Power Corrupts In Animal Farm

Words: 624
Pages: 3

Threats, Obsessions, Tricks

In the novel, Animal Farm, by George Orwell, one of the most important themes is that power corrupts those who possess it. In the book, the animals overthrow their human master, Mr. Jones, and decide that they would create an equal society for all animals. Three pigs named Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball decide to take the lead to help guide the animals into an equal society, but power corrupts Napoleon and Squealer, and they kick Snowball out of the farm. The theme is shown by Napoleon killing those he think are threats to his power, obsessing with staying in power, and deceiving those he leads into believing his rule is contributing to them.
Napoleon abuses his authority by killing the animals who confessed to being in league with Snowball. “They were the same four pigs as had protested when Napoleon abolished the Sunday Meetings… they confessed that they had been secretly in touch with Snowball… the dogs promptly tore their throats out… Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess”(82). Napoleon wants to kill the animals that say they are in
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“‘It’s no longer needed, comrade,’ said Squealer… ‘Beasts of England was the song of the Rebellion. But the Rebellion is now completed… In Beasts of England we expressed our longing for a better society in days to come. But that society has now been established’”(86). Squealer is convincing the animals that they don’t need to rebel anymore. He is suggesting that their society is better than the society in which Jones was there. Squealer needs to persuade the animals that the song isn’t needed because he might lose his job, along with Napoleon’s, if the animals don’t believe his excuse. All in all, Napoleon is obsessed with staying in power, and also falsify those he lead into believing his reign is helping