Preview

Theme Of Corruption Of Power In Animal Farm

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
317 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Theme Of Corruption Of Power In Animal Farm
Individuals who assume leadership positions yield their power in different ways. In Animal Farm, the authour, George Orwell, illustrates the psychological phenomena of egocentrism and counter-normative behaviour that can stem from these roles. It is clearly demonstrated throughout the novel that an abundance of power often leads to corrupt behaviour by the power holder. This corruption is most apparently shown through instances of demagoguery by the novel’s characters, the unjustified exile of Snowball, and the manipulation of the Seven Commandments.
Corruption of power is a ubiquitous topic in Animal Farm. This is largely presented through powerful characters’ demagoguery. The original rebellion is ignited by Old Major, who hopes to improve

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    A shimmery golden gossamer curtain blowing delicately in the wind twinkles provocatively in your mind at the thought of sweet power being just within your grasp, doesn't it? Don't be afraid to be honest as this is the reality of many humans and even some animals. In fact, the classic novel Animal Farm, written by George Orwell in 1945, is an allegory that symbolizes the powerful politicians and those close to them during the Russian Revolution. This fairy story quite successfully uses pigs to represent communist and fascist leaders Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin. Orwell composes the complex tale that effectively communicates all the points made in Lord Acton's infamous declaration: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."…

    • 674 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Societal corruption can be shown through Animalistic Behaviors. Thesis: In the classic novel Animal Farm, the author, George Orwell shows how societal corruption can occur through propaganda, pride, and hypocrisy. The book opens with a rebellion being led by the cows on the farm as they fought for their rights and better treatment. This rebellion began with secret meetings being held with all the animals on the farm. Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer, who led the secret meetings, used the term “Animalism” as a reference to the teachings of Old Major. Old Major was a pig who dreamt of a rebellion against the farmers, which would leave the animals in charge. These early meetings led by three pigs (Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer), were the early stages of using propaganda to rally and organize the animals of the farm. The use of the term “Animalism” provided a simple and direct message to support the propaganda.…

    • 830 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton). The novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, demonstrates multiple ways how power was abused during the time of the Russian Revolution. This book displays many parallels with history, for example, how the animals on the farm represent the people of Russia. On the other hand, the pigs, that portray the leaders of Russia, who wanted nothing but authority which lead to corruption. In interest of gaining more privileges and power, Squealer persuades the animals to let the pigs sleep in the beds using guilt and fear tactics.…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The quote written by Lord Acton, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Relates to the novel Animal Farm for the reason that in Animal Farm power influences the characters, the pigs in particular because the power they obtained blinded them of their initial idea, which was to build a fair and just society on Manor Farm. Using the ability to persuade the other animals on the farm, to their advantage, the pigs seized the commanding role on the farm. With that they continue to abuse their power until they became exactly like those who they were rebelling against, the humans. Consequently, this shows the effect power has if used immorally.…

    • 115 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ethos, Logos and Pathos

    • 1002 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Reverend Charles Caleb Colton, a writer of pros and poetry, once said, “Corruption is like a ball of snow, once its set a rolling, it must increase”. Once corruption has started, there is so many people involved, greed sets in, and it’s so big of a problem it is so hard to stop it or leave it alone, and once you’re in too deep it’s difficult to get out. Under those circumstances, a book called “Animal Farm”, by George Orwell, was an allegory. It was published on the heels of World War II in England in 1945 and in the United States in 1946. The book was written during the war as a cautionary short story in order to expose the dangers presented by Stalinism and Totalitarian Government. With this intention, the pigs on Animal Farm used the three modes of persuasion to manipulate the other animals on the farm.…

    • 1002 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The theme of "Animal Farm" is implied. Throughout my reading, and from what I have read about the book, it is safe to know that the book moves on a parallel with the Russian revolution, and the events afterwards. With that said, the theme is power. Power is constantly shifting throughout the story in some form. In the beginning we are met with the power of Mr. Jones and Old Major. Later on, the power shifts from Mr. Jones and Old Major to all of the animals. The entire story revolves around this pattern of the importance of power. Power, in Animal Farm, allows one group of animals control the others, and manipulate the rules. As well, no matter where you are in the story, power is playing some role or influence on a main…

    • 136 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the novel Animal Farm, George Orwell hints that power corrupts through the use of an allegorical storyline. By using historical criticism, one can analyze the causes and effects of ruthless ambition. During the WWII era, there was widespread corruption in many nations, as seen in Germany with Hitler and Russia with Stalin. This time period of chaos exposed the lack of compassion among humans. Similar to this era, there were cultural and political struggles among the humans and animals in the farm as well. Ironically, in the animal’s struggle to free themselves of human dictatorship they end up oppressing their own kind.…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The basic reason for the corruption of the society of Animal Farm was because the pigs were smarter than the other animals, hence, there was a natural inequality that gave the pigs a chance to exploit the other animals. However, those few animals that were smart enough to understand what was going on were unable to stop the pigs because they were afraid of being punished for raising doubts about Napoleon’s supposedly great leadership.…

    • 555 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    ‘Animal Farm’, by George Orwell, is a novel that shows how easily leaders can be corrupted and how it can attract differently to the characters in the novel. Even though that power can be easily corrupted in the hands of a tyrant, power is both morally good and bad. Old Major, before his death holds his power for the good of his fellow comrades. After the death of the Major, the characters; Napoleon and Squealer abuse their use of power for bad. As there use of power is unrestricted the holders of power are liable to be corrupted causing there fellow comrades to suffer from their actions and consequences.…

    • 637 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Power does corrupt because in chapter 3 there is a lot examples from the pigs that clearly show how power corrupts in many sorts of ways. One of the examples that shows how power corrupts in chapter 3 is when the pigs make the other animals do the work and they hardly did any work themselves to help out the current state that the farm was in. Therefore i believe that that should be one of my examples for why power corrupts. I also believe that this should be an example because it reminds me of how some police officers use their power for bad and it makes them corrupted.…

    • 212 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In George Orwell's Animal Farm, "power corrupts" is the central focus, because human nature is filled with too much avarice to allow for complete equality. He writes Animal Farm to prove to the world isn't practicing true Communism; this is contrary to what Russia is saying. Orwell Passionately hates political lying and inequality, and Russia is guilty of both acts. The leaders say it is true Communism, but they're lying because there are people in charge (inequality). Orwell must be subtle in accusing Russia leaders though, because his punishment could involve an axe whistling towards hi neck for making the government look bad, so he uses animals instead of people in his novel. To ensure everyone is able to read Animal Farm, he writes with simple language so it can be translated to other languages. With these precautions and…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The novel “Animal Farm”, written by George Orwell, was written as a reference to the Russian Revolution during the Second World War. The main characters of the novel were two, Napoleon and Snowball. The animals in the farm were facing bad treatments from the owner of the farm, Mr Jones; therefore, the animals, led by Napoleon and Snowball, decided to raise a rebellion against Mr Jones and his workers. The rebellion succeeded, and the farm became owned by the animals. Throughout the novel, Napoleon and Snowball could never agree in anything. All of the sudden, one day Napoleon made a dirty move by convincing the animals in the farm that Snowball was a spy, and he was working with Mr Jones the whole time. This forced Snowball to escape from the farm leaving Napoleon the only leader in the farm. One of the most important themes…

    • 969 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Corruption In Animal Farm

    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In the 1945 classic, Animal Farm, George Orwell uses a simple fable-style tale to demonstrate how the shadow of tyranny that progressively engulfs an English farm relates to the timeline of the Russian Revolution and the Stalin Era. With the collective effort of the animals to successfully rebel against their oppressive farmer, they soon adopt the maxim: “All animals are equal” and aim to live in a classless society from that point on (Orwell 4). Although this is the animals’ initial intent, the farm steadily slips into a hierarchy. Orwell suggests that, in the allegorical sense, human nature naturally houses the hunger for power and greed, and proves this inevitability…

    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Better to die fighting for freedom then be a prisoner all the days of your life”(Marley). In today’s society, corrupted leaders are often seen throughout the world. Also, almost every day, an event happens that forces the government into adding or changing a federal law. With all the historical revolutions from the past, one could occur at any time, any place. In his novel, Animal Farm, George Orwell demonstrates through the characters that a revolution could happen in modern society. By inspecting corrupted leadership as well as, modified and new laws, it is evident that in the novel, revolutions are present.…

    • 909 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Why is it that people with high authority make so many mistakes? Well that is what the story looks at. In Animal Farm by George Orwell, the author studies the topic of power. Indeed, the story suggests that power can always be corrupt. Firstly, power can corrupt in the way that one is not capable of its management. Another way power can corrupt is that when one has high authority, they abuse it. Power can also be corrupt in the way that one lies and manipulates others in order to gain even more dominance. As a result of this, the power a person withholds is often corrupted.…

    • 1175 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays