The Abuse Of Power In Animal Farm By George Orwell

Power and entitlement can often be used to one's own advantage. It can be used to achieve great things to bring a community together, or used for absolute evil to create a rebellion. In the novella Animal farm the hierarchy, being the pigs and Napoleon use propaganda in many instances to manipulate, and constantly twist the truth to the other oblivious animals on the farm to gain power.

Abuse of power is demonstrated in many areas of Orwell’s novel and it clearly indicates that Orwell is not a Marxist. This is shown through manipulating all the animals, altering the commandments, and it is distinctly visible when almost all the animals fear the pigs. As days go on, there is always something different about the farm yet no one ever says a word, “Curiously enough, Clover had not remembered that the fourth commandment mentioned sheets; but as it was there on the wall, it must have done so,” Orwell, pg.79. Some animals recognize the changes and adjustments but because of the deficiency in education they all have, it becomes difficult for anyone to say anything. Clover, the motherly mare, notices that the pigs are sleeping upon beds which according to her were breaking one of the commandments. Although she knows this is a violation of the rules, she stays quiet and silently questions all the actions the pigs continue to take. This is an internal conflict that Clover is experiencing who mentally observes all the manipulating and controlling the pigs do with all the farm animals. She realizes this is all wrong but does not want to get involved. The pigs, specifically Napoleon, change the commandments knowing that not all the animals get fully educated enough to comprehend what each means and in result he, therefore, gets to manipulate the animals into doing anything he wants. The pigs see that all the animals will accept any changes made without arguing because in

Elie Wiesel in Night and Snowball from Animal Farm are very similar characters because they were victimized by tyrants and used as scapegoats, but they are also unique and individual characters because Elie knew he was being taken advantage of and Snowball did not. Animal Farm is written by George Orwell, and it is about a farm of animals that take over the farm. Napoleon, a large pig, slowly takes away food and supplies from the other animals until he starts walking on two feet and becomes a “human.” Because of him Snowball is expelled from the farm and acts as a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong on the farm. Night is an autobiography written by Elie Wiesel, and in it Elie tells the story of he was taken from his home and put into a concentration camp under the control of Adolf Hitler.

“The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership”- Pages 27-28. The book that this is present in, is Animal Farm by George Orwell. George Orwell wrote Animal Farm hoping his readers would see the comparison to the Soviet Union through allegory, and symbols. The Animal Farm was ultimately a failure because of power; more specifically, because the obstruction of power. Throughout the book it is seen how most animals in power obstruct certain rights, this greatly impacts the influence of power on the animals. The majority of the downfall of Animal Farm is based around how the animals have

Power can not only harm- it can kill. In George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm, published in 1945, power quickly corrupts society. The animals were just able to be free of the critical control of Farmer Jones, when another leader steps up- this time one of their own. When given too much power, Napoleon, the Animal Farm’s dictator, takes complete control over the farm. From repealing all rules earlier laid out, to the slaughtering of innocent animals, Napoleon makes it obvious he is in power. The farm animals remain faithful to this harsh leader despite the fact they get treated poorly and inhumanly. They become “brainwashed” into believing Napoleon has the best interest for each and every one of them. The theme that power corrupts is

Throughout history, there are endless examples of people who became leaders and let the power they gained corrupt them. Some started as kind and generous humans and then turned to selfish, greedy dictators. One example of the corruption that comes with power can be seen in the events of the Russian Revolution which led to the death and destruction of a plethora of Russians under the communist rulers who let power corrupt them. George Orwell uses his novel Animal Farm as an allegory for readers to have insight into the corruption that power can bring. Power corrupts those who possess it because it makes them selfish, it makes them lie and be dishonest to serve their own agendas, and it leads them to compromise their morals.

The prevalent theme throughout the novel Animal Farm is based upon the abuse of power and the danger of being uneducated. Author George Orwell, has shown this in the novel,

Power is one of the main themes in the novel Animal Farm. In this book, power affects the characters, the events, and the outcome in this novel. Jones has all the power at first. He does not work at all. He forgets to feed animals because he is always drinking. He is the owner of the Manor Farm but the name is later changes to Animal Farm. Animals are slaughtered if they are old or injured. Animal Farm is a historical novel, set in England, but dealing with the events leading up to and after the Russian Revolution of 1917. It illustrates the idea expressed by Lord Acton that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This abuse of power can be demonstrated by studying Napoleon's actions in the book.

In the novel, Animal Farm, by George Orwell, power is expressed through self-government of the animals. As soon as the humans are chased out of the farm, the animals start a civilization of their own. A few pigs named Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer create Animalism, which is the idea that animals are superior to humans, and that any human is considered an enemy. However, these pigs, especially Napoleon, begin to abuse the power that they have to use it for their own benefit. Ever since the humans left the farm, Napoleon takes advantage of everything he possibly can.

When one acquires a position of extreme power, it is only a matter of time before it is maliciously abused for personal benefit. As socialized power, the power used to benefit others, transitions to personalized power, the principle of morality is lost as the leader becomes unable to discern from right and wrong.

George Orwell’s book, Animal Farm, shows society is glued together by alliances against enemies. The potential is boundless when people join arms to fight an opposing force. If one’s individual presence leaves a long shadow, the other’s allegiance will only compliment and strengthen its formidable approach. An ancient threat is of no use to those in power.

The book “Animal Farm” written by George Orwell is a story about animals having plans to dismantle Mr. Jones’ cruelty forced upon them and to create a fair animal society. Soon after Major leader of this plan perished, the pigs took over leadership, and were corrupted by power. The pigs say, “ Man is the only real enemy we have.” The pigs maked seven commandments that all animals have to follow, but then start to break them. Also, the pigs are working the animals harder now than ever and give them the same amount of food. Finally, the pigs turn against their most important rule, start to hurt the other animals and begin to act like humans.

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.

Animal Farm, a complex allegory for the Russian revolution and the events that follow, is a novel by George Orwell that has a myriad of sensitive topics and situations such as the usage of power and its effect. These topics and situations can be found in the real world: such as the one I said before, power. Power can be defined in many ways, but the interpretation in the novel is the ability to rule and change multiple people’s lives for better or worse, mostly used by a leader. In other words, a leader could change people’s lives wielding that power. Take Kim Jong Un, for example: he has the power to control what people say, eat, do, and see. His decisions affect people on a day to day basis, through the use of his power over North Korea.

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.