...Difference of Powers Throughout history, society has been witnesses to individuals that have evolved into selfish and narcissistic beings who rise and take power. They initially bring a temporary sign of hope to their people in the form of freedom and happiness but is short lived and overturned as these individuals solely base their lives around greed. Their thirst for power runs through their veins taking hold of their mind ultimately causing them to stop at nothing to gain power. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the pigs new surge of power leaves them unsatisfied causing them to exploit and manipulate the other animals. The pigs defy their code to gain authority eventually leading to the corruption of the farm by their own greedy desires. George Orwell reveals the destruction that greed causes through the main antagonist, Napoleon, the affects of communism and his own life experiences. This ultimately leads the animals and Orwell into a world they do not recognize. Greed can be seen as a silent force that has the ability to conquer one’s life, where their selfish attitude allows his or her’s infatuation of power to consume them. Napoleon’s desire to become the only leader devours him as he becomes deceitful to animals except to the pigs. The animals on the farm are captivated by this new forming idea that they can become their own individuals by overthrowing the owner, Mr. Jones. This results in the animal to rejoice as they believe that they are able to control...
Words: 2077 - Pages: 9
...How does a society go from being a utopia, to a dystopia, what is a utopia??. In George Orwell’s novella, Animal Farm, the farm animals are restricted and mistreated. They have an overseer named Mr. Jones who is not only a drunk, but is slowly losing his ability to take care of Manor Farm. Gradually the animals are moving toward the idea of revolution against their dictator. Lois Lowry once said, “The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual. Is a life without colour, pain or past.” This quote can be interpreted as a life without problems, surprises or consequences, is a life with no originality or vitality. George Orwell uses a large variety of literary elements such as, symbols, dramatic irony and conflict...
Words: 1074 - Pages: 5
...Napoleon is the antagonist of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. He hungers for power and he proves that he will do anything to get what he wants. He is as selfish as man, so every step he takes is for his personal gain. His oppressive behavior towards the animals becomes worse throughout the book. Napoleon evolves to be worse than Mr. Jones because of his comportment, his cruelty towards animals and his selfish deeds. One of the most important changes that is observed is the alteration in Napoleon’s demeanor. He starts living in the farmhouse, away from the other animal, begins to drink alcohol with the other pigs, wears Mr. Jones clothes and crosses the limits when he commences walking on two legs (60-119). Napoleon wants power and he believes...
Words: 658 - Pages: 3
...Does Snowball really represent a morally legitimate political alternative to Napoleon? George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a satiric allegory of the Russian Revolution, and shows how power tends to corrupt the characters in possession of it. The two prominent pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, are shown to slowly accept the temptations of power and succumb to its effects. After Snowball’s expulsion, Napoleon takes control of the farm. But what if Snowball became the unquestionable leader and Napoleon was written off the board. Would Snowball become a better leader and conduct activities on the farm to ensure everyone was equal? It is clear the Snowball would not pose as morally legitimate political alternative as there are many instances that he was complicit with the pigs’ corrupted behaviour. To what extent is the weakness and foolishness responsible for the abuses of power committed by Napoleon and his followers? George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a satiric allegory of the Russian Revolution, and extensively shows the naivety of a simple working class and manipulated by propaganda. The foolishness of the simple animals demonstrates how they are unable to question the corrupt rule of the pigs and thus condemns them to suffer the full extent of the pigs’ oppression. It creates a loophole for Napoleon and his followers to abuse their power and manipulate it to suit their own benefits After Napoleon gains unquestionable control of the farm, he starts to abuse his power and change...
Words: 353 - Pages: 2
...Absolute Power and Corruption in Animal Farm Idealistic leaders can become corrupt because of the influence that absolute power can have on one’s morals. This pattern constantly repeats itself throughout history because of mankind’s ignorance to the past. Animal Farm represents the Russian revolution and the events and actions that took place. As Napoleon, Snowball, and Old Major evolve and show the effects of having power, is it obvious to see how absolute power corrupts potentially great leaders. Napoleon, an overall strong leader, lets power take over his views and morals for ultimate corruption. After Old Major dies, Napoleon is fortunate to be one of the next renowned leaders for the farm and soon to be a leader for the rebellion. As time passes, Napoleon experiences the luxuries and the benefits that come with having power— the power is now beginning to go to his head. He begins eating much food, sleeping on a bed, and wearing clothes (all of which the animals swore never to do in animalism). Napoleon is beginning to think of himself above all others rather than as still an equal. At one point in the book, Napoleon sell the loyal and hardworking boxer to a factory for alcohol. This goes to prove that he only cared about what he wanted, not his hard working citizen. By many events and actions done by Napoleon, it is easy to see how Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin. “Stalin was the undisputed dictator of USSR.” As Stalin did, Napoleon disposes of anything...
