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Power To The Pigs In George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'

Decent Essays

Anna Katherine Alderman
Mrs. Brock
3rd period
16 August 2017

Power to the Pigs
The need for power has challenged man throughout time, resulting in manipulation and other corrupt actions. Many significant historical figures have fallen to this corruption because of their hunger for dominance and leadership. Just like these people in history strive for power, so do the characters in Animal Farm, as they want to control Manor Farm. While there are some characters who want power and dominance, there are also those who are oblivious to the leadership role which allows them to be taken advantage of greatly. The characters in George Orwell’s Animal Farm symbolize power and manipulation through their actions.

Power and manipulation are tactics …show more content…

It begins at the first of the novel when Old Major, the wisest of the pigs, uses the authority he possesses to manipulate the animals into fulfilling his dying wish, without them even knowing they are being manipulated. When Old Major dies and the pigs take over, they are determined to change things and successfully run off Mr. Jones, the owner of the farm. The pigs take over and gain authority so easily, because they know so much about the farm already. Orwell explains in the novel “The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership” (27-28). The pigs take over the farm and the other animals are okay with it but never realized that the pigs bend the rules to what they want. The other animals are so easily manipulated and persuaded that they did not even realize the pigs are taking all of the food and changing rules. Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer are the three main leaders of the farm, until Napoleon takes over completely, symbolizing his hunger for power and dominance. It is shown throughout the entire novel that Napoleon works to take control completely until he successfully accomplishes his goal. By

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