The Corruption Of Power In George Orwell's Animal Farm

George Orwell in his novel Animal Farm explores the reality through the abuse of power using the character Napoleon. In order to gain absolute power, Napoleon eliminates any opposition, uses propaganda, and chances the commandments.

When thinking about pigs, you generally associate them with being dirty, repulsive and gluttonous. Well, that's Napoleon. In the novel, Animal Farm, by George Orwell Napoleon is a pig on Manor Farm who slowly exerts power over others and begins his reign as a dictator. Napoleon takes over and renames the farm Animal Farm while being completely deceptive and unfair. Napoleon is a prime example of how absolute power corrupts absolutely because he is unjust and doesn't care for the wellbeing of any of the other animals on the farm but himself.

“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton) This quote is telling us that when people get into the roles of absolute power they tend to become corrupt, as a result of that power. This quote can be applied to Napoleon from the book Animal Farm by George Orwell, because at the beginning of the novel Old Major’s words inspired Napoleon. As a result, he believed that humans were evil for forcing animals to work for them and that animals should be able to live freely, not under anyone’s control; however, as the story progresses his belief changed and the animals did not get to live their utopian dream.

Often times in a communist society, a leader’s use of language can lead to abuse of power. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the farm leaders, the pigs, use unknown language, invoke scare tactics, and create specific laws, thereby enabling them to control other animals, to suit their greedy desires, and to perform actions outside their realm of power. Because of the pigs’ use of broad language, implementation of scare tactics, and creation and manipulation of laws, they are able to get away with avoiding laws and convincing other animals into believing untrue stories and lies that are beneficial to the pigs.

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.

As the saying goes, “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This text is an allusion to the Russian Revolution. After the rebellion the animals are left with two leaders, Snowball and Napoleon, that cannot agree on a single thing. Snowball was chased off by Napoleon’s dog and was left with all the power. in animal farm, George Orwell asserts the idea that absolute power results in corruption. Napoleon and the other pigs, interested in remaining superior, persuades the other animals by using intimidation and emotional appeals in order to keep control of the gullible animals.

People play an enormous component in our lives and the choices we make. In George Orwell's “ Animal Farm” there are several people that show leadership and guidance. The Leaders of Animal Farm start off with good intentions, but as the story goes on it becomes obvious the leaders have grown power-hungry and have become the 'superior' animals, showing that equality does not exist. This source of power has been used by leaders at the expense of their followers for their own personal gain, like Napoleon, whose first sign of corruption occurred early in the book when he seemed to be the main leader of them all.

Language is a powerful tool, some abuse it to obtain power and some use it to inspire movements and bring change. I believe that language is more powerful if you use it to control a population via lying, manipulation, and fear. There have been many instances of individuals and groups using fear and language for control.

The body, mind, and soul of an individual are capable of becoming corrupted by power. Power makes one feel as if that person was a God, which is a sign of the corruption in that individual. According to Lord Actin, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely," states that power can make an individual vulnerable to corruption. The second portion of Lord Actin?s quote discusses absolute power corrupting absolutely which implies that absolute power can corrupt an individual as well as the individual?s surroundings. This idea of corruption can be located in fictional novels such as Animal Farm by George Orwell. Animal Farm is a story about animals dictated by a former animal comrade. The dictator in the novel, Napoleon,

It is their moral responsibility as a ruler to show their people the proper path. Leaders must set an example, sacrificing individual wealth for the general good of the community. In Animal Farm, George Orwell’s famous satirical novel, readers are exposed to a prime example of a heinous leader. In the novel, an unhappy animal population bands together against their cruel and unjust ruler in order to rebel and create a land of equality and happiness for all. Ultimately, the animals rebel and take control of the farm, creating a system in which Napoleon, a power-hungry pig, is able to become an undisputed dictator.

Corruption is strongly conveyed through Napoleon through his sense of self-importance, great control over the animals and unfair decisions made by the boar. This defines how people that possess absolute power, corrupt absolutely and can deeply affect the society around them, especially by those who take

Throughout all of history and fiction, one thing has stayed the same, those with power shall become corrupted by that power. In Animal Farm, by George Orwell, the author best shows that power corrupts through Napoleon's many actions. Examples of this are how at the beginning of the novel, Napoleon doesn’t do very much, just taking small things, like milk and food. Later on however, when he has more and more power, he becomes corrupted. He violates many of the earliest resolutions and eventually starts changing the seven commandments.

Greed is a big impact that power has on people when you are given more power then others you will be respected and rewarded with gold money jewelry, greed does not have to be valuables it could be a desire of power or food. Responsible leaders such as old major are not affected by all this but most people given power are affected by this and will fall into the trap of greed. Greed has corrupted many great leaders Napoleon was corrupted by power as soon as he was granted with the power to rule the farm he became

Throughout the book of Animal Farm the theme of leadership and corruption is continuous. The animal’s who have the biggest part in both of these major themes are the pigs. Napoleon, for example, takes over as the leader in the beginning of the book and later his leadership methods turn corruptive.

George Orwell painted an allegorical depiction of Communist Russia with Animal Farm: a short Roman à clef centered around a farmstead and its inhabitants. The pigs in Animal Farm declared the animals of independent and took control of their naïve counterparts, and set off to run the world’s first farm run independently by animals. Orwell exploited the tyranny of Jones and Napoleon to convey the inevitability of corruption that comes with dictatorial authority and disclose history repeating itself throughout the course of the short story.