Corruption Of Leadership On Animal Farm

In the novel “Animal Farm”, author George Orwell explores a multitude of various themes. However, the underlying, ever-present, and arguably the most important theme in the book is power, and the corrupting effect it has on those who receive it. Orwell uses various language techniques throughout the novel to show the circumstances under which certain characters come to power on the farm, and their eventual exploitation of their authority. Through use of techniques such as allegory, theme and irony, the author establishes connections between his characters and real-life historical figures, showing the parallels between their stories and the eventual culmination of the events.

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 or wrong doer 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, showcased in Animal Farm as Utopian ideals but with failed practices.

Shortly after the Revolution, Snowball comes up with the plan to construct a windmill to make the lives of the inhabitants of Animal Farm easier. Napoleon hides in the shadows per se until the puppies that he has taken and trained are old enough to act as a police force. Once they are old enough, Napoleon has the dogs drive Snowball off the farm. He then takes credit for the idea of the windmill and proceeds to claim that he, not Snowball, won the award at the Battle of Cowshed. Napoleon then informs the animals that Snowball was an enemy and was a threat to Animal Farm. The animals are swayed by his propaganda and are fearful of his police dogs; this is what keeps him in power.

The statement, “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”, simply means that the more power one has – the more control one has over people – then the more corrupt it is possible for that person to become. This statement is certainly correct if the person with the power has certain proclivities towards corruption. There are many examples in the book, “Animal Farm”, by George Orwell, of power corrupting those in charge because they had these tendencies. In the story, the most powerful animals are the two pigs, Napoleon and, to a lesser degree, Snowball. During the course of the story these pigs used their power to get more power, and in the process their inclinations towards corruption triumphed. When Old Major, the boar who came

Animal Farm by George Orwell is about the Russian Revolution shown by animals. Farmer Jones was always drunk and a mean farmer. Napoleon the pig kicked out Snowball who was also a pig, and only cared about himself and the other pigs on the farm. Power corrupts is shown by Jones wanting more and more power, Napoleon kicking out Snowball and Napoleon only caring about the pigs on the farm.

Power is one of the most desired things in the world, and is often hard to attain, but once it is gained it can often corrupt a person. Corruption due to power is shown in many instances in the book, Animal Farm. In the book, there is an opening for someone to take control of the power, and the animals that do are the pigs. The pigs gain the power for many reasons. When power is gained there are many things people can do with it, either bad or good. The pigs’ actions in animal farm show the different ways that power can be used by those in charge.

Napoleon has wanted power over the farm for awhile and will do anything to keep it. He takes Jessie and Bluebells newborn puppies and trains them for the main aspect of his fear campaign. He teaches them to do what is right for the farm and to only think about the Animal Farm’s future. He uses the puppies to eliminate his nemesis. Snowball comes up with the idea for a windmill on the farm, Napoleon opposes it and uses his trained dogs to chase Snowball off the farm. With Snowball gone, Napoleon declares himself the ruler of the farm. “They dashed straight for Snowball… he slipped through the fence and was seen no more. (Orwell, pg. 53 chap. 5).”

After the dirty deed of murder was done Napoleon accused Snowball of being a traitor working with Mr. Jones trying to have him Mr. Jones reacquire the farm. The great ideas of Snowball were taken by Napoleon and claimed to have made his own like the Snowballs design of the windmill. The work on the farm increased and since it is a democracy where everyone agrees to make decisions, Napoleon tells the people he will do what is best for them. It starts to create a divide among the working animals and the pigs who were the brains of the operation.

