Absolute Power Corrupts In George Orwell's Animal Farm

Register to read the introduction… His death brought upon the rise of the pigs because they were the most cleaver animals on the farm. After rebelling, the pigs made laws that needed to be followed. “Beasts of England” would have to be sung every day, and on the anniversary of “Battle at the Cowshed” one shot would be fired from Mr. Jones’ gun. Later in the story, Napoleon and Squealer start to take advantage of some of the animals. The intellectually inferior were easy to gain as followers, like Boxer and the sheep. Squealer would use propaganda and tell the animals lies so that they would not be suspicious of anything. One example of a lie is the milk and apples. The animals were wondering where all the milk and apples were and the pigs told them that they ate them, which they did. The other animals questioned them. So Squealer told them that they need to eat the milk and apples or else Jones will come back. A little later, Napoleon and Squealer modify the rules to fit what they need. The rule use to be “No animals shall sleep in a bed” (Orwell 43), but now it is “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets”(Orwell 79). The pigs did this so that they may sleep in beds without breaking the rules, but by changing the rules to fit their own needs it made them …show more content…
Strong individuals probably wouldn’t have any trouble overcoming the power that is feed to them. But most individuals with power, like Joseph Stalin and Napoleon from Animal Farm, find it necessary to live off the blood, sweat, and tears of their people. They believe that a society must be run with an iron fist. Power must be controlled in order for a society to strive. Napoleon and Squealer in Animal Farm failed to run a community by corrupting themselves with the power that they have gained from the trust of the other animals on the farm. Corruption only leads to the death of innocence.

Works Cited

“Animal Farm: Power Corrupts.” Rev. of Animal Farm. Shmoop. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. <http://www.shmoop.com/animal-farm/power-leadership-corruption-theme.html>.

Lamont, George J. “Animal Farm - Comparison of Characters to the Russian Revolution.” Rev. of Animal Farm. Barney Gonzaga.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. <http://barney.gonzaga.edu/~sbennet3/mead/lessonplans/animalfarm.htm>.

May, Charles E. Masterplots II: British Common Wealth Fiction Series. Pasadena, California: Salem, 1987. 1-3. British Common Wealth Fiction Series. Literary Reference Online. Web. 27 Nov. 2011.

Orwell, George. Animal Farm. New York: Sigent, 1996. Print.

Spartacus Educational. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2011.