Chase Decoux

Mrs. Vickery
Brit. Lit. 1st Block
6, November 2015
Animal Farm: The Power that Corrupts
Having power and leadership can really be difficult to control. Always having to keep up with
the community and making sure you are doing the right thing can be a struggle. The story
Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, shows how power has altered the way some of the
animals think. The story allegorizes the throw of the Russian Revolution. The animals take over
the farm from the corrupted farmer Mr. Jones. This seems to have worked out, but the leader
Napoleon decided to not work and rule the farm in a disastrous way. Whipping the others in the
back, he turns into a corrupted leader just like Mr. Jones. Having this trait really destroyed the
whole farms environment. Orwell uses the theme corruption of power to develop the character
Napoleon.
Leadership is always needed, but can easily transform someone into someone you didnt start
out as. They can be trustworthy and dedicated but sometimes Leaders can become intoxicated
by power-engaging in the wrong behavior simply because they can get away with it (Riggio
n.pag.). Having all that power can get to your head. Being able to do what you want can make
people very selfish. It is scary and difficult to trust anyone in the situation even though they are a
leader for trust and dedication. Napoleon had the same problem in his reign. He transformed
from a grumpy pig to a crazy dictator taking over the farm and leading it just as Mr. Jones did. In
addition the Narrator explains The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the

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others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership
(Orwell 3). Having been that there was no election and they just became the leaders made them
thing they were more powerful that they actually are. They will not recognize they are doing the
wrong thing and will deny it but All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts
absolutely (Acton n.pag.). As a Leader they will first assume the job and help the people. Down
the road they will assume selfishness and pamper themselves in their reign. Napoleon was
elected unanimously probably because he already had power as an intelligent pig. Using rules
such as the commandments he is able to take over in a selfish way dictating the colony. The
Narrator even wrote They work a sixty hour week, and in August Napoleon announced that
there would be work on Sunday afternoons as well (Orwell 6). Napoleon, making them work
more, is showing he now dictating and not leading. A big set back Napoleon faced was Snowball,
the narrator explained Napoleon has denounced such ideas for luxuries like cold or hot water as
a contrary to the spirit of Animalism. The truest happiness, he said, lay in working hard and
living frugally (Orwell 10). Snowballs plan was well thought out and potential, but Napoleon
thought of it as an overthrow. Kicking Snowball out secured his spot for leader and decision
maker. Furthermore Napoleon has become the bad man. Taking over Manor Farm was the
beginning but he has taken place of Mr. Jones.
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man
again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. (Orwell 10). Animal Farm was
supposed to be a paradise where the animals work for themselves and not humans. It would be a
place where the chickens could keep their eggs and the houses could roam free when they
wanted. Taken over by a selfish pig, Animal Farm was no as anyone hoped.