Animal Farm Essay

Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

Animal Farm is a book written by George Orwell (whose real name is Eric Blair). It was
published in August 1945, just before the Second World War ended. It was first published with the
tag line: A Fairy Story, but in fact it was an allegory for the Russian Revolution and the subsequent
Communist Regime and specifically Stalinism. This essay will look at how power corrupts, and how
absolute power corrupts absolutely and this is demonstrated to us through the text.
In the beginning, Manor Farm was poorly managed by Mr. Jones. The animals were underfed
and overworked. During the course of the book, the Animals took over the farm and ousting Mr.
Jones, who fails to take back the farm. The pigs, seeing themselves as the most intelligent and thus
worthy of the right to lead the farm, install themselves as the ruling elite of the Farm. The Farm is
renamed to Animal Farm in defiance to their old master. However, the pigs begin to break the rules
that were laid out and start to even change them. Soon Napoleon has complete power over the farm
and the animals realise that they are no better off now than with Mr. Jones.
Boxer, the hardest worker on the farm, was sold by the pigs to gain the money to buy alcohol.
From somewhere or other, the pugs acquired the money to buy themselves a case of whisky. This
happens the night after Boxer is taken to the glue factory. It is either an extreme coincidence or the
more likely explanation is that the pigs, probably under orders from Napoleon, sold Boxer for money.
This shows they are corrupt because they break more than one of the Seven Commandments. Firstly,
they kill a fellow animal (or initiate the events the cause his death anyway) and take part in trade
when they receive money for Boxer. This is an awful thing to do because Boxer was the hardest
worker on the farm. This probably the worst thing that they- the pigs- did because Boxer never did
anything wrong nor was he capable of doing wrong.
The Pigs, and especially Napoleon, can be shown to be corrupt when Beasts of England, the
song the encouraged the rebellion on Animal Farm, is banned by the pigs by order of Napoleon.
Beasts of England was abolished! From now onwards it was forbidden to sing it. Napoleon was
aware of the power of the song, having been part of the rebellion himself. He was afraid that it could
spark a rebellion again and he would be ousted from his position of power. This shows that he is
corrupt because he does not want his power to be challenged and is unwilling to let the animals live
in a democracy.
Napoleon is also shown to be corrupt when he gives orders to change the Seven
Commandments, the rules that lay the foundation for the Animals society, to suit his own
interests.Muriel, she [Clover] said, read me the Fourth Commandment. Does it not say something
about never sleeping in a bed?" With some difficulty Muriel spelt it out... "It says, 'No animal shall
sleep in a bed with sheets,"' she announced finally. The pigs have changed the commandments so that
they can sleep in the manor house. This shows that the pigs are willing to go against the
commandments and change them for personal gain. The animals do not protest to this because they
are simply not smart enough. They are, unfortunately, easily manipulated and some of the animals
believe what ever they are told.
When Napoleon ousts Snowball, a rival pig and the only one capable of threatening
Napoleons power, we can see that Napoleons thirst for power has corrupted him. He [Snowball]
was running as only a pig can run, but the dogs were close on his heels. Suddenly he slipped and it
seemed certain that they had him. This shows that Napoleon had the intent to kill Snowball, even if
it was through his dogs. This shows that Napoleon is corrupt because it shows he is unwilling to give
up his power over Animal Farm and the animals and willing to use extreme methods of removing
rivals.

Napoleon is shown to be corrupt when his thirst for power and control leads him to forming
a guard of vicious dogs that he reared from when they were pups. They help to enforce his rule and
protect the pigs, especially the very important ones like Napoleon and Squealer. We know Napoleon
took the pups from Bluebell and Jessie because Napoleon says: he would make himself responsible
for their education. However, Napoleon actually teaches them that he is always right and should be
obeyed without question. He uses the dogs to enforce his rule because the book says: At this there
was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs, wearing brass-studded collars came
bounding into the barn. This shows that Napoleon is corrupt because it shows he is willing to use
force, violence and intimidation to achieve his aims. He is also willing to separate a child- in this case
children- from there parents. This something only a man-or pig- that has allowed himself to be
corrupted could do.
Napoleon can be seen to have had his morality perverted when he carries out various
executions in front of the animals because some traitors supposedly allied themselves with
Snowball in an attempt to take back Animal Farm. "Squealing with pain and terror", the young pigs
confess that they were working with Snowball and Mr. Frederick, and a moment later the dogs "tore
their throats out". This means that the pigs, who probably were planning on overpowering Napoleon
but not allying themselves with Snowball, were killed in front of the whole population of Animal
Farm. It is possible that Napoleon promised them forgiveness when they confessed. Of course, he
does not stay true to his word and this further reinforces that he is truly corrupt. This shows that
Napoleon, who gives orders to the dogs, is willing to kill any other animal just to tarnish Snowballs
reputation and to make sure that his power is never opposed.
In conclusion, we can see that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Napoleon believes that he can go above and beyond the Seven Commandments because he is in
charge. He also begins to treat the animals just as worse, if not more worse, than Mr. Jones in the days
before the rebellion. I personally believe that there are lines that should not be crossed when trying to
achieve your aims. No matter how badly I want something, I will never allow myself to become
corrupt and fall to such base impulses, such as killing. Napoleon crossed those lines, more than once,
and allowed himself to be corrupted and in effect, became a hated figure of society.



Brogan Young