How Power Corrupted the Pigs in Animal Farm by George Orwell

He declares that only the pigs have the power to make decisions for the farm and that all the other animals will obey them. Napoleon’s pig-in-crime, Squealer, gives explanation for all of Napoleon's actions with skillful but deceitful revisions of Animalist principles. Napoleon keeps strengthening his power causing more animals to be scared of him, which in turn, gives him less enemies. The common animals continue to obey the pigs in hope for a better future. Napoleon begins to ally with neighboring farms so that there is no way out for the common animals and they are now unknowingly trapped.

The following events of beginning trade with humans, drinking alcohol, and wearing clothes are all contribute to the outcome of the pigs becoming increasingly powerful and eventually completely corrupt by the end of Animal Farm. Character Napoleon turns from pig to human over the course of the book, Animal Farm. In chapter one the well-respected pig Old Major states that when animals overthrow the humans they should not “adopt his vices. No animal must live in a house, or sleep in a bed, or wear clothes, or drink alcohol… or touch money, or engage in trade.” By the end of Animal Farm Napoleon has committed all these forbidden acts. Napoleon first begins by moving into the farmhouse where he begins spending, “all his time.” With the farmhouse the sleeping in beds comes into play.

All animals at this point realize that they have been nothing to humans but subject to extremely strict and tremendous harsh treatment and they all want to have a rebellion for a more better and equal society. Later, the animals found the owner of the farm Mr. Jones drunk, so they took the opportunity to ram sack the food supply and when the animals heard the Men coming they attacked them and scared them off. That’s when the animals had full control and they b... ... middle of paper ... ...he beginning the pigs start out as animals who have no more power than any other animal on the farm, and they all have the same ideas. The animals create order and freedom, and then happiness is no longer enough. Shortly after, Napoleon takes the spot light and takes charge along with the other pigs.

(pg.52) Squealer is trying to convince the animals that the milk and apples are essential to the overall stableness of the farm. However, in reality, it is obvious that the pigs only want the milk and apples to themselves for their own benefit. Squealer corners the other animals into a situation where they cannot challenge the idea by proclaiming that farmer Jones would come back to the farm. This frightens the other animals and makes them vulnerab... ... middle of paper ... ...nd excellent speaker and motivator to trick the other animals into getting what he wants. Since Napoleon lacks the strong, conjuring voice that Squealer displays, Squealer eventually ends up giving all of the speeches at the Animal Farm meetings.

It is soon decided that the pigs are the most intelligent, and shall be the "brainworkers". Among the pigs, two leaders emerge - Snowball and Napoleon. Problems arise when Snowball and Napoleon disagree on the plan to build a windmill on the farm. Snowball, a talented speaker, easily gains the support of most of the animals. But, unfortunately for him, Napoleon plays dirty and Snowball is chased away from the farm.

Napoleon figures out a way to get Snowball kicked out of the farm so he can be the leader himself. Napoleon is a back-stabbing traitor. He becomes just like the humans and dominates over the other animals. Napoleon breaks the laws but since he has the other animals in such a strong hold they do not seem to care. Napoleon is the evil character in this novel.

Before Squealer told everyone that Snowball was the enemy, he told everyone that the windmill was actually Napoleon’s idea. He told them that Snowball stole the idea from Napoleon and that is why Napoleon did not like the idea when Snowball brought it up. To make this sound more believable, Squealer gave the speech in Chapter 7 about how Snowball was a traitor from the beginning. When everything was cleared up, the animals were told that the windmill is going to be built. The animals worked hard and pushed themselves while the pigs “supervised.” The pigs also got to sleep in the house on the beds while the animals who worked hard all day building the windmill slept in the barn.

For example, the book states, “In the following days, the dogs become his (Napoleon’s) bodyguard and killing machine.” Napoleon orders the dogs to kill the farm animals because they don’t believe that Snowball is the cause of all bad. Once again, one of the seven commandments, “no animal shall kill another,” is changed to fit Napoleon’s way of doing things. Squealer, with his quick and smooth talk is always right there to explain for Napoleon’s actions. In addition, when the hens fail to “meet the egg productions,” the pigs become violent and slaughter them. The slaughter of animals continues when a sheep dies after it confesses to having urinated in the drinking pool.

Old major directly states nearly the whole product of our labor is stolen from us by human beings. “There comrades is the answer to all our problems”. (Orwell 28). Propaganda is also used when the pigs claim the apples and milk for themselves. Squealer uses his gift of speech to persuade the other animals to accept that the pigs will keep all the apple and milk not to be selfish, because many pig dislike milk and apples but actually need them to preserve security for all animals on... ... middle of paper ... ...killing animals that he thought were against him and with humanity such as the four pigs who complain about Napoleon's takeover of the farm but are quickly silenced and later executed.

The pigs selfishly mixed milk and apples with their mash and on a separate occasion saw it fit for themselves to sleep in beds. Pigs like Napoleon used Squealer to justify their actions. His sophisticated diction confuses the animals, but at the same time convinces them that what the pigs do is in their favor. He proposed that theses things were “… absolutely necessary to the well being of a pig.” The animals lack the ability to disagree or form arguments against the pigs, so they are free to selfishly increase their “equality,” unopposed. Napoleon, the chief pig, eventually used force to carry out his orders in Animal Farm.