Orwell’s Animal Farm the farm animals in Manor Farm stage a revolution against the humans. Two pigs named Snowball and Napoleon become the leaders of the farm animals after the revolution. Snowball uses his authority as a leader to craft plans to
Michael Nguyen February 7, 2023 A-Block Abuse of power in Animal Farm Dictatorship occurs when power is given to the wrong leader. This mismanagement of power is especially exhibited in George Orwell's Animal Farm. Animal Farm is an allegory of the Russian Revolution that lasted six years in the early 1900s. The book takes place in the mid-1940s in England and is about an abusive and neglectful farmer named Mr. Jones who gets overthrown by the animals at his farm. Overthrowing Mr. Jones was an attempt at potentially starting a new life in which all animals were equal and free.
“Immediately the dogs bounded forward, seized four of the pigs by the ear and dragged them, squealing with pain and terror, to Napoleon's feet.” (Orwell 92). The four pigs are put through a state of terror and pain as Napoleon suspects of their wrong doings. In hopes of Napoleon following one of the seven rules of animalism, “No animal shall kill any other animal.” The four pigs wrongfully confess that they are secretly in touch with Snowball, and are the ones responsible for destroying the windmill.
Animal Farm- Lies and Deceit The book Animal Farm by George Orwell portrays the theme of how someone can lie and deceive others to get what they want just like how the two pigs Napoleon and Squealer used lies and deceit to gain power over Animal Farm. Napoleon lied to other animals, Squealer lied to other animals and they both deceived the other animals, but the sad part is that neither of them lied for the better of the other animals. They both lied to get what they want- power over the animals and the farm.
When two pigs Snowball and Napoleon rise as their leader they promise them freedom but not the freedom that one might think. Orwell uses dramatic irony and foreshadowing to convey his argument about power that if gone unchecked and not challenged, lies and manipulation will become accepted and tolerated. Orwell uses dramatic irony in the beginning to show how the pigs
This stress and drama becomes an issue once Napoleon becomes leader. In this part of the story, Napoleon has run Snowball off the farm with a pack of wild dogs and the rest of the animals are threatened with the same fate. Orwell writes, “Silent and
The animals are oppressed when Squealer states, “this is not something that you have dreamed, comrades” and proceeds “to convince them” (64,66). Squealer cleverly talks to the animals and convinces them to join his side. The gullibility of the animals leads them to be utilized by the pigs. Finally, during a Sunday morning Meeting, Napoleon uses the animals’ emotional attachment toward Boxer and his encouraging words to rule over the animals. Napoleon at the end of his speech said a “reminder of Boxer’s two favorite maxims” which are “I will work harder” and “Comrade Napoleon is always right” (125-126).
Animal Farm Essay George Orwell’s Animal Farm, a satirical piece about the Russian Revolution, exemplifies a farm as a stand-in for Stalin’s communist rule, and the resulting problems. The story represents the manipulation of the people and the power plays involved and displays the unjust circumstances that the common people live with. In Animal Farm, the pigs keep up their position of power through several tactics, including violent threats, propaganda, and education and food restrictions. The pigs utilize the aggressive guard dogs’ attacks for a fear factor, continual propaganda and rewriting of the rules, exclusive education, and restrictions on food to inflict inferiority amongst the other animals.
If the animals had a better memory, they might have been more sure that Snowball was not a traitor, but since they weren’t 100% sure, the animals listened to what the pigs said. If the animals could remember things of significance, it could have stopped them from being oppressed. Another factor of the animals’ oppression is their forgetfulness of experiences from the past. At the start of the book, the animals were stoked about starting a rebellion, and getting to have an equal, safe, and healthy environment. Although, at the end of the book, “Some of the older ones among them racked their dim memories and tried to determine whether in the early days of the Rebellion, when Jones’s expulsion was still recent, things had been better or worse than now.
“Animal Farm” by George Orwell, is a story to show how absolute power corrupts, just as Stalin’s power did during the Russian Revolution in 1917. In the allegory “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 (intimidation), Squealer (propaganda), and manipulation, Orwell illustrates how Napoleon was able to gain and maintain control of the farm. The nine dogs that stay by Napoleon at all times are useful for Napoleon to gain and maintain control of the farm because they scare the other animals, intimidating them so that they do not disobey Napoleon.
George Orwell portrays Napoleon as Stalin in many similar ways. Just as some leaders use dictatorship to control political aspects, pigs also use dictatorship to control animals. Animal Farm uses characterization to suggest that although cruel leadership can be effective, it will lead to
The pigs used name-calling to label any animal who questioned their authority an enemy of the farm. An example of this is when Snowball was used as a scapegoat even after he was expelled from the farm. Orwell writes, “Do you know the enemy who has come in the middle of the night and overthrown our windmill? Snowball!” (Orwell, 43) By blaming Snowball, Napoleon is able to distract the animals from his own struggles and failures as a leader.
One dominant theme in animal farm is totalitarianism and abuse of power. Totalitarianism is defined as a political system in which the state possesses complete authority over the society and controls all aspects of public and private life whenever necessary. The author criticized totalitarianism and believed that it was inevitable in a communist system, as those put in charge will result in the abuse of their power. The theme Orwell intended to get across was that all totalitarian regimes are the same and those who hold power will do anything to maintain it. The pigs, who were the leaders, frequently displayed this throughout the novel.
One of the biggest ways that the pigs used to manipulate the other animals in Animal Farm was fear. They used this because if the pigs scared them and made them fear the power that they held, then the animals would