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The Use Of Power And Corruption In George Orwell's Animal Farm

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“All animals are equal…”, or what it should have been... The use of power and corruption are one of the main themes in Animal Farm. The book is a romance published back in 1945 by George Orwell. According to the author, the book was used as a way to criticize the Russian Revolution. Back in the day, it was hard to excoriate Joseph Stalin using literature so instead Orwell portrayed the characters as animals to censure the writing. Animal Farm reminds readers that the abuse of power can lead to corruption. Animal Farm was not always corrupt from the start... In the beginning of the book, all animals cooperated together and respected each other. When Old Major was still alive and giving his speech to everyone, he talked about how all animals …show more content…

As time passed new things were established and other things were forgotten. Later in the book it is revealed that after the rebellion all the animals started working except for the pigs.“The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership “(C3 pg27). Orwell clearly wants to tell the readers that the pigs are better in any shape or form. The pigs are “superior“ and it was “natural that they assume leadership“. This shows a great amount of corruption and the abuse of the totalitarian power. Another important example is later in the book when Snowball had fled, Napoleon had complete control over the farm and established absurd rules. “It was absolutely necessary. He said. That the pigs who were the brains of the farm should have a quiet place to work in. It was also more suited to the dignity of the leader to live in a house than a mere sty” (C6 pg66). This quote clearly states that the pigs have a higher ranking than the other animals and Napoleon is represented as a “leader” with “dignity”. Napoleon has altered the rules excluding the rules of The Seven Commandments making the place his. At this point, Animal Farm is changing completely and constantly and utterly ignoring the concept of

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