Abuse Of Power In Animal Farm

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Pages: 4

We as the reader are intrigued by this novel Animal Farm immediately from the first paragraph. Many of the novel's main characters are introduced in this chapter. Mr Jones, for example, is presented as a drunk, reckless ruler who ‘had locked the hen houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the popholes’. In addition, Mr Jones' name (a common one) suggests he is similar to many of the other humans, and the cruel use of power of all mankind is an important theme of Major's speech. His unstable stand, suggested by the "dancing lantern" he carries, and his also suggested drunk snoring wife marks him immediately as the typical example of all that Major says about mankind's self-absorption and greed. Therefore, the first chapter …show more content…
Despite his thought selfless motives, Napoleon is presented as the typical example of a power-hungry individual who hides all of his actions with the excuse that they are done for the betterment of the farm. For example, Napoleon who is stealing apples and milk explains his greedy actions by the lie that these foods have nutrients essential to pigs, which need the energy to carry on their managerial work. His running Snowball off the farm is explained by the false accusation that Snowball was actually a traitor, working for Jones and that the farm will far better without him. Every time that Napoleon and all the other pigs wish to disregard one of the Seven Commandments, they legitimize their actions by changing the Commandment's original state. Whenever the farm suffers a setback, Napoleon blames Snowball's treachery, which the reader, of course, knows is false. Napoleon who is now walking on two legs, wearing a derby hat, and toasting Pilkington reflects the degree to which he, and the other pigs, completely disregards the unfortunate condition of the other animals in favour of satisfying their own strong desire for power. Therefore, I believe Animal Farm is a prime example of a novel which shows the tendency for those who adopt ideas showing a moral righteousness to become the biggest enemies of the people whose lives they are claiming to