The Change Of Power In Al Orwell's Animal Farm

In Animal Farm, the animals conform to society 's expectations with little resentment. From this, the animals become easily brainwashed to follow the government without questioning their motives. Orwell supports, “Actually the Commandment read: “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess’” (Orwell 109). The animals all agreed on a set of commandments for the farm to abide by as a congregation. The pig 's add changes to the rules, so in return everything favors the pigs above all else.

Lord Acton, an English politician and writer, said,”All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” What Acton was really trying to say was, a persons sense of morality lessens as his/her power increases. This contention, “All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely,” has been seen in, current events (Saddam Hussein), literature (Lord of the Flies), historic situations (Mao Zedong), and is true when one leader or person is given an excessive or absolute amount

The other kind of power is called personalized power in which the leader uses their power for personal gain (McClelland). Power leads people to be “corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton). In his quote, Lord Acton proves that humans who are hungry for power will become corrupt. George Orwell’s Animal Farm shows Napoleon, a pig is hungry for power which causes him to be corrupt. At the time when George Orwell wrote his novel, leaders were power-hungry and corrupt.

Originally, the commandments were made to create ‘fairness’ and ‘equality’ among the comrades. However, the novel reveals how “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” (Orwell, page 134) through the commandments, as Napoleon uses his skillful rhetoric to get away with breaking the very commandments that every animals are suppose to follow, while the other animals are punished for not doing so. For example, in chapter 8 when the pigs purchase a brewery to to produce and later drink the alcohol, even though the fifth commandment says “no animals shall drink alcohol” (Orwell, page 25), which shows that the pigs are hypocrites. Thus, the novel shows the difference in intelligence between the animals that made it easy for Napoleon to manipulate and make them obey

At the beginning, Napoleon, take the farm with Snowball when the farmer, Mr. Jones, left. He left after the revolution of the animals that Old Major begin. When he died, they begin the rebellion. When the farm was now for the animals, the pigs took the control of it. Napoleon begin to be in competition with Snowball, because he had a lot of idea, others liked him and he was the pig that decided the most.

Originally, the commandments were made to create ‘fairness’ and ‘equality’ among the comrades. However, the novel reveals how “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” (Orwell, page 134) through the commandments, as Napoleon uses his skillful rhetoric to get away with breaking the very commandments that every animals are suppose to follow, while the other animals are punished for not doing so. For example, in chapter 8 when the pigs purchase a brewery to to produce and later drink the alcohol, even though the fifth commandment says “no animals shall drink alcohol” (Orwell, page 25), which shows that the pigs are hypocrites. Thus, the novel shows the difference in intelligence between the animals that made it easy for Napoleon to manipulate and make them obey

One example occurs when the author state that the most significant and the most hardest thing to work on by the animals is actually Napoleon’s own creation. “The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon’s own creation” (57). This explanation means Napoleon is the one who wants the hard work go toward the animals. This phrase is significant on the use of accusation by dictators because at first, Snowball suggests to have a windmill and Napoleon opposes but it turns out that Napoleon is the owner of windmill. Another example from the book is when Napoleon uses accusation to bring misunderstanding to animals about Snowball being Jones’s spy.

Old Major, an old boar, teaches the animals about the Rebellion, a plan to overthrow Jones and take control. After Major passes, the animals decide to carry it out. All the animals come up with commandments, and two pigs take charge. Napoleon and Snowball fight over control of the farm; eventually, Napoleon finds way to kick Snowball out of the farm. Over the course of the book, Napoleon converts the farm into a place only benefiting the pigs, breaking the very beliefs it was started on.

In Animal Farm, the dilemma started when Old major dies and all of the animals in the Manor farm inspired by Old Major’s philosophy of Animalism. They plot a rebellion against Mr. Jones and the mutiny is a success. Snowball and Napoleon lead the said rebellion, and renamed the Manor Farm to Animal Farm. The pigs became the leaders because of their intelligence and Napoleon proves to be hungry in power. He also appoints Squealer to be his assistant and spoke person.

They did everything in their power to be the new leaders, no matter what it entailed. Using their illiteracy against them, and their horrible memory. There was two pigs who ruled, Snowball, and Napoleon and his right hand man Squealer. These pigs went to great lengths to become the only rulers, and unfortunately one of them had to pay the price. Overthrowing the drunk farmer who runs Manor Farm, their plan came into action.