What Is The Use Of Absolute Power In Animal Farm
George Orwell’s novel, “Animal Farm” is an allegory of the Russian Revolution. Through out the novel, he expresses many satirical views of how absolute power corrupts. It becomes evident how Orwell portrays the change in social order when one group in society manipulates law and the ignorance of the majority to attain absolute power. Napoleon's changing attitudes are based upon the level of power he gains. Absolute Power leads him to go above the rule of law; changing laws, killing and corrupting the ideas that the farm animals originally stood for. Animal farm portrays many of the main characters involved in the Russian Revolution including Czar Nicholas 2 as Mr. Jones, Snowball as Leon trotsky, and Napoleon as Joseph Stalin. The novel re-inforces
the notion of how absolute power corrupts through issues such as changing laws, Russian Revolution allegory and the use of propaganda.
Throughout this satire, Orwell illustrates how power corrupts by showing the actions of the pigs and how they influence changing laws. At the beginning of the novel, the rules of Animalism are created. These laws are established for all animals to understand the principals of the revolution. For this reason, they are written on the wall. These rules were: 1. What ever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear cloths.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.
As the revolution progressed, the leadership and ideas of Napoleon quickly became more evident, leading to more control. The pigs believed that “With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership”(p 25)
the notion of how absolute power corrupts through issues such as changing laws, Russian Revolution allegory and the use of propaganda.
Throughout this satire, Orwell illustrates how power corrupts by showing the actions of the pigs and how they influence changing laws. At the beginning of the novel, the rules of Animalism are created. These laws are established for all animals to understand the principals of the revolution. For this reason, they are written on the wall. These rules were: 1. What ever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
3. No animal shall wear cloths.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
7. All animals are equal.
As the revolution progressed, the leadership and ideas of Napoleon quickly became more evident, leading to more control. The pigs believed that “With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership”(p 25)