Category: Animal Farm

Theme Of Power, Violence And Inequality In Animal Farm

Corruption is a form of dishonesty managed by a person or organisation who abuse power for their own private gain. An example of a corrupt society could be portrayed by the rise of the Soviet Union in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, a compelling allegorical novella representing the Russian Revolution of 1917 which resulted with a government more oppressive, totalitarian, and dangerous than the one it overthrew. The extent of Animal Farm’s representation of a society at its most corrupt is powerful and significant however it does not meet the standards of societies in this present day that attained utmost corruption. Animal Farm explores elements of a corrupt society through the portrayal of power, violence and inequality.

In Animal Farm, the idea that absolute power results in corruption is instilled, this is shown through the continuous abuse of power presented in order to control the animals. After successfully driving Mr Jones out of the farm, the animal’s are so keen that: “All…year the animals worked like slaves.” The simile compares the animals to slaves, this is ironic as they believe that due to their eagerness to make a success they’re willing to spend hours of hard work in harsh conditions similar to that of slaves, they truly are slaves- to Napoleon. The revolution was believed to usher out exploitation and suffrage however, one from of corruption was simply traded for another. Orwell further details about the work of the animals: “Napoleon announced that…work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.” The antiphrasis implemented presents a contradiction to Napoleon’s words, as he had just used the word ‘voluntary’, yet there is an obvious underlying threat of reduced rations to animals if it isn’t done. Thus, the work is rather obligatory and forces the animals to have no volition. Orwell’s depiction of power and its abuse in Animal Farm through Napoleon’s control over the animals presents an insight to how a corrupt society could manifest and be maintained.

Violence is a form of political oppression used by Napoleon to instill fear over the animals. The act of violence with Animal Farm can be seen when Napoleon had his attack dogs murder four pigs, “When they had finished their confession, the dogs promptly tore their throats out, and in a terrible voice, Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess,” the use of connotation evokes feelings of fear and tension which further leads to Napoleon’s use of violence to control and oppress the animals. Towards the end of the novel, it can be inferred that Napoleon has turned into a dictator: “He carried a whip in his trotter.” The simplicity of this short sentence creates tension as Mr Jones and his men had used whips to control, tortue and punish the animals. It became a symbol of the abuse and exploitation from mankind towards animals. This highlights the shock and unease that the animals felt seeing Napoleon walk on two feet carrying this weapon. The corrupt group of pigs led by Napoleon uses violence and the threat of violence towards the animals as a tool of oppression to be in control over the farm.

Orwell further supports the representation of corruption through the employment of inequality towards the animals. When the pigs take control after the rebellion, they move into the farmhouse and sleep in the beds creating inequality between themselves and other animals, this is further shown when Squealer excuses Napoleon’s actions and argues: ‘You would not rob us of our repose, would you, comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties?” Squealer uses personal pronouns to establish a distinct difference between the pigs and other animals. The Farm’s inequality towards certain animals is further explored through the final line of the commandment: ‘All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.’ This paradox reveals the truth that beneath the thin facade of equality is blatant political hierarchy, it explores the hypocrisy of governments who claim complete equality and ideals of social justice yet grant power and privilege to a small group of elites. Orwell’s utilisation of inequality blatantly separates the pigs from the rest of the animals, ultimately reinforcing the corruption that Napoleon has established.

The structure and ideas of Animal Farm parallels the Russian Revolution, with the portrayal of corruption through power, violence and inequality. Animal Farm’s representation of the Russian Revolution is a notable and powerful depiction of a corrupt society and although the corruption shown throughout the novella is extreme and radical, Animal Farm’s portrayal of the Russian Revolution could not be as closely compared to some societies in this present day that further define the meaning of a society at its most significant point of corruption.

Animal Farm’ Corruption Essay

Upon close observation of humanity, it becomes clear that man is, by nature, barbaric. We can see that he is prone to savagery brought about by instinctual impulses suppressed by the rigid rules and frameworks of civilization. A prime example of this is demonstrated in George Orwell’s 1945 novel, ‘Animal Farm’, an allegorical representation of Joseph Stalin’s downward spiral into a corrupted leadership over the USSR and the consequences of totalitarianism in the Russian Revolution. Similarly, in the 1963 film adaptation of William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’, the power fear holds, the selfish tyrant that lies within us all waiting to be exposed through the corruption of power, and the malign effects of power in a dictatorship are depicted. Both of the texts portray the message that absolute power results in the disintegration of the civilized moral code.

Initially, the societies in both texts aim to create a balance of power, responsibility, and equality within a socialist and almost utopian community, eliminating the predominant belief that there must be a hierarchy or single leader to maintain civilization. In ‘Animal Farm’ Orwell purposefully uses symbolism and foreshadowing to represent the socialist nature that is built in the beginning. For instance, Orwell utilizes the names of the characters such as ‘Snowball’ to symbolize purity and fairness on the farm. In Chapter Two, the revolution initiates and the farm begins to work towards ‘animalism’. The pigs aim to achieve their revolt by establishing seven commandments primarily forbidding any behavior that resembles that of a human and introducing the song “Beasts of England”, a triumphant war cry that conjures imagery of freedom and a positive future. On page seventeen, the seven commandments read, “Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings is a friend. No animal shall wear clothes. No animal shall sleep in a bed. No animal shall drink alcohol. No animal shall kill any other animal. All animals are equal.” Throughout the novel, Orwell uses these directives to foreshadow the eventual spiral into corruption and absolute power of the pigs that are yet to be exposed. Likewise, in ‘Lord of the Flies, Ralph and the conch are used to symbolize order and structure. Originally, Ralph symbolizes the moral leader as he suggests using the conch and listens to and respects the other boys while distributing responsibilities fairly. Golding’s use of symbolism through the conch also foreshadows what will happen later in the film as power corrupts and the civilized moral code is disintegrated.

However, as the texts progress the tyrannical dictators are rapidly consumed and corrupted by their pernicious reign. Specifically, Orwell symbolizes this through the seven commandments and whiskey as it represents corruption. When animalism was founded, one of the commandments stated ‛No animal shall drink alcohol ‘(p.17). Slowly, however, Napoleon and the other pigs come to enjoy whiskey and its effects, taking on the forbidden human nature. Similarly, the remaining 6 commandments begin to be surreptitiously altered to benefit the pigs and place them above the other naïve animals, tyrannizing over them and acting much like Mr. Jones did. Furthermore, Orwell claims that he purposefully intended, “the turning point of the story to be when the pigs kept the milk and apples for themselves”. Using this effectively portrays the exact moment that the totalitarian mindset of the selfish pigs had taken over and destroyed the separation between pigs and men. Akin to this, Golding demonstrated tyrant Jack’s downfall through dialogue, events, and symbols such as the conch and the murdering of Piggy. The first significant event that reveals the boys’ collapse into savagery is when they distastefully chant, “Kill the pig, cut her throat, bash her in!” As they brutishly recite this the civilized moral code previously embedded in the society perished while the boys’ inexorably violent human instinct is exposed. Additionally, the event of Piggy’s death is a pivotal point in the film, symbolizing the dissolution of all traces of civilization and morality on the island as barbarity, in a single merciless act, possesses the reigns of control on the island.  

The Role Of Leadership In Animal Farm And Me Too Movement

In George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” he uses allegory and propaganda to prove the quote “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In the story the readers see Napoleon take a leadership role, and he begins to abuse his power. Napoleon had only gotten to his leadership role by scaring and misleads the animals. George Orwell writes Animal Farm as an allegory. “Animal Farm” is written based off of the Russian Revolution. Similar to Animal Farm there are many instances in society and real life that prove the quote to be true. The “Me Too” movement was a movement in which women would write “Me Too” on social media to share the fact that they had been sexually assulted or harrased typically by their boss or people in a higher ranking than them. It showed that people with power tend to hurt people who aren’t as dominant. The “Me Too” movement displays how people in powerful positions, such as politicians and directors, have the ability to harm others, and the movement was an inspiring way for women to voice their experiences and opinions.

When Lord Acton said “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts aboslutely” he was explaining how power corrupts people because as someone gains power they loose their empathy for others. The “Me Too” movement exhibits how dominant people can easily abuse others in lower ranks because of their authority. In “#MeToo-Changing Brains, Relationships and Power Dynamics” Amy Banks explains, “Kelner’s research and theory suggests that for many people simply having power over others decreases the activity in the part of the brain needed to understand the impact of your behavior on others.” (Banks 5). Studies can show that powerful individuals don’t think about other people’s feelings. Their lack of ethics and morals provoke them to abuse people around them. Dacher Kelner conducts experiments that demostrate that “The qualities that often bring someone to power, like empathy and the ability to listen to others, diminish once a person is in power.” (Banks 4). These discoveries indicate why many people that where acused of sexual harrasment during the movment may have chosen to abuse their power.

Two powerful men that were accussed in the Me Too movement were Harvery Weistein and Al Franken, a director and a federal offical. These two men are an example of how many accused in the movement behaved. Someone authoritative, like Harvey Weisnstein and Brett Kavanaugh are capable of misconduct because power psycologically affects them. In “Why do so many powerful men behavelike Harvey Weisnstein? This psychologist has some theories” Samantha Schmidt concludes, “From Keltner’s research, one takeaway is clear: A feeling of power can transform people’s behavior, making them more impulsive and less empathetic to others’ needs. It “turns up the volume on your preexisting tendencies,” Keltner said.” (Schmidt 11). Although Power can affect the way individuals behave according to Keltner it only enhances habit that they previsouly had. As Harvey Weistein gained more power it began to corrupt him. When he had power he didn’t seem to care about how he treated other people which is what lead to him having sexual alligations aganist him. Weistein was a high profile director, but there have also been other people like Al Fraken who have been accused in the movement as well. The article states,”The #MeToo movement has brought the swift downfall of many powerful federal officials over the past year. Among those dispatched: One senator, eight House members and three congressional candidates. One federal judge. Two White House aides.” (Gerhart/Rindler 1). The article “How #MeToo has changed the D.C. power structure – so far” displays how numerous federal officals have been accused of sexual harrasment. This demonstrates how so many people in power have been accused in the movement because power has impacted their lives. In the movement majority of people accused were people with power which means that the power exploited them.

The “Me Too” movement an inspiring movement aganist sexual abuse, and assult. The movement gave women a safe place to share with others what they’ve been through, and it brought down powerful people who hurt them. In the article “#MeToo – Changing Brains, Relationships and Power Dynamics” the author expresses,” The #MeToo movement is giving a viral voice to women (and men) who have been the targets of violence and harassment. It is a social change campaign that I never thought would happen in my lifetime.” (Banks 1). To many people it was a surprise that women spoke out aganist people who were so powerful. However, a notable number of people found the movement encouraging, and uplifting. The Movement presented women with a way to reclaim power. It was very successful because it made victums feel like they weren’t alone and it joined people together with support. In the article Banks adds,”This new movement has allowed women to find their voices and to reclaim their dignity. In doing so they have shed shame, blame and pain simply by joining a group of women and men speaking out against the abuse of power. I am honored to be a part the movement. #MeToo!” (Banks 14). Tarana Burke was an African American activist she was also the women who founded the “Me Too” movement and her original plan for the movement has become successful. She wanted the movement to help women who had been abused or assulted and to raise awarness for them. Since she started the movement it has grown tramendously and has become quite popular. In the article“She Founder Me Too. Now She Wants to Move Past the Trauma” it states,”In the year since the movement upended entertainment and politics, Burke has been working to ensure that Me Too doesn’t lose sight of its mission: to connect survivors of sexual assault to the resources they need in order to heal.” (Harris 2) Although the movement has become popular over time, Burke has not lost sight of what’s important. She made sure that the movement helped the victums and surviors, and sheis also working to change laws and policies on this matter to help the cause.

The “Me Too” movement gave women the opportunity to share their exposure to sexual abuse and assult. The movement demonstrates how authoritative individuals can abuse powerless people due to their higher rank. The movement shows how power can change someone’s actions, and cause them to act in unacceptable ways. Like “Animal Farm” the “Me Too’ movement demonstrates how when people take leadership roles they become corrupt and unethical.