Power Corrupts

Corruption is directly proportionate to the greed for power, and Napoleon, being a sly, selfish and witty pig, became more or less a despotic dictator of Animal Farm, who endorsed Lord Acton’s words, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Through his use of actions, language and relationships, Napoleon became corrupt and started to take privileges for himself. He was able to disempower and dominate the animals of the farm, which only led to his increasing hunger for power.

Through Napoleon’s actions, the discourse of power and control is evidently depicted by his use of tactics, which are features of a dictatorship, to assume his leadership and power.

He took over the farm slowly by slowly, firstly privileging himself and his fellow pigs by convincing the other animals it was for their sake that the pigs ate most of the apples and drank most of the milk.

“We pigs are brain-workers. The whole management and organisation of this

farm depends on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare, and it

is for your sake that we drink that drink and eat those apples.”

He did this through the use of Squealer who was a persuasive speaker, a follower and a liar. On Napoleon’s behalf, he told the ani

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Napoleon forced confessions, eliminated these probable traitors under the newly revised rule and was on the midst of gaining more power than he could possibly handle. Napoleon became so corrupt in his actions he broke parts of the commandments to privilege himself and the other pigs. This favoured Napoleon’s popularity and respect, and once he realised that the animals started listening to him, all the powers he had began to corrupt him. ”

Napoleon being an opportunist was envious of Snowball as the animals favoured him over Napoleon. Being as greedy as he was, his authority was still not enough, intensifying his desire for more.

Power and control is represented through Napoleon’s relationships with the pigs, as well as his relationships and thoughts towards the other animals.

“They had thought the fifth commandment was ‘No animal shall drink

alcohol’, but there were two words that they had forgotten. When all else failed Napoleon used the threat of “Jones returning” to silence the animals. He had formed strongly bounded relationships with them, and trained secretly in order to posses security for himself. Napoleon reigned his power, by leading the animals on one by one, who don’t even notice that they are falling into his trap. Actually the

commandment read: ‘No animal shall drink alcohol to excess’”.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely after Napoleon takes over the farm when Old Major dies.

With the amount of power Napoleon had, he had depended heavily on propaganda delivered by Squealer.

Napoleon’s actions were not unnoticed though.

“Do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has

come in the night and overthrown the windmill? SNOWBALL!”

Of course through Squealers intelligence, he was able to persuade the other animals that the traitorous Snowball had avenged himself.

Approximate Word count = 1093
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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