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.

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

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

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.

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, power was misused by the pigs using their intelligence to their advantage, mistreating the other animals, and changing the commandments.

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.

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. The animals as a whole came up with the seven commandments and the two basic principles.

If something is constitutional, it goes with and agrees with what the constitution stated. Checks and balances would change Animal Farm in a really big way. Checks and balances would help Animal Farm to eliminate Napoleon's abuse of power when he killed lots of animals, slept on a bed, and allowed pigs to get up later than others. Napoleon killed lots of animals even though the sixth commandment states "No animal shall kill another animal." (Orwell 25).

George Orwell’s Use of Power. In Animal Farm, a novel written by George Orwell uses the symbols: Stalin, the working class and the upper class to convey that the more intelligent someone is, the more power they will have. George Orwell writes a novel about animals who represent human beings to show that the less intelligent someone is, the harder life will be. Stalin was very intelligent so he could own anything, if they did not listen or obey Stalin, they were punished.

As Lord Acton once said “Absolute power corrupts absolutely”. When one is given the choice of what actions to take with their power, they are more likely to take actions benefiting themselves than others. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is used to define power and the corruption that comes from absolute power. The quote is demonstrated in Animal Farm as the characters show how power can corrupt absolutely. Napoleon, the fierce Berkshire Boar, starts to become corrupt after he fought Snowball for the mastery, gaining full control of the revolution.