Animal Farm
English period 2
November 14, 2012
Animal Farm
"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, and he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself." -George Orwell. In the classic satire Animal Farm, written by George Orwell. The author paints a grim picture of how those in power will inevitably deceive the masses and abuse their power for their own benefit. I agree that human natural is naturally flawed, and it’s in our nature to be aggressive and self-centered.
The novel shows how absolute power corrupts absolutely, which we see once the pigs begin more and more to resemble those whom they claim to replace. While the pigs change in many ways, it’s not moving into the house, or wearing clothes, or walking on two legs that make them like the humans, it’s the abuse of their power. The pigs believed “With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership.” Napoleon then separates himself from the rest of the animals, and he heightens his importance. This shows how Napoleon cared more about his own power than he does about the ideals of the revolution.
Throughout the story, Napoleon uses illusions and disguises for his own benefit. “In April, Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic, and it became necessary to elect a President. There was only one candidate, Napoleon, who was elected unanimously.” Much of the pigs’ power derives from their being able to fake democracy. To give the animals the illusion that they are voting, and that they have power themselves. “But the luxuries of which Snowball had once taught the animals to dream… were no longer talked about. Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. The truest happiness, he said, lay in working
November 14, 2012
Animal Farm
"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, and he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself." -George Orwell. In the classic satire Animal Farm, written by George Orwell. The author paints a grim picture of how those in power will inevitably deceive the masses and abuse their power for their own benefit. I agree that human natural is naturally flawed, and it’s in our nature to be aggressive and self-centered.
The novel shows how absolute power corrupts absolutely, which we see once the pigs begin more and more to resemble those whom they claim to replace. While the pigs change in many ways, it’s not moving into the house, or wearing clothes, or walking on two legs that make them like the humans, it’s the abuse of their power. The pigs believed “With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership.” Napoleon then separates himself from the rest of the animals, and he heightens his importance. This shows how Napoleon cared more about his own power than he does about the ideals of the revolution.
Throughout the story, Napoleon uses illusions and disguises for his own benefit. “In April, Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic, and it became necessary to elect a President. There was only one candidate, Napoleon, who was elected unanimously.” Much of the pigs’ power derives from their being able to fake democracy. To give the animals the illusion that they are voting, and that they have power themselves. “But the luxuries of which Snowball had once taught the animals to dream… were no longer talked about. Napoleon had denounced such ideas as contrary to the spirit of Animalism. The truest happiness, he said, lay in working