Obviously, it was a great idea convincing the other animals about the windmill. However, Napoleon is here convincing the animals of Snowball causing farm troubles. For example, he told the animals that Snowball is a traitor because he was working for Foxwood Farm and he also said he proof of the secret documentation of Snowball working for Foxwood. However, Snowball is the animalism because he wanted the animals to be treated equally and have their freedom just like Old major had a dream about. On the other hand, Napoleon didn’t care for the animals he just wanted power so he had seven secret police dogs to scare away Snowball from the farm and also to kill any animal that didn’t obey his

Snowball works at teaching the animals to be literate, and Napoleon takes a group of young pups to instruct them on the ideologies of Animalism. When Mr. Jones shows up to retake his farm, the animals defeat him once again, in a fight known as the “Battle of the Cowshed”, and keeps the farmer’s abandoned gun as a spoil of war for their win. As time goes on, however, Napoleon and Snowball gradually bicker more and more over the future of the farm, and they begin to fight with each other for power and influence over the other animals. Snowball comes up with a scheme to build an electricity-generating windmill, but Napoleon strongly opposes the idea. At the meeting to vote on whether to take up the project, Snowball gives a very impactful speech. Even though Napoleon gives only a brief rebuttal, he proceeds to make a weird noise, and nine attack dogs— who were actually the puppies that Napoleon had seized in order to “educate”—rush into the barn and chase Snowball away. Napoleon then takes leadership of Animal Farm and declares that there won’t be any more meetings. From that point on, he proclaims that the pigs alone will make all of the choices, for the benefit of each animal. Napoleon quickly changes his mind about the project, and the animals, especially Boxer, dedicate their efforts to completing it. One day, after a storm, the animals find the windmill tipped over. The human farmers in the area declare proudly that the animals made the

The sub theme of power corrupting people is very eminent in animal farm. The leaders on the farm - the pigs, were the brains of the farm. The animals let the pigs lead the farm, thereby placing them into a position of power. This power corrupted them as they became more and more greedy and their ideology became more and more corrupted. Also, the pig’s transgressions of the rules of animalism worsen as they grow in power.

George Orwell’s satirical novel, Animal Farm is based on animals desire for freedom which leads to the abuse of power and knowledge that results in inequality, unfair treatment, and misery for a farm run by animals. Power and change is often associated with positive outcomes, ironically absolute power does not result in change that serves the common good in Animal Farm. In the novel, several examples of irony occur. Man is the only enemy of animals, and hard work does not apply to everyone on a farm run by animals; where rules are broken, changed, and reduced to one.

George Orwell's Famous novel Animal Farm, views the life of the animals throughout the rebellion, which through the journey of Animal Farm, we are faced with the many themes that are forced upon and ones that influence very largely on some of the animals. We find Manipulation and Deceit is a very often seen one, as well as the Corruption from Strong power and Leadership that is poured out over time. The controlling over the Intellectually Inferior was one that stood above most as well due to habits that the more superior animals had adapted over time as influence from those human.

Frederick Douglass once said, “Oppression makes a wise man mad.” Napoleon was a clever boar that oppressed the animals of Animal Farm. In Animal Farm, by George Orwell, Mr. Jones ran the Manor Farm. He was negligent of his animals and let them starve, so the animals rebelled against him. The animals were successful in driving Mr. Jones out and they changed Manor Farm into Animal Farm. The pigs assumed leadership of the farm since they were the brightest of all of the animals. Napoleon and Snowball were two rival pigs that always argued with each other. During a debate over the construction of a windmill, Napoleon managed to kick Snowball out of the farm and therefore established his supremacy. Napoleon used many tactics such as fear, propaganda, and manipulation to successfully seize control of the farm.

Later, Mr. Jones comes back and tries to reclaim the farm, only to be defeated again in the Battle of the Cowshed. With a renewed confidence, Snowball and Napoleon begin to argue more and more. It is clear now that they are both struggling to be the dominant pig on the farm. Snowball creates the idea of building a windmill that will harness electricity, but Napoleon disagrees. They hold a meeting to let everyone hear their sides and make a final decision. After Snowball gives a strong speech, Napoleon swiftly gives his argument and calls the dogs he took earlier. The dogs he was supposed to educate were really being trained as attack dogs. They chased Snowball off the farm, and left Napoleon in charge.