Words: 1184 - Pages: 5
...One may think that little comparison could be made between Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince and George Orwell’s Animal Farm. However many of the theories of leadership put forward in 1513 in The Prince can be found in Animal Farm. Those same ideas and theories can be applied to educational leaders and educational leadership to examine the morality of Machiavelli’s practices in education. This paper will compare and contrast leadership elements in both The Prince and Animal Farm. Machiavelli wrote The Prince in 1513. The purpose of The Prince was to record the knowledge that Machiavelli held in regards to leadership and power. Machiavelli lays out in details the ways in which a prince can come to power and how to maintain that power. The principles that Machiavelli put forth are straight forward with no sugar coating and often considered immoral. Orwell’s Animal Farm is in stark contrast to The Prince’s fiction. The novel is set on an English farm where the animals have taken over the farm from humans to rule it for themselves. The animals start out believing that the product of their labor will benefit only them and that all animals are to be treated equally. Over time one of the animals comes to power and emanates the human habits that lead to the overthrow of the humans in the first place. The work is satirical of the Communist Revolution and Stalinism. Orwell and Machiavelli present a united front in the portrayal of the non-ruling class. Machiavelli makes no apologies...
Words: 2277 - Pages: 10
...court or they must be counted against it." How do both texts show us that there is little room for justice in an oppressive society? Injustice is often a result of oppression as absolutist societies establish a dichotomy of good and evil to manipulate the powerless into subservience. The allegories by George Orwell and Arthur Miller denounce the harmful effects of tyranny, as it generates deception and fear, enabling despotic individuals to gain power and control. Miller’s play, The Crucible, advocates for the necessity of transgression to gain autonomy, as Salem’s theocracy is eventually broken; however, it is Orwell’s novella, Animal Farm, that exposes the unjust reality in which rebellion does not always guarantee freedom,...
Words: 1688 - Pages: 7
...Animal Farm Questions Chapter 5 18. Make a list of 6 things Napoleon does in this chapter to secure his position as leader of the Farm. Which do you think was the most effective? Napoleon tries to solidify his leadership much like his Russian Revolution counterpart Joseph Stalin does in multiple ways. 1. Napoleon manipulates the animals by talking to them one at a time. He does this early in the book when Snowball is trying to persuade animals to join him on his ideas. Napoleon is a dissenter in the midst who talks individually to get them to see things his way, for example in the case of the windmill. 2. Napoleon also enlists the help of a gifted and crafty speaker on his behalf. This is Squealer. Stalin had Pravda as his mouthpiece in Russia. Napoleon uses Squealer to make great speeches that demonstrate production is better than it was in Jones time by shouting out tons of numbers. 3. Napoleon has Squealer use propaganda. Fear is an emotional appeal used to get the animals to remain faithful to the cause of animalism. The slogan "Four legs good, Two legs bad" unifies the animals against a different enemy. Napoleon uses Snowball almost a scapegoat and they blame everything they do not want to take credit for on him. So if they are stuck in a bad circumstance, Snowball gets the blame. 4.His use of force to maintain order. He used his fierce dogs to scare the animals into submission (compared to Stalin's secret police), and also to protect himself from harm. These dogs...
Words: 1579 - Pages: 7
...Snowball vs. Napoleon Leadership consists of the actions taking place to lead a group of people or an organization. It is a position given to a person in power that has the capability to take charge of a situation. This role can be recognized through the book of Animal Farm written by George Orwell and how specific characters are portrayed as leaders. These leadership roles can be recognized through two main characters in Animal Farm by the names of Snowball and Napoleon. These characters leadership roles are portrayed on two separate sides of the spectrum and can be recognized for certain themes analyzed throughout the book for the seven commandments, the barn and the windmill. One main theme in the book was the seven commandments that gave the opportunity for Snowball and Napoleon to portray recognizable leadership traits, however Snowball portrays positive and likeable traits over Napoleon. These seven commandments were based on the rights of the animals and to give some sort of structure on the farm especially saying "All animals are equal" (Orwell 15) . On the other hand, Napoleon later on changes these commandments, he believed the pigs were number one by enforcing the commandment, "all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others" (Orwell 90). This quote proves that Napoleon is more concerned about his own species over the rest, he wants to be in control of all the animals which posses dictatorship. His leadership is put into question by the reader...
Words: 1634 - Pages: 7
...them see that this was contrary to the spirit of Animalism." P.17 The pigs Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer adapt Old Major's ideas into an actual philosophy, which they formally name Animalism. B "In the end, it was named the Battle of the Cowshed, since that was where the ambush had been sprung." P.44 "Old Major's Dream" is the major cause of the Battle of the Cowshed. Though the animals don't know when the rebellion will take place, but when it happened the were all surprised that a rebellion had taken place and they had won. In the Battle of Cowshed, the animals in Animal Farm fought Mr. Jones and his men. Mr. Jones WAS the farmer of Manor Farm, but since the animals won the Rebellion, it is now called Animal Farm and owned by animals. The pigeons alerted the animals that Jones and his men were going to attempt an invasion on the farm to get it back. Jones and his men broke the barred door holding sticks while Mr. Jones was holding a shotgun. The animals fought wisely and Snowball, the cleverest pig on the farm, led the attack. Snowball ran right up to Jones and attacked him. Jones tried to fire at Snowball, but the sheep behind Snowball was shot and killed. Jones fell to the floor and his gunshot right up and fell into the mud. Boxer ran right up to a boy and attacked him with his tremendous force. The boy fell face first into the mud. Jones and his men were retreating, and the animals had won. After this, they all saw Boxer trying to make the little boy in the mud move...
