Animal Farm
Essay Question: Those in power will inevitably become corrupt. To what extent do you agree?
George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm shows the overlaying theme of the corruption of power. Power, more often than not, causes the bearer to become corrupt, which causes them to lose most sense, besides that, which will get them more power. In the beginning of the novel we are introduced to Old Major. He holds power on Manor Farm. Old Major uses his power to introduce Animalism and the Seven Commandments. He dies before we can see if his power corrupts would him. Napoleon who takes control of the farm next lives throughout the book therefore we see the corruption of his high status of power. One other animal that we see have the status of power is Boxer. He doesn’t have the same type of power as the other two animals nor would he use it in the same way if he had. Boxer is one example of someone who has power but doesn’t let it corrupt him. Power can only corrupt you if you let it. Power contains many factors in the lead up to corruption. Animal Farm shows the how depending on your nature and what you do and treat your power; it will change whether for the good or the bad.
Old Major is the power head at the beginning of the novel. He is well respected among the other animals to which they are “happy to lose an hour’s sleep in order to hear what he had to say”. At the time Old Major is one of the smartest if not the smartest animal on the farm therefore he is able to use his power to easily convince the other animals of the idea of animalism and starting a rebellion. He thought that all animals needed to unite under one ruler ship – Animalism – and that they needed to usurp the humans because man is the problem for all animals. In his speech he uses the propaganda in order to persuade them. He outlines that their lives are “miserable, laborious and short”. Propaganda would only work if there was a level of power. Old Major uses his level of power and intellect to get the
George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm shows the overlaying theme of the corruption of power. Power, more often than not, causes the bearer to become corrupt, which causes them to lose most sense, besides that, which will get them more power. In the beginning of the novel we are introduced to Old Major. He holds power on Manor Farm. Old Major uses his power to introduce Animalism and the Seven Commandments. He dies before we can see if his power corrupts would him. Napoleon who takes control of the farm next lives throughout the book therefore we see the corruption of his high status of power. One other animal that we see have the status of power is Boxer. He doesn’t have the same type of power as the other two animals nor would he use it in the same way if he had. Boxer is one example of someone who has power but doesn’t let it corrupt him. Power can only corrupt you if you let it. Power contains many factors in the lead up to corruption. Animal Farm shows the how depending on your nature and what you do and treat your power; it will change whether for the good or the bad.
Old Major is the power head at the beginning of the novel. He is well respected among the other animals to which they are “happy to lose an hour’s sleep in order to hear what he had to say”. At the time Old Major is one of the smartest if not the smartest animal on the farm therefore he is able to use his power to easily convince the other animals of the idea of animalism and starting a rebellion. He thought that all animals needed to unite under one ruler ship – Animalism – and that they needed to usurp the humans because man is the problem for all animals. In his speech he uses the propaganda in order to persuade them. He outlines that their lives are “miserable, laborious and short”. Propaganda would only work if there was a level of power. Old Major uses his level of power and intellect to get the