Comparing Power In Animal Farm And Ayn Rand's Anthem

Power in Animal Farm and Anthem

Character in novels come in many shapes and sizes. A character can either be round or flat, and they can also be static or dynamic. Authors use the characters actions, conflicts, and dialogue to portray different themes that they are trying to get across. A common theme portrayed through the use characters is power. Power in novels can be shown in many ways. George Orwell’s Animal Farm and Ayn Rand’s Anthem are two excellent representations of what power can be and how it affects the characters. By the characters, the theme of power is portrayed in Animal Farm and Anthem through the use of character development, use of lack of free will, and the use symbolism. The first way that authors Ayn Rand and George Orwell

Secondly, Animal Farm and Anthem both cover the idea of free will. While it is not clearly said, with analyzation, it can be interpreted. In regards to Anthem, free will is the foundation of what Equality was in search of, whereas in Animal Farm, desire for the free will is what created Animalism. No citizens in “The City of the Damned” have free will. According to Equality, “‘We are one in all and all in one./There are no men but only the great WE,/One, indivisible and forever.’" (Rand 19) Individuality is taken away from them. Ayn Rand uses this to show the amount of power that the Councils of the Home and Vocations have. This changes as Equality becomes more aware of the things around him. On his first day in the Uncharted Forest, Equality say, “We did not wish to move.” (Rand 78) While simple, this is his first act of free will--doing nothing. After his encounter with the Uncharted Forest, he becomes able to make decisions for himself and claim things as his own. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the animals desire free will, so they plan a rebellion. This rebellion comes sooner than expected when they begin to be whipped by Jones. This free will is stripped away almost immediately when Napoleon gets into power. The best example of this is when the hens are forced to sell their eggs. “On Sunday morning, Squealer announced that the hens, who had just come in to lay again, must surrender their eggs.” (Orwell 76) The hens free will to do what they want with their own eggs was taken away. This goes to show even more power that the pigs, specifically Napoleon, have over the other Animals. Orwell uses the words “must” and “surrender” to further support the theme of power evident through Napoleon and