What Are The Similarities Between Lord Of The Flies And Animal Farm

A wise man, Abraham Lincoln, once stated, ¨Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character give him power¨, (Lincoln). We all go through hardships and difficulties which we respond to in different ways and most of the time we eventually overcome them. These responses from hardships may include; changing how we may feel about a situation, how we might treat others yet, most times, these hardships are learning experiences that teach us how to become more humble, caring, stronger and build our character. When someone is given power, it also causes a reaction, however, this reaction doesn’t always provide a positive response. We are more likely to learn about a person's character through how they use power than how
they deal with their problems. When we are introduced to power it can shape someone's moral and ethical character and ultimately their behavior and how they act. When we are given power it is not something we usually have over many people, so when we have it we tend to abuse it because we feel more important and stronger. Unfortunately, some of the time those who get it use it to benefit themselves and not others. Two deep examples of this are illustrated in, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Animal Farm by George Orwell. In both texts, Orwell and Achebe develop the theme of how power impacts people's actions through the use of evoking strong emotions and imagery to illustrate how those who gain power, corrupts one’s personal integrity.
In Animal Farm and Things Fall Apart Orwell and Achebe employ strong evoking emotions through persuasive dialogue to further the idea how one’s self-character is becoming more corrupted. Some characters use their deceiving charisma to trick others and in the long run, will lose their values. Orwell writes that “ I was at his bedside at the very last. And at the end, almost too weak to speak, he whispered in my ear that his sole sorrow was to have passed on before the windmill was finished. ‘Forward, comrade!’ he whispered (Orwell 109). Squealer was never at Boxer's bedside, he knew that Boxer was sent away to be killed, and through his persuasiveness, evoked and rallied sympathy through lies and excuses, to have the ultimate control of the farm. Similarly, in Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo’s disrespect and drive to get what he wants, is apparent when he states, “Do what you are told, woman," Okonkwo thundered, and stammered. "When did you become one of the ndichie of Umuofia?",(Achebe 14). Thus, exemplifying how the use of evoking strong emotions exhibits the impact power can have on one’s self-worth. Evidently, power is a significant factor in changing one’s self-ethics and morals. In Animal Farm and Things Fall Apart Orwell and Achebe utilize imagery through graphics and vibrant descriptions to show how power is corrupting the character's ethics and morals.
The vivid imagery helps to picture the ways how characters with the most power are becoming more corrupt and their morals deteriorating. When Napoleon orders all animals together in the yard, Orwell states, “ They were all slain on the spot, and so the tale of confessions and executions went on, until there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon's feet and the air was heavy with the smell of blood” (Orwell 76). Napoleon who had once stood for equality and fairness of all animals had just brutally slaughtered multiple animals publicly because the power he is given as leader is corrupting himself to be someone he never thought he would of. In addition, Okonkwo was causing some trouble, Achebe states “He heard the blow. The pot fell and broke in the sand. He heard Ikemefuna cry, “My father, they have killed me!” as he ran towards him dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his machete and cut him down” (Achebe 61) Okonkwo had just slaughtered his own son because with his position of power he didn’t want to be considered weak so he did something that no one would ever imagine doing because he wanted to be seen as stronger with power. Overall, yourself integrity and morals can be destroyed by committing these acts that are consumed by
power.
After careful consideration, it can be said that Orwell and Achebe develop power through their use of strong emotions and imagery.
They also examine how the use of power affects someone's self-worth and how they react to certain situations. As we can see from both novels, if you have the power you are winning, and the winners get to write the history, while the losers are unheard. This can be seen in both novels how in Animal Farm, the pigs take complete control of the farm where if they speak up or disagree they would have been slaughtered. By the end of Animal Farm, the animals had realized that the pigs had already had complete control and it was unfair. For example, the remaining horse and animals who were not taken over by power watched helplessly as the pigs walked on two legs, in suits out of the farmhouse. The pigs got to say what the rules are and what goes, because they had power, as for the rest of the animals they no longer remember what it was like when they had freedom or what it was like before they revolted so the new offspring will have to live silently without knowing what actually happened. In Things Fall Apart the white men came and had assumed dominance over Umuofia, they got to say what the rules were, and who had to speak what and practice what because they had power. This is partially why Okonkwo had killed himself, he was no longer the powerful great man as he was before, he had no say anymore, no power. So, he silenced himself, even though he
already was because he could not say what had happened because it was not a winner because he did not have power.