The Abuse Of Power In George Orwell's Animal Farm

Corrupt people who abuse their own power often break their own rules. An example of this statement in world history is the Russian Revolution. During this alteration of Russia’s government, Joseph Stalin secured power and became a ruthless dictator. Stalin and his followers attempted to convert Russia to a communist government, and took advantage of the Russian people. George Orwell, a strong anti-communist, used these events from his point of view to conduct the novel Animal Farm. In Animal Farm, Orwell explores the dangers of the abuse of power through the characters Farmer Jones, Benjamin, and Napoleon. One example of Orwell’s depiction of the dangers of the abuse of power involves the character Farmer Jones. George Orwell intended for Farmer Jones to represent the Czar, the leader of Russia who was dethroned during the Russian Revolution. Jones is the owner of Manor Farm until his own animals overthrow him and make it their own. He is extremely selfish towards the farm, giving the animals barely enough food to survive and making them work for absolutely nothing in return. Jones not only is solely thoughtful of himself, but he also kills the animals that are of no use to him or his farm. Old Major, the oldest pig on the farm, claims, “We are born, we are given just so much food as will keep …show more content…
Benjamin is a donkey on Animal Farm who chooses to be willfully ignorant to everything progressing around him. He could obtain power over the merciless pigs if he wishes to, but he chooses not to intervene. Benjamin knows how to read, but does not use it to benefit the other animals or himself. When the pigs are constantly changing the rules of the farm, Benjamin acknowledges it and knows that it is not right, but does nothing about it. Due to his willingly unmindful attitude, he abuses his privilege to take power and fix the horrific acts that eventually happen on the