The "Leader" of Animal Farm
Hannah Elliott
Mrs. Keiser
Honors English 9
6 May 2013
The “Leader” of Animal Farm “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” once stated Lord Acton. This thought provoking quote is demonstrated through the allegorical fable Animal Farm by George Orwell. This fable tells of typical farm animals and their leaders, the pigs, starting a revolution. When the revolution first begins all is well following the “Seven Commandment of Animalism”, but as time continues a power-thirsty pig, Napoleon, takes over potentially turning Animalism in Communism. Lord Acton’s Statement is best described through Napoleon because he is disgustingly greedy, perilously power-hungry, and a skilled liar. Napoleon is an essentially greedy character. The first example of this occurs when there is fresh milk and windfall apples available on the farm and the pigs possess them. This is demonstrated when, Squealer, who represents propaganda, lying to the animals to excuse taking the milk and apples says,
“ ‘You do not imagine, I hope, we are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us dislike milk and apples’ “ (Orwell 35). This also reveals he is greedy because the milk could have benefitted the other animals, but Napoleon did not care about them. The second example of Napoleon’s self-centered actions is while he takes away Jesse and Bluebell’s puppies, molding them into what he wanted them to be. This is revealed when the speaker says, “…Napoleon took them away from their mothers, saying that he would make himself responsible for their education”(Orwell 35). This also shows Napoleon’s greedy ways because when the puppies are fully grown he uses them as guard dogs to ensure his will is done while taking advantage of the other animals. Now, Napoleon is excessively selfish, but he is also dangerously power-hungry.
Napoleon is the type of personality when power is given a thirst for more begins. One, Napoleon forced Snowball, the pig who
Mrs. Keiser
Honors English 9
6 May 2013
The “Leader” of Animal Farm “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” once stated Lord Acton. This thought provoking quote is demonstrated through the allegorical fable Animal Farm by George Orwell. This fable tells of typical farm animals and their leaders, the pigs, starting a revolution. When the revolution first begins all is well following the “Seven Commandment of Animalism”, but as time continues a power-thirsty pig, Napoleon, takes over potentially turning Animalism in Communism. Lord Acton’s Statement is best described through Napoleon because he is disgustingly greedy, perilously power-hungry, and a skilled liar. Napoleon is an essentially greedy character. The first example of this occurs when there is fresh milk and windfall apples available on the farm and the pigs possess them. This is demonstrated when, Squealer, who represents propaganda, lying to the animals to excuse taking the milk and apples says,
“ ‘You do not imagine, I hope, we are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us dislike milk and apples’ “ (Orwell 35). This also reveals he is greedy because the milk could have benefitted the other animals, but Napoleon did not care about them. The second example of Napoleon’s self-centered actions is while he takes away Jesse and Bluebell’s puppies, molding them into what he wanted them to be. This is revealed when the speaker says, “…Napoleon took them away from their mothers, saying that he would make himself responsible for their education”(Orwell 35). This also shows Napoleon’s greedy ways because when the puppies are fully grown he uses them as guard dogs to ensure his will is done while taking advantage of the other animals. Now, Napoleon is excessively selfish, but he is also dangerously power-hungry.
Napoleon is the type of personality when power is given a thirst for more begins. One, Napoleon forced Snowball, the pig who
Cited: George Orwell. Animal Farm. New York, New York: Signet Classics, 1996. Print. Quotes