Power Tends To Corrupt In Animal Farm

In her critically acclaimed novel One Corpse Too Many, author Ellis Peters wrote, “All of the things of the wild have their proper uses. Only misuse makes them evil.” The possession and usage of power is an especially slippery slope. In George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm, a main recurring theme revolves around power and how those who hold it will ultimately fall into corruption. The desire for power stems from greed, but power also fuels greed.

John Dalberg-Acton once declared, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. " This quote applies to George Orwell 's political novella, Animal Farm, which symbolizes the Russian Revolution by portraying various leaders and supporters through allegorical characters. Throughout the satire, Orwell strongly emphasizes the point of how power can easily corrupt the ruler of a society. At the beginning of the story, the animals of Manor Farm defeat the tyrannical Mr. Jones in an effort to create a better life for themselves.

Napoleon was so threatened by Snowball that he used his 9 loyal dogs to chase Snowball out of the Farm, and then brainwash everyone into believing that Snowball was the enemy. This is similar to when Joseph Stalin ordered one of his men to go kill Leon Trotsky because he hated everything that Trotsky was about. Stalin banished him from the country and “erased” him from Russian history. Snowball and Leon Trotsky both wanted the best for their country, but had political rivals who wanted nothing more than to see them

In the novel Animal Farm power is portrayed as an ultimate weapon that allows the chosen few to live outside of the law. The animals granted

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.

The quote by Lord Acton, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” is a good example of what is happening in the book Animal Farm by George Orwell. The pigs immediately gain control and leadership of the farm and eventually start to abuse the power. The pigs abuse their power by changing the commandments, living in luxury, and by treating the animals poorly. First and foremost, the pigs start changing the commandments to fit their acts and desires. In the beginning of the story, the animals decide on fair rules that everyone on the farm should abide by.

The pigs and Mr. Jones in Animal Farm shows that power corrupts absolutely. Power often comes from greed; pleasure and that it corrupt the society. The corruption of power in Animal Farm contributes to the Russian revolution and it occurs because of human nature, thirst of power and

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.

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton) This quote is telling us that when people get into 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. At the start Napoleon and the other pigs strongly believed that all animals were equal and had the right to live in a place that took care of their well being.

Napoleon also uses manipulation to gain and maintain a firm control by changing the Commandments for the farm in ways that work to his benefit. Squealer, Napoleon’s propaganda department, Keeps the farm animals believing in Napoleon by describing what they hear and see to make it seem harmless. Using effective tactics of fear, convincing propaganda, and manipulation, Napoleon gains and maintains control of Animal Farm. “Animal Farm” has corruption and equality in a way the animals try to succeed and achieve a goal to make the farm better. Power corrupts in “Animal Farm” because the pigs have a goal which is working together and helping one another.

The book starts out with old major informing the animals about Animalism. In the Revolution Karl Marx is telling his country of communism and how its a brilliant idea. Eventually old major dies, and that 's when snowball and napoleon take over the farm and rename it the animal farm, similarly Karl Marx and Lenin overtake Nicholas II and they renamed Russia to the USSR. Jones failed when he tried to retake his farm back but in the revolution the white army fights the rod army and fails.

Stalin, the leader of the Communist army in Russia and the most powerful man in the past uses violence to the ones that go against him. He has a style of dictatorship where many people suffer. Gunshots going across, people dying out, outcry, burst in tears with bruises all over the body, killing in harsh condition all occurs during Russian Revolution. The historical background of George Orwell’s Animal Farm is also the Russian Revolution. In the book, Napoleon uses dictatorship to order other animals, uses accuration, and give harsh punishment who block his way.

Everyone perceives power differently. Some might say, power is the ability to control others, others might say, power is when you can influence others around you and such. The book Marked by Steve Ross and Animal Farm by George Orwell perfectly portray power in a unique, interesting way that will change your perspective about power. Marked is a graphic novel, which is a retelling of the Gospel of Mark in a modern way, while Animal Farm is a fable that is a satire of the Russian Revolution. In Marked, power is represented mostly through the graphics of the novel and camera angles, while in Animal Farm, power is represented through the use of language.

The ensuing rebellion under the leadership of the pigs Napoleon and Snowball leads to the animals taking over the farm. Vowing to eliminate the terrible inequities of the farmyard, the renamed Animal Farm is organised to benefit all who walk on four legs. But as time passes, the ideals of the rebellion are corrupt, then forgotten. This is all due to the lust for power that the pigs Napoleon and Snowball have that made them all selfish and corrupted. Animal farm in context to The Russian Revolution in terms of corrupting influence of power : Orwell 's goal was to portray the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the early years of the Soviet Union that resulted in a more oppressive and deadly government than the one it overthrew.

Animal Farm portrays the events and figures of the Russian Revolution and how power leads to tyranny and subjection. The purpose of overthrowing the imperial government was to dispose of the oppression they suffered. Unfortunately, they were not able to escape from it because once an individual gets the taste of power, there is no telling what the person is capable of doing to get even more. Animal Farm incredibly represents the Russian Revolution and the propaganda used by Stalin. The allegory also demonstrates of the dangers of power in the novel as it was seen in the Russian Revolution.