Words: 2276 - Pages: 10
...By looking at Animal Farm, one can see that George Orwell included the themes of the corruption of sSocialist ideas and the danger of a naive working class because he was very opposed to the cCommunistic ways of the Soviet Union. George Orwell, who was born Eric ArthurAuthur Blair, was born on June 25, 1903, in Motihari, India. He was the son of, Richard WalmesleyWalmasley Blair, a British civil servant officer, and...
Words: 2043 - Pages: 9
...Animal Farm A review by: Dimitrios Pastirmatzis "Animal Farm is an allegorical and dystopian novella by George Orwell, first published in England on 17 August 1945"(1) Animal Farm is a book written in England on the 17th of August of 1945, when the Soviet Union was in the midst of the Stalinist era and is critical of the situation that was developing there. In George Orwell's views the Soviet union was turned into an inhumane dictatorship built around a single man and enforced through sheer terror of various punishments and/or executions. The author deems his book a "fairy story", but the book is anything but. The animals of Manor Farm, plagued by malnurishment and the injustice that was forced upon them, revolt against their human...
Words: 982 - Pages: 4
...A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO THE SIGNET CLASSIC EDITION OF GEORGE ORWELL’S ANIMAL FARM By HAZEL K. DAVIS, Federal Hocking High School, Stewart, OH S E R I E S W. GEIGER ELLIS, ED.D., E D I T O R S : UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, EMERITUS and ARTHEA J. S. REED, PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, RETIRED A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of George Orwell’s Animal Farm 2 INTRODUCTION Animal Farm is an excellent selection for junior and senior high students to study. Although on one level the novel is an allegory of the 1917 Russian Revolution, the story is just as applicable to the latest rebellion against dictators around the world. Young people should be able to recognize similarities between the animal leaders and politicians today. The novel also demonstrates how language can be used to control minds. Since teenagers are the target not only of the educational system itself but also of advertising, the music industry, etc., they should be interested in exploring how language can control thought and behavior. Animal Farm is short and contains few words that will hamper the reader’s understanding. The incidents in the novel allow for much interactive learning, providing opportunities for students to dramatize certain portions, to expand on speeches, and to work out alternative endings. The novel can be taught collaboratively with the history department as an allegory of the Russian Revolution, allowing students to draw parallels...
Words: 9582 - Pages: 39
...Animal Farm An Allegory of the French Revolution By Travis Booker English 1302 Mrs. Simpson April 18, 2012 What is an allegory? Allegory is a device used to present an idea, principle, or meaning, which can be presented in literary form, such as a poem or novel, in musical form, such as composition or lyric, or in visual form, such as in painting or drawing. It is also seen in scriptural passage. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions, or symbolic representation. Allegory is generally treated as a figure of rhetoric; a rhetorical allegory is a demonstrative form of representation conveying meaning other than the words that are spoken. As a literary device, an allegory in its most general sense is an extended metaphor. As an artistic device, an allegory is a visual symbolic representation. An example of a simple visual allegory is the image of the grim reaper. Viewers understand that the image of the grim reaper is a symbolic representation of death (Kennedy 142). During a time when there was much change and the spirit of rebellion was all around, Animal Farm was written by George Orwell. George Orwell used allegory in his novel Animal Farm to parallel the Russian Revolution and resulting totalitarian regime to the revolutions of the animals and the pigs' corruption of absolute power. The novel's characters, events, and corruption of ideas paralleled the pattern that took place among the Russians during and following the...
Words: 2472 - Pages: 10
...you will compare and contrast. Make sure you know the basis for comparison The assignment sheet may say exactly what you need to compare, or it may ask you to come up with a basis for comparison yourself. • Provided by the question: The question may ask that you consider the gradual loss of morals by major characters in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi and George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The basis for comparison will be the loss of morals by central figures in each text. • Developed by you: The question may simply ask that you compare the two novels. If so, you will need to develop a basis for comparison, that is, a theme, concern, or device common to both works from which you can draw similarities and differences. Develop a list of similarities and differences Once you know your basis for comparison, think critically about the similarities and differences between the items you are comparing, and compile a list of them. For example, you might decide that in Life of Pi, Pi simultaneously experiences a gradual loss of morals as his chances of survival are put more and more at risk, whereas in Animal Farm, Napoleon always possessed questionable morals which become further corrupted as...
Words: 1578 - Pages: 7
