Animal Farm and the Government PDF

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Selena Liu Government The guard dogs pounce after Snowball as sprints out of the farm. The animals watch, horrified, as one of their leaders disappears out of sight. They turn back to Napoleon, not knowing what their futures hold. When Snowball and Napoleon co-lead the farm, improvements and new ide...

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Selena Liu Government The guard dogs pounce after Snowball as sprints out of the farm. The animals watch, horrified, as one of their leaders disappears out of sight. They turn back to Napoleon, not knowing what their futures hold. When Snowball and Napoleon co-lead the farm, improvements and new ideas are constantly being made due to the controversies between Snowball and Napoleon, such as the debate between the animal’s schooling and the debate on whether or not to build a windmill. Furthermore, when co-leading the farm, Napoleon and Snowball both enforce the Seven Commandments, which gives the animals freedom in their society. However, when Snowball is chased out of the farm, the animals’ efforts become dedicated to Napoleon. George Orwell’s Animal Farm shows that an equal society must be ruled by at least two people, because one leader will result in a tyranny. When Snowball and Napoleon rule together for a period of time, there is constant debate on how to improve the society. Since the animals elected Snowball and Napoleon as leaders, both of them have the responsibility of choosing what improvements to make on the farm. They come up with individual methods to educate the young. “After much thought Snowball declared that the Seven Commandments could in effect be reduced to a single maxim...He (Napoleon) said that the education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up.” (34). As the two leaders of the farm, both Snowball and Napoleon have equal authority over each other. This quote shows that Napoleon and Snowball can apply their methods of educating the society, but cannot force the complete majority to agree. Constant debate between the two leaders prevents complete authority over the society.

Additionally, A tyranny is prevented when a ruler’s power is limited by another with the same power. When Snowball presents an idea to create a windmill and lower animal labor, the animals are amazed. “The whole farm was deeply divided on the subject of the windmill. Snowball did not deny that to build it would be a difficult business...Napoleon, on the other hand, argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production.” (36). This quote explains that the animals are given choice to decide the farm’s priorities based on two completely different ideas. No tyrant or monarch is compelling the animals to vote, which represents a fair and equal society. The farm applies the Seven Commandments and ideas of freedom to society when Snowball and Napoleon rule together. As the animals enjoy their first summer of freedom, they are very content. “The animals were happy as they had never conceived it possible to be. Every mouthful of food was an acute positive pleasure, now that it was truly their own food, produced by themselves and for themselves.” (21). During this time, no pig has broken any of the Commandments yet, and all is well on the farm. Snowball and Napoleon stay loyal to the ideas of equality and liberty. The society is in a state of welfare and happiness. “But everyone worked according to his capacity. The hens and ducks, for instance, saved five bushels of corn at the harvest by gathering up the stray grains. Nobody, stole, nobody grumbled over his rations, the quarreling and biting and jealousy which had been normal features of life in the old days had almost disappeared.” (21). All the animals treat each other as comrades and equals, which follows the Seven Commandments. Nobody steals, complains, or treats others badly, which is an example of a fair society. Since this fair society is ruled by both Snowball and Napoleon, it shows that a government led by at least two people will benefit every person in society.

Snowball’s expulsion allows Napoleon to be the sole leader of Animal Farm, and so all of the society’s efforts become dedicated to Napoleon. Shortly after Snowball is banished, Napoleon begins his tyrannical methods by occupying the farmhouse. “It was absolutely necessary, he said, that the pigs, who were the brains of the farm, should have a quiet place to work in. It was also more suited to the dignity of the Leader (for of late he had taken to speaking of Napoleon under the title of “Leader”) to live in a house than in a mere sty” (48). By beginning his selfish tyrannical actions, Napoleon starts to adopt human traits, such as the desire to live in a warm house. Through Squealer, Napoleon influences the animals to call him ‘Leader Napoleon’, which is something that foreshadows the developing tyranny. He also tells the animals that his desires are a necessity, which shows that he is a self-centered tyrant. After the battle defending against Frederick and his men, Napoleon is known to be drinking alcohol. “Napoleon gave orders that the small paddock beyond the orchard, which it had previously been intended to set aside as a grazing-ground for animals who were past work, was to be ploughed up. It was given out that the pasture was exhausted and needed re-seeding; but it soon became known that Napoleon intended to sow it with barley” (75). This example shows how Napoleon takes away the animal’s rights for his own benefit. He seizes the pasture, where the animals graze, in order to sow barley and make wine for himself. Napoleon produces nothing on the farm, and yet he treats the animals like slaves. His behavior resembles the humans, which include Mr. Jones and Mrs. Jones. When Animal Farm is being ruled by two leaders or more, there is prevention of complete authority and constant improvement in the society. Ideas like equality and freedom are being enforced when there are two leaders. However, when Napoleon becomes the only leader of

the farm, all other animals become slaves for him instead of respected members of the society. George Orwell’s Animal Farm shows that society must be ruled by at least two people, because one leader will result in a tyranny....