Does power lead to corruption? Can it change someone's morals? Both William Shakespeare's Macbeth and George Orwell’s Animal Farm show how leaders can abuse their power to corrupt their communities. Napoleon, from Animal Farm, and Macbeth, from Macbeth, share many similarities such as their manipulative abilities, their leadership style, and lack of truthfulness. Through these two individuals, it can be seen how they use power to satisfy their personal interests and desires. Napoleon and Macbeth leadership styles are interchangeable. They are both advocates of using violence as a means to facilitate their personal interests. In Animal Farm, Napoleon raises a group of puppies from birth into strong, vicious dogs that follow his every command.
…show more content…
Napoleon chases Snowball off the farm to ensure he has total control over Animal Farm. Another incidence where Napoleon acts in a violent manner is when he “[took] Boxer to the Knacker’s” (Orwell 82). He sells Boxer off to the Glue factory for a crate of whisky further indulging his personal wants and interests. In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth formulates a plan where Macbeth is to kill Duncan with two daggers, then, kill the Chamberlin placing the blame on them (Mac.2.2.19). He murders Duncan to fulfill the witches prophecy and attain the throne, which is his only interest at the time. Another occurrence where Macbeth uses violence is when he kills Macduff’s wife and child. In fear of the witches prophecy, Macbeth sends murderers to kill Macduff’s wife and child. Ross informs Macduff about the tragic news and tells him that “Your castle is surprised. Your wife and babes savagely slaughtered” (Mac.4.3.240-241). Macbeth …show more content…
Throughout Animal Farm, due to the naivety of the animals Napoleon is able to easily manipulate the animals change the farm in ways that benefit him. A prime example of this is when Napoleon changes the sixth commandment (No animals shall kill any other animal) to “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause”(Orwell 61). Napoleon manipulates the sixth commandment so he could get away with his killing of animals. He doesn't want the animals questioning him about him breaking the commandments so he changes it to something that he thinks he’s abided. The final form of manipulation that truly showed how Napoleon used his power to side with the humans was at the end where he changes the commandment from ‘All animals are equal’ to “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others”(Orwell 90). This is the final and most shocking form of manipulation. The whole philosophy of the farm revolves around the animals being equal and being treated the same, but Napoleon uses his power to manipulate that philosophy to allow himself to be senior in the hierarchy of animals in the farm and associate with humans. Whereas Napoleon manipulates the use of language Macbeth manipulates people. When Macbeth realizes the witches prophecies are becoming true, he becomes suspicious that Banquo may try to kill him. Because of this,
Napoleon chases Snowball off the farm to ensure he has total control over Animal Farm. Another incidence where Napoleon acts in a violent manner is when he “[took] Boxer to the Knacker’s” (Orwell 82). He sells Boxer off to the Glue factory for a crate of whisky further indulging his personal wants and interests. In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth formulates a plan where Macbeth is to kill Duncan with two daggers, then, kill the Chamberlin placing the blame on them (Mac.2.2.19). He murders Duncan to fulfill the witches prophecy and attain the throne, which is his only interest at the time. Another occurrence where Macbeth uses violence is when he kills Macduff’s wife and child. In fear of the witches prophecy, Macbeth sends murderers to kill Macduff’s wife and child. Ross informs Macduff about the tragic news and tells him that “Your castle is surprised. Your wife and babes savagely slaughtered” (Mac.4.3.240-241). Macbeth …show more content…
Throughout Animal Farm, due to the naivety of the animals Napoleon is able to easily manipulate the animals change the farm in ways that benefit him. A prime example of this is when Napoleon changes the sixth commandment (No animals shall kill any other animal) to “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause”(Orwell 61). Napoleon manipulates the sixth commandment so he could get away with his killing of animals. He doesn't want the animals questioning him about him breaking the commandments so he changes it to something that he thinks he’s abided. The final form of manipulation that truly showed how Napoleon used his power to side with the humans was at the end where he changes the commandment from ‘All animals are equal’ to “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others”(Orwell 90). This is the final and most shocking form of manipulation. The whole philosophy of the farm revolves around the animals being equal and being treated the same, but Napoleon uses his power to manipulate that philosophy to allow himself to be senior in the hierarchy of animals in the farm and associate with humans. Whereas Napoleon manipulates the use of language Macbeth manipulates people. When Macbeth realizes the witches prophecies are becoming true, he becomes suspicious that Banquo may try to kill him. Because of this,