Animal Farm
“With great power comes great responsibility”-Uncle Ben from Spider Man. Many leaders throughout history were corrupted by the power they were given or achieved.The most notorious was Joseph Stalin. He and Napoleon from the book animal farm are very alike in many ways.
Stalin was very infamous for starting communism. He also was very badly known for watching and spying on people in his own country. He had a secret police that would monitor and spy on everybody.They were even restricting what the children were being taught in school and to work for the better of the people.Even some kids were pulled out of home and went to military schools to be soldiers. He was also a schizophrenic,
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Fill your glasses to the brim. Gentlemen, here is my toast: To the prosperity of The Manor Farm! " (10.32),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. (3.2), and finally It was about this time that the pigs suddenly moved into the farmhouse and took up their residence there...It was absolutely necessary, he said, that the pigs, who were the brains of the farm, should have a quiet place to work in. It was also more suited to the dignity of the Leader (for of late he had taken to speaking of Napoleon under the title of "Leader") to live in a house than in a mere sty. Nevertheless, some of the animals were disturbed when they heard that the pigs not only took their meals in the kitchen and used the drawing-room as a recreation room, but
After the expulsion of Mr. Jones, owner of the Animal Farm, Napoleon hastily takes over. On the Animal Farm, the animals assume that food would be given out equally, but that is not the case. The pigs take all of the milk and apples to themselves, while not distributing any to the other animals. Napoleon does not realize he is being greedy at the time, but it is declared that “The importance of keeping the pigs in good health was all too obvious. So it was agreed without further argument that the milk and apples should be served to the pigs alone”(Orwell 43).
In George Orwell's Animal Farm, Napoleon rises to power and gradually deteriorates his self image by misusing his power as did Joseph Stalin in the Russian
For example, Napoleon decides that “It was about this time that the pigs suddenly moved into the farmhouse and took up their residence there... It was absolutely necessary, he said, that the pigs, who were the brains of the farm, should have a quiet place to work in. It was also more suited to the dignity of the Leader (for of late he had taken to speaking of Napoleon under the title of "Leader") to live in a house than in a mere sty” (21) meaning that he is starting to take control of the farm. This shows that Napoleon is slowly starting to become the leader of the farmhouse and concludes that he deserves more than the others because of his high position. Furthermore, this also illustrates that the animals do not understand that Napoleon is becoming the thing that he feared most; human.
In Animal Farm, George Orwell warns how power will often lead to corruption. Napoleon was placed in a position of power after Major died, and he slowly starts to lavish in his power and become addicted to the lush life of a dictator. When Napoleon first becomes a leader, he expresses how everyone will work equally, but as his reign goes on, he shortens the work hours. At the very end of the novel, the observing animals even start to see that pig and man had become the same. The irony present in the above example, illuminates how regardless of how much a ruler promises to maintain equality and fairness, the position of power that they hold, will corrupt them.
Napoleon who was in control in Animal farm is similar to Joseph Stalin. One similarity between Napoleon and Stalin is they would eliminate anyone who would disagree with them or rebel against their rules. In the book Animal Farm Napoleon gets rid of Snowball because they didn't agree on what to do for the farm and he was worried all the animals would side with Snowballs ideas not Napoleons. In the book it states, “They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws,” (Orwell 53). This shows that napoleon felt threatened by Snowball and was worried he would take over the farm so he used his dogs to try to kill Snowball so Napoleon could have no choice but to rule the farm.
Lord Acton, the British historian, once said, “All power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, the character Napoleon puts himself in charge. But, not only that he allows another pig, Squealer, to do his dirty work. And also uses dogs to chase his enemy, Snowball, away . In which leads to other animals not knowing that the farm is being ran the same way as when under Mr. Jones, the old farmer 's, control.
Furthermore, Napoleon gives the other animals the impression he was the sole leader of the rebellion on Animal farm and makes Snowball -a leader who wanted what was best for the animals- seem like an enemy who was in cahoots with Farmer Jones since long before the animals took over the farm. Napoleon and Squealer (another “fat cat” pig.) always put the blame on Snowball whenever something went wrong in the farm to avoid having the blame fall on them. Napoleon is an exemplary example of just how selfish and hypocritical people can be in furthering their own aims because he continued to subtly but purposely change the seven rules put in place as the pillars of animalism. For example, Napoleon and the other pigs move into Farmer Jones’s house and sleep in his bed after commanding “No animal shall sleep in a bed”, so he changes the commandment to read “no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets”.
When somebody receives incredible power, they also receive a large burden of responsibility. Some people, such as Napoleon, disregard these responsibilities and become corrupt. In reality, we have seen this in leaders such as Stalin, who became corrupt once into power. In “Animal Farm”, Napoleon, a totalitarian pig, is a great example of how too much power is equal to corruption.
In Animals Farm, there is a pig who’s name Napoleon. This character did not contributed to the society with his actions. In effect, he did not respect the concept of “Animalism” which is the equality of all the animals. He did many actions that broke this conception during the entire story. At the beginning, Napoleon, take the farm with Snowball when the farmer, Mr. Jones, left.
Back in history, many leaders are overthrown and killed because corruption of power. Due to the fact, power was not distributed properly to the people they often feel uncomfortable and leads to rebellion. Yet, power corruptions are common these days, it is proven that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely by history and in modern days. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Lord Acton’s statement, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” applies to much of the rulers in Animal Farm that show dictatorship and violence.
Abuse of Power From the beginning of time until now, civilization has always felt the need to be organized under a leader. The craving of power lives in most people. Sometimes men striving for power can work their way up to a dictatorship, absolute control, by using propaganda, fear, and many other methods. In the novel, Animal Farm by George Orwell, Napoleon portrays similar qualities in power as Hitler.
Power can have the persuasive action in undoing the moral ethics of one’s character. This can be seen throughout history, such as World War II and proven by the actions of Napoleon in the allegory, Animal Farm, by George Orwell. As Lord Acton said “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In history what was viewed as a villain, is never the same as the perception. A leader does not begin wanting to do wrong, they start with the best intentions, but power is a tricky thing.
At the start of the rebellion, Manor proclaimed that “Even when we have conquered Man, we must not resemble him or adopt his vices”. However, at the end of the novel, there is no real difference between man and pigs. The pigs dress in Jones’s clothing’s, subscribe to Daily Mirror and even drink with the neighbouring farmers. Napoleon even confirms that the “title-deeds were owned by the pigs jointly”. It finally dawned upon the animals that the utopian life that they envisioned was only a
They must not wear clothing, live in houses, or copy any of Man’s other “evil” habits; Third, No animal shall drink alcohol. Napoleon 's selfish behavior is the cause of the alteration to the fifth Commandment. When he and the other pigs get drunk, Napoleon 's hangover is a cause for alarm, more and more of the farm 's resources are diverted to the provision of alcohol for the pigs. 2) Humans, in spite of the fact that pigs ruled over the farm however the pigs are utilizing the strategies and the strategies that Jones used to take after and far and away more terrible. So fundamentally the pigs are currently people, they don 't contrast what so ever, and in the last part where the creatures at long last find what the pigs have gotten to be, as they see them drinking, sitting, playing cards and giggling with Humans, and also strolling on two legs and being dictators.
Aryaman Gulati December 16, 2014 World Studies Final Exam Argumentative Essay “Power Tends To Corrupt; Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.” Ruthless Tyrants. Fictional Characters. Normal People. Power is seen everywhere and witnessed by everyone.