The Obstruction Of Power In George Orwell's Animal Farm

The second event that shows the abuse of power was “the purge”. In chapter seven, Animal Farm had a problem of lacking of food, therefore, Napoleon asked all the hens to give out their eggs in order to exchange for food. However, that call was opposed by all the hens, they rather smashed the eggs into pieces than selling to others. But at last, they still had to agree with the cruel fact, handed in their eggs, and that was where the purge started. Later in the story, each time when someone opposes Napoleon’s decision, they would be treated as being killed. “The pig’s ears were bleeding, the dogs have tasted blood” (p61). Although the sentences here are short, the fear it shows does not reduce any bit at all, in this case, the short sentences are even more effective than those long sentences and animals in the story and readers can feel the terror directly and quickly. “Then a sheep confessed to having urinated in the drinking pool… the air was heavy with the smell of blood” (p62). All the animals felt disappointed and scared, because eventually they were going to be dead, which may be a release for them. Therefore, they admitted to all the bad things they had done and were ready for death.

Snowball wanted to take a vote on the windmill but was driven off the land and Napoleon took order and then announced the windmill would be built. “He did not give any reason for having changed his mind, but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work; it might even be necessary to reduce their rations.”(Orwell 41) The corruption of socialism soon fell into communism and the animals were suffering obliviously they worked to please their newest master and came up with mottos such as “Napoleon is always right.” And “I will work harder.” An additional theme in the book is abuse of power. Napoleon abused his power from the beginning of his reign of

6. In what ways does Napoleon continue to “use” Snowball in Chapters 6 and 7, despite his absence? In what ways may this correlate to Stalin and

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.

Napoleon rises to power as a totalitarian leader in many ways. For example, Napoleon gets rid of Snowball and convinces the other animals that he has brought destruction to the windmill. Snowball escaped the deathly wrath of the dogs because he “slipped through a hole in the hedge” before the dogs could catch him (Orwell 53). When the windmill had been wrecked by a storm, no one questioned him when he said “Snowball has done this thing” (Orwell 70). For this reason, all the animals were on the lookout for Snowball. By getting rid of Snowball, Napoleon became in complete power with no one else to question him.

Napoleon was clever enough to know that he could concoct lies about Snowball in order to get the animals on Napoleon’s side. Once the animals are on Napoleon’s side, they would be able to go against Snowball, as one united force. Even though Napoleon didn’t have the qualities of a good leader, he was still able to manipulate the uneducated populace of Animal Farm. This shows that even a very cruel, murderous leader is able to sway a population to immense

To begin with, the overthrow of Snowball shows how power had corrupted Napoleon and the pigs who worked with him. Napoleon took his power too far by stealing the dogs so he could “be responsible for their education” (Orwell 35). Instead, he used them to chase off Snowball. The dogs caused so much fear that Snowball “ran as only a pig could run” (Orwell 53) to escape them. This shows how scared Snowball was of Napoleon and how scary Napoleon had become because of his power.

From the beginning of the book Animal Farm by George Orwell, the audience comes to a realization that the pigs will become the leading power. This book takes place on Manor Farm where the animals kickstart the revolution with a rebellion against Mr. Jones. Napoleon pushes his way up to dictatorship where, while he rules, many lives are lost and in the end human and pig are indistinguishable. The animals obtain the idea of rebellion after the long night of starvation which is endorsed by the wise and all-powering Old Major who is, a pig. Throughout the novel, the animals’ actions are determined by the pigs. They then support the idea that it is best for them to have the power by referring to what could happen if they did not lead the party of

Napoleon has become the prime ruler in the Animal Farm and has subjected those who are not himself nor someone he favors to terrible actions. He has made them believe that with their sacrifices their lives have still become much better than the time when a human ruled over the land. Napoleon has used his influence to better his own life at the cost of others. This is an example of how power drives the world. Power is something that may be defined differently per person yet something that stays the same is the fact that power has the ability to consume. Everyday around the world someone is driven by power, and they are so driven to the point where nothing else seems to matter anymore. Like Napoleon, humans have a biological need for power. It

Napoleon shows many times that he is boss, but at the same time manages to be a very tricky pig. When the windmill falls, instead of the reasonable reason for it falling, (the wind), the fault dropped on Snowball. This shows that Napoleon would try to blame someone else before admitting that he did something wrong (not having the walls built thick enough). At first he seems upset about it, but then uses it in his favor to make the other animals work harder. Many times Napoleon is caught many times turning a bad situation into a fault of a single being. Apparently Snowball stole food from the farm, but in reality, the pigs just need someone to blame for their growing hunger. All in all Napoleon is the perfect corrupt leader.

Power was also taken far within Animal Farm. The pigs holding themselves above the rest, as if they were some superior race. They treated themselves to the riches of the lands, leaving nothing for the other animals. While putting themselves in a higher position, they not only thought they were better, they used this to control the livestock.

On page 68, Napoleon then see`s he has an advantage manipulate the animals it was snowballs doing of destroying the windmill. Napoleon`s “guard dogs” (secret police) then attack snowball in the morning and try to kill him. Spontaneously Snowball escapes. Napoleon had just broken the 6th commandment: “No animal shall kill any other animal” to “No ani mal shall any animal without cause.” That were supposedly “unchangeable”.

The animals are devastated and feel a lot more powerless without their leader. This is when another pig, Napoleon decides to take matters into his own hands. Napoleon has always disliked Snowball and now was his chance to take over the farm. Him and his “propaganda minister” Squealer, are able to manipulate the others by making them feel like all of Snowball's ideas are his and that he stole them from him. This is shown when Snowball comes up with the idea to build a windmill and Napoleon claims that the idea is his.

At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws.” (Orwell 52). Napoleon and Snowball are rivals against each other. In this scene, the animals were gathered together to listen to each, Napoleon and Snowball’s speeches and vote on whether the windmill is built or not. Napoleon shows in this quote that he is very selfish, controlling, and a cheater. Clearly, his mentality is based on dominating everyone without care for anyone but himself. Instead of being fair and just by letting the animals vote on whether they wanted to carry on with his idea or Snowball’s, he decided to expel Snowball (his rival) off the farm to achieve authority and power over the rest of the animals easily; “The three hens who had been the ringleaders in the attempted rebellion over the eggs now came forward and stated that Snowball had appeared to them in a dream and incited them to disobey Napoleon 's orders. They, too, were slaughtered. Then a goose came forward and confessed to having secreted six ears of corn during the last year 's harvest and eaten them in the night. Then a sheep confessed to having

As George Lucas says “Power Corrupts, and when you’re in charge, you start doing things that you think are right, but they’re actually not”. It is right to assume snowball would have been just as ruthless as Napoleon when put in a state of power and leadership, as it states in the quote above when you’re in charge you do things wrong even if you think they are right. There are many different reasons why Snowball would have been just as ruthless a leader as Napoleon when put in a state of power these are, gaining access to luxuries not wanted to be shared with the other animals, Higher intelligence of the pigs making them natural leaders and even though all the animals were “equal” some species naturally gain power over others.