C.J.

Windham
Ms. Doar
British Literature
March. 8, 2016
Knowledge is Power
Napoleon and Snowball, two highly intuitive pigs mold and shape animal farm into a
structured strong environment incorporating the plan prophesied for them yet still finding ways
to indulge themselves in power through knowledge. Intelligence, the key to success, gives power
to even the weakest link which creates levels of hierarchy and puts the few who do capture
knowledge ahead of others in life. George Orwell, the famous English novelist, conveys the
theme of intelligence through his main characters in Animal Farm. Snowball and Napoleon, well
known in the area for arising from the weakest links to the strongest elites, prove to show
through the use of their knowledge in the clever sense anything can be attained. The characters
intelligence separates them from their comrades, provides them with power and gives them the
tools to ensure their takeover. Napoleon and Snowball intellectual in literary terms use
knowledge and through their hierarchy learn to manipulate. Orwell conveys intelligence through
Snowball and Napoleon use this to manipulate, control, and lead everyone towards the molded
lifestyle on the farm.
Napoleon a clever and rather astute pig used his powers in a negative way, manipulating
others to get what he wanted in his reign instead of for greater good of others, which put the
theme of intelligence to use in greed of power. Napoleon makes sure everything stays covered up
and done to his liking, manipulating others to believe in what he told them making him the leader
figure on the farm. Deviously hiding his errors and mistakes, Napoleon sent out flights of

pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms, tell them the
story of the Rebellion, and teach them the tune of Beasts of England. (Orwell 15). Napoleon, at
one of his lowest points, covered his tracks by cleverly sending out birds to mingle and sing to
others to have them believe false information, using the power of knowledge to put himself on
top of others. Napoleon, reforms the farm so that the democratic meetings are changed to
assemblies where Napoleon issues his orders. The workers are often puzzled but they absorb
everything they are told and thus become perfect subjects for manipulation (Robb n.pag.).
Napoleon ruling force simply by increasing his intelligence and using this in his favor, creating
assemblies around himself and manipulating people into thinking what he says makes the most
sense. As the listed elite towards the end of the story Napoleon was able to push himself through
the ranks put simply working behind the scenes with his brain, a soft-spoken leader that got his
point across in order to get what he wanted from others.
Snowball and Napoleon the two bright minded farm leaders manipulate and build up
the farm through living out a told vision, but find themselves in search of great greed. In the end
the pigs received more power under Napoleon, changing the vision to their benefit: The
revolutionary ideals of equality are replaced by a new hierarchy, and the slogan All animals are
equal is extended by the clause, often quoted since, but some animals are more equal than
others, Snowball restores relationships with the human farmers, and when the other creature
peep in the farmhouse windows they looked from pig to man ... but already it was impossible to
say which was which(Fitzpatrick n.pag.). The two show an abundance in gifted mindsets
through manipulating, establishing, and structuring animal farm proving to be the most influence
and well-rounded characters in the entire story. Throughout the whole story the growth of both
Napoleon and Snowball captured the theme of intelligence as with it they found a way to pursue

whatever they pleased while in the end simply intelligence made them sound just as it corrupted
them in the beginning.

Works Cited
Fitzpatrick, Kathleen. "An overview of Animal Farm." Literature Resource Center. Detroit:
Gale, 2016. Literature Resource Center. Web. 23 Feb. 2016.
Orwell, George. Animal Farm. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1954. 15. Print.
Robb, Paul H. "Animal Farm: Overview." Reference Guide to English Literature. Ed. D. L.
Kirkpatrick. 2nd ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1991. Literature Resource Center. Web.
22 Feb. 2016.