Control “People in power need to control others in order to maintain power. One of the ways to do that is to take that which is threatening and demonize it.” - Jasmine Guy. One way to control others is by corrupting power. In the book Animal Farm by George Orwell, a wise pig named Napoleon controls a farm consisting of animal who dislike humans. The animals of the farm follow the principles of Animalism, never do anything resembling a human. When Napoleon takes control of the farm, the way of life for all the animals changes. Napoleon is able to maintain control throughout the story by being praised for intelligence, frightening the animals of the consequences of betrayal, and by taking advantage of the poorly educated animals. Sometimes …show more content…
Napoleon has a private force of nine dogs that he uses to punish criminals. The dogs intimidate the other animals by their ferocious actions. “... they had come to a time when no dared speak his mind, when fierce, growling dogs roamed everywhere, and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes.” (pg. 95) The use of the dogs to keep order is successfully proven as the animals think twice before they act and express their views. The weak minded can be easily tricked into anything. The animals are often suspicious of the commandments of Animalism being changed, but then are convinced there has been no significant change. “You did not suppose, surely, that there was ever a ruling against beds? A bed merely means a place to sleep in. A pile of straw in a stall is a bed, properly regarded. The rule was against sheets, which are a human invention” (pg. 80) The pigs justify their action of sleeping in human beds by explaining what a bed is. The commandment was changed from “No animal shall sleep in a bed” to “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.” Squealer was able to convince the animals out of suspicion. As a result of corrupting power, Napoleon successfully maintains control throughout
This, he said, contained the essential principle of Animalism.”. Throughout the book the commandments are changed to fit the pigs lifestyle. Animalism was supposed to be used to keep one animal from having more, or less power than the others. One of the commandments states that “5. No animal shall drink alcohol.”.
One way he does this by using the pups to bark and growl at the animals. This helps Napoleon stay in power because if the animals are scared, they know that they should not to mess Napoleon. This helps Napoleon because it makes the animals afraid to argue and talk to him about leading all of the animals and staying in control. Another reason how Napoleon stays in power is my scaring the animals by telling them, “Jones would come back!” (Doc C, Chapter 3)
It is seen that the power rid of Napoleon’s conscience, and created a ruthless dictator.
Lord Acton, the British historian, once said, “All power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, the character Napoleon puts himself in charge. But, not only that he allows another pig, Squealer, to do his dirty work. And also uses dogs to chase his enemy, Snowball, away . In which leads to other animals not knowing that the farm is being ran the same way as when under Mr. Jones, the old farmer 's, control.
Furthermore, Napoleon gives the other animals the impression he was the sole leader of the rebellion on Animal farm and makes Snowball -a leader who wanted what was best for the animals- seem like an enemy who was in cahoots with Farmer Jones since long before the animals took over the farm. Napoleon and Squealer (another “fat cat” pig.) always put the blame on Snowball whenever something went wrong in the farm to avoid having the blame fall on them. Napoleon is an exemplary example of just how selfish and hypocritical people can be in furthering their own aims because he continued to subtly but purposely change the seven rules put in place as the pillars of animalism. For example, Napoleon and the other pigs move into Farmer Jones’s house and sleep in his bed after commanding “No animal shall sleep in a bed”, so he changes the commandment to read “no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets”.
The crime of dog fighting could lead to 3 years in jail and $250,000 fine”( Gibson,n.pag). The dogfight is secret and violent , it was working underground, not many people know about how does this work, so it’s hard to investigate the
The greed of power will always blind the leader’s judgment. Napoleon was not excluded in this matter as he often takes advantages knowing that the animals cannot read or write. Although there are many examples to support this fact, but one stands out the most, Boxer’s ending. As can be seen throughout the story, Boxer is the one who worked hard for that farm’s welfare from the beginning to the end. His never-failing cry of ‘I will work harder’ often inspired the rest of animals to work hard despite facing failures such as destruction of the windmill for the second time.
But as the months go on, the pigs change them to their benefit, giving them more power and luxury. The quote, “when the terror caused by the executions had died down, some of the animals remembered that the Sixth Commandment decreed ‘No animal shall kill any other animal’... Muriel read the commandment for her. It ran: ‘No animal shall kill any other animal without cause’,”(Orwell 98) shows that the pigs obviously change the commandment before the other animals got a chance to read it. This happens more times as the book goes on, and shows the pigs abusing their power by changing the commandments to fit their actions and desires.
When somebody receives incredible power, they also receive a large burden of responsibility. Some people, such as Napoleon, disregard these responsibilities and become corrupt. In reality, we have seen this in leaders such as Stalin, who became corrupt once into power. In “Animal Farm”, Napoleon, a totalitarian pig, is a great example of how too much power is equal to corruption.
Only puppies and pigs can live in the house, sleep in the bed, eat apples and cookies and have all of the best things. As the history is developing, Napoleon is getting more and more like a dicator. He slowly begin to being superior but did not act like a dictator. Moreover, he broke some rules, he’s in contact with humans, and he had hours of works, and he killed aniamsl, and change the only commandment for “4 legs good, 2 legs better”. He also think that “Every animals are equal, but some are more equal then others.”
Despite having a few minor differences, the similarities between Hitler and Napoleon’s rise to power, obnoxious laws, and cruel actions are remarkable. Gaining control is the first step to a dictatorship. Both, Hitler and Napoleon rise to power in almost identical ways. Hitler and Napoleon gain full power by using force and after the main person ruling at the time dies or
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, 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.
“Animal Farm” by George Orwell, is a story to show how absolute power corrupts, just as Stalin’s power did during the Russian Revolution in 1917. In the allegory “Animal Farm” each character represents a political figure from the days around the Russian Revolution. For example, Joseph Stalin is represented by a pig named Napoleon, Squealer, another pig, represents Stalin’s propaganda department, and the dogs represent the Secret Police (KBG). Using the nine dogs that Napoleon raises (intimidation), Squealer (propaganda), and manipulation, Orwell illustrates how Napoleon was able to gain and maintain control of the farm. The nine dogs that stay by Napoleon at all times are useful for Napoleon to gain and maintain control of the farm because they scare the other animals, intimidating them so that they do not disobey Napoleon.
Some would say power is the ability to control a group and have them become your followers while maintaining a strong leadership role. The two books, Animal Farm and Lord of The Flies use power through the two main chiefs of the novels. The book Animal Farm, by George Orwell, is about a group of animals that declare a rebellion against the owner of their farm. They take the farm over, and make Napoleon, the main character who is also the dictator of the book, take leadership of the farm. On the other hand, the book Lord of The Flies, by William Golding is about a group of boys who are stranded on an island with no adults.
Napoleon ruled animal farm harshly and overworked the animals. Orwell described, “This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half” (Orwell 59). The animal’s are given a choice in the sense that if they wanted to, they could have Sundays off. However, the brutal consequences the animals would face if they did not work forced the animals to listen to the pigs.