Animal Farm Power Corrupts

In Animal Farm, George Orwell creates meaning by focusing on the idea that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, by developing the character of Napoleon. Orwell emphasizes the change of character in Napoleon by revealing the change of Napoleon’s views toward men and how he presents himself. Initially, Napoleon is exploited by man and acts like an innocent pig. As the story progresses, Napoleon begins to recognize the fear and ignorance of the animals, and he disregards his respect for them. Instead, Napoleon begins to respect and imitate the ways of men. In the end, Napoleon exploits the other animals and acts like a man instead of a pig. He is slowly corrupted by power. At the start of Animal Farm, Orwell portrays Napoleon

The recognition of the fear and ignorance of the farm animals sparks a change in Napoleon’s character. He uses the dogs that he trained to enforce his own rules and to scare the animals into obeying him. He deceived the animals into thinking that Snowball was a criminal to give himself a positive image. One of his followers, Boxer the horse, was so trusting in Napoleon that he created the slogan “Napoleon is always right” (75). The animals’ rations went down and their living conditions were poor, yet they did not question Napoleon. Napoleon deceived the animals into believing that he was kind to them.As Napoleon leads the farm, he no longer displays a hatred towards men and admires their habits. In fact, he begins to trade with men, including the opposing farmers. Napoleon moved the pigs into the farmhouse and began sleeping on the beds. The rules began to change in favor of the pigs, yet “no complaints was made” (80). The animals did not question their leaders, for they were convinced that Napoleon was more worth than a pig and had more authority over them. They were blindly following

He exploits the other animals, the same way men have abused and used him in the past. He hosts mass slaughters of the animals and gives them poor living conditions. Napoleon overworks the animals by making the work days longer and the labor harder, for he knew that the animals would not argue back. When Napoleon called a meeting, the animals “cowered silently” (92). They were nervous as to what he had to say, but they were too craven to speak up against him, He made the animals fear him by torturing them. Napoleon, after slowly mimicking what man does, begins to do what humans do. He walks on two legs instead of four, files papers, and wore clothes. The pigs no longer produced any food by their own labour, yet they were always healthy. Napoleon openly expressed his respect for men. He now socializes with humans and removed all symbols of the Rebellion and the animal domination. His character and image has changed so much that the farm animals no longer can distinguish Napoleon from other men. When the animals peeked into the gathering of the pigs and men,“it was impossible to say which was which” (139). Napoleon completely transformed into the image and character of a man. The transformation of Napoleon’s character is used by Orwell to accentuate the theme that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts