Animal Farm essay PDF

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Essay analyzing Animal Farm by George Orwell ...

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To what extent does the attainment of power lead to the corruption of an individual or group in “Animal Farm”?

Word Count: 3979

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page……………………………………………………………….. 1 Table of contents……………………………………………………….. 2

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Introduction…………………………………………………………….. 3 Necessary background…………………………………………………. 4 Claim 1: Power leads to corruption…………………………….……… 6 Claim 2: Human nature is innately corrupt…………………………… 10 Claim 3: Power brings out the best in people………………………….. 12 Conclusion……………………………………………………………….. 14 References & bibliography……………………………………………… 16

Introduction George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” has remained one of the most relevant pieces of political satire in recent history. Orwell’s fantastic portrayal of communist Russia seems to depict what he considers key, rather obscure aspects of human nature. These are revealed

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through the animals characterizations and their implementation of a repressive totalitarian system backed by classical marxist theory. In that sense, “Animal Farm” could be seen as an exploration of the human psyche, possible through the mirroring of human society in the early 1900’s onto farm animals. Orwell delves into the innate flaws of humans nature through the portrayal of individual characters and their interactions, most of whom are representative of a particular group of humans in a functioning society; the sheep are the masses, given their low intelligence and their ability to be easily persuaded, The pigs are representative of those in power, Boxer represents the working class, etc. The portrayal of a hierarchy driven by intelligence and wit reveals what Orwell considers to be our world’s primary power structure. In the Animal Farm universe, power and corruption are constant motifs in the lives of these animals. Through the pig’s attainment of power, we progressively see an increase in maltreatment, deception, and cruelty towards the rest of the farm. This led me to question whether Orwell was suggesting that the continuous acquisition of power is connected to the corruption of an individual, culminating in the following research question: To what extent does the attainment of power lead to the corruption of an individual or group in “Animal Farm”? In this essay I will be answering the question through three main claims (as denoted in the table of contents), each suggesting a different view, which will eventually culminate in a fully rounded conclusion. Within each claim I will include secondary claims that are relevant to the question and further understanding the nuances of the role of power in Animal Farm. Prior to answering the question, I will be giving some necessary background information on how the Pigs attained power from Mr Jones. The book will act as my main source of evidence through the use of direct quotations. However, I will also be including the philosophical teachings of

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Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Hobbes, as well as the writings of Maximilien Robespierre and Lord John Dalberg-Acton.

Necessary Background

It is important to first define the key concepts in the presented question: corruption and power. Corruption can be defined as dishonest or illegal conduct by those in power, as well as the corruption of a person's principles and moral code. Power on the other hand is the possession of control, authority, or influence over others (Webster). Before exploring the effects of power on corruption, it’s imperative to understand how the pigs attained and retained their power from Jones. At the beginning of the novel, Old Major incited the idea of a revolution against the humans with his first town style meeting. During this, he promised the animals a life free of humans, longevity, and happiness, to which the animals responded quite well to. There was an obvious sense among the animals that they were being mistreated and that humans in general, particularly Mr. Jones and his men, had an inequitable distribution of absolute power. They had grievances which were legitimized during that meeting, which led to the further legitimization of the cause for a revolution or coup. Old Major also provided the animals with solidarity. They were now comrades fighting against the evils of mankind, which was succinctly encapsulated within the song “Beasts of England”. The song not only provides them with a constant reminder of their united cause, but it also cements the cause as something real, and in a way, concrete. Having introduced this, the pigs used force and violence as a way to fulfill the revolution and expel Jones from Manor Farm during the Battle of Cowshed . While the pigs were successful

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in gaining control, they had to secure it in a way that would be sustainable. They did so through many methods, the main one being cultivating a sense of nationalism and pride among the animals of their accomplishments and their new home; Animal Farm. The changing of the farms name from Manor Farm to Animal Farm is a significant way in which the pigs were able to achieve this; they gave the animals a new identity which they could now defend. Moreover, by marking important events in their fight for independence such as the Battle of Cowshed , the Battle of the Windmill , etc, they created celebrations which brought the animals together under the same cause. Both of these actions solidify the validity of Animal Farm and their overall revolution. Other methods the pigs often employ to secure their own power is the use of fear, scapegoating, and reliance on the exploitation of the animals ignorance and low intelligence. The main point of fear that they bring up continuously throughout the novel whenever the pigs are faced with opposition from the farm is that of Jones and his men returning. The animals are scared of Jones and human beings in general to a point where they are willing to comply with the pigs demands with little opposition. The scapegoat that is most often used to blame the shortcomings of Napoleon and Squealer is Snowball, however this is seen more towards the final chapters of the book as Snowball was initially part of the initial triad of pigs in power. And lastly, they exploit the ignorance of the “masses” which include the sheep and other less intelligent animals. The sheep were taught by Napoleon to say “Four legs good, two legs bad” (Orwell 26). These animals were easily manipulated into spewing favorable propaganda for the farm initially and later on solely for the pigs, as they ended up changing the chant of “four legs good, two legs better.” (Orwell 95). Moreover, the pigs would constantly change the commandments to best fit their current narrative. Given that the majority of the animals were to

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some degree illiterate, they would reword or edit certain point in order to justify the actions they were committing. This led to the changing of the principles of animalism  as a whole, which initiated as an ideology which promoted the cooperation and equality of all animals, to one which insisted that “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” (Orwell 96).

Claim 1: Power Leads to Corruption

The initial response to the question is that the gaining of power leads to the absolute corruption of an individual or group in “Animal Farm”. This fits into Jean-Jacques  Rousseau's claims on human nature, stating how humans are born pure, however societal factors often lead to the decimation of our own moral code (J astrzębski 438). In the case of “Animal Farm”, the societal factor would be power.  As historian John Dalberg-Acton once said; “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (De Janosi 316). We see this effect worsen progressively  throughout the novel, primarily and almost exclusively with the pigs and Mr. Jones. In chapter one we see this with Mr. Jones through a description Old Major gives of his mistreatment of the animals; stating how when the dogs grow old, “Jones ties a brick around their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond” (Orwell 7). Jones, being the individual in charge of Manor Farm, and therefore the one with the most power, is capable of employing these cruel practices with little to no repercussions given the typically dominant relationship between humans and animals. Animals, both in our world and the “Animal Farm” world, have never been granted any power given their inability to speak, think, etc. This suppression of power, along with the unaltered power that Mr. Jones has, allows him to mistreat his animals to an extent one

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could describe as inhumane. We clearly see how the attainment and retainment of power has led to the corruption of an individual, primarily in regards to his treatment of other living beings. Later in the book we find this again in chapter 2, when the narrator explains how Jones’ men were “idle and dishonest” and how they left the farm poorly kept with “fields full of weeds, buildings [that] wanted roofing, hedges that were neglected, and the animals were underfed” (Orwell 14). As I mentioned before, human power over animals, although normalized, is what has allowed them to treat them so poorly. To a certain extent, this untouchable power Jones and his men have has led them to lower their standards of upkeep, as well as neglect the animals they are supposed to be caring for. Overall this is a corruption of basic morally sound principles, such as integrity and respect for other living things, that was brought upon by the intense surge of power provided to humans. In regards to the corruption of the pigs, we initially see this right after the animals successfully get rid of all humans on Manor Farm. The morning after this coup, the cows were milked and the animals went to the fields right after. When they came back, “it was noticed that the milk had disappeared.”, to which the pigs later confessed to stealing it and “mixing it everyday into [their] mash” (Orwell 19, 26). The main principle behind animalism  was that “all animals are equal”, making the taking of the milk fundamentally against animalism itself, given that the pigs are now receiving more nourishment than other animals (Orwell 19). Not only is this a corruption of the principles on which the revolution was based on, it is also a betrayal to the rest of the farm who still remain loyal to the cause. Similar to Jones and his men, this demonstrates how the attainment of power can lead to the corruption of a group, as it enables them to enact their desires with great facility.

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Further in the novel, Napoleon could be described as the main perpetrator of this corrupted power phenomenon. When the farm was voting on Snowball’s resolution to build the windmill, Napoleon called in his army of dogs who “dashed straight for Snowball” who only barely escaped their “snapping jaws” (Orwell 39). Napoleon ordered his army of dogs to attack Snowball, his comrade, in a power struggle. This is the first time any animal on the farm has used violence against one another, demonstrating a significant shift in morals on behalf of the parties in power, which could be denoted as a corruption of ideals. Napoleon's hunger for power has led him to betray his fellow leader and comrade, indicating again the potential effect of power on the corruption of an individual. Now the justification for this, according to Napoleon, is that Snowball was “no better than a criminal!” (Orwell 41). He has changed the narrative from snowball the brave leader and friend, to snowball a common criminal. This description of Snow is degrading, however the sheer fact that Napoleon went as far as to lie about the actions of a friend again shows a corruption of integrity and honestness, arguably brought upon the desire for power retention. That being said, the most drastic changes to Napoleon's character are revealed towards the end, both when he sells Boxer to the Knacker, and shows the rest of the human farmers his administration of Animal Farm. When Boxer got ill, Napoleon promised to take care of Boxer and insisted on sending him to the veterinary, but instead he sold him to the knackers and bought a case of whiskey for the pigs (which is against one of the original principle of animalism which states no animal shall kill another animal, which indirectly is what Napoleon has done). The rest of the animals were oblivious to what was going on until Benjamin the donkey read the van in which Boxer was being takes, which read “Alfred Simmonds, horse slaughter and glue boiler,

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willingdon. Dealer in hides and bone mean, kennels supplied” (Orwell 87). Selling a friend for alcohol is a violation of not only the values on which animalism was based on -primarily comradery and loyalty- but also basic human decency. The fact that Napoleon was in agreeance with sending a loyal comrade to his death is substantial proof of his corruption in a position of influence. The other instance I would like to point out is when the other farmers visit Animal Farm. Mr. Pilkington of the neighboring farm “congratulated the pigs on low rations, long working hours, and the general absence of pampering” (Orwell 99). Given the original promises of the revolution, including less work, more food, and better lives, the practices the pigs are employing in the farm are contradictory to what their own cause was founded and started on. Moreover the pigs are also employing cruel methods, which only further shows the degree of corruption present in the administration of the farm. Pilkington makes a separate effort to point out certain similarities between the human world and the animal world, by highlighting how “[they] have [their] lower classes” and Animal Farm has their “lower animals” (Orwell 99). This clearly insinuates that animals on the farm are not equal, which is contradictory to the first principle of animalism; “all animals are equal” (Orwell 19). At the end of the book it is revealed that the pigs amended said principles to “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” (Orwell 96). Overall these unconstitutional practices reveal the culmination of corruption and power present on Animal Farm. The pigs have left behind the principles on which their republic was built on in the race to power. In the process they have betrayed not only their comrades, but their own initial moral codes as well in order to attain as much influence as they could garner. Once again this demonstrates how corruption can be rooted in power.

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Claim 2: Human Nature is Innately Corrupt

The argument can be made however that human nature is innately corrupt, therefore power acts as an enabler of corrupted principles and ideals rather than form them. This claim stems from Thomas Hobbes description of the natural human state, which finds humans to be poor, sad, and solitary, along with his belief that man is naturally selfish and inherently corrupt (Jastrzębski 437). The two main reason behind this is the freedom that comes with power, along with the facility to execute ones desires. When an individual finds themselves in a position of total power, they have the freedom to take the actions and decisions they wish to pursue with little to no repercussions. Moreover, it is easier to actually execute said actions and decisions given the access to resources, the removal of legal barriers, etc. The idea that Human or animal nature is in and of itself corrupt can be traced back to the initial actions taken by the pigs. When they first attained power, the revealed that “For the past three months they had taught themselves to read and write” (Orwell 18). While the act of becoming literate isn't wrong in itself, the potential reasoning behind this are. At the end of the novel we see a proper hierarchy in place, where the smartest animals are at the top. Given that the pigs were the ones to execute said power structure, one could assume that their preparation for it started when they decided to further their intelligence through education, given that they had started preparing for this “three months” prior. To further elaborate, by having the ability to read and write, the pigs further distance themselves from the rest of the animals. Their intelligence is superior to every animal on the farm, allowing them to eventually gain more power through their future hierarchy. If the pigs were considering the advancement of their education as a means of further differentiating themselves from the rest of the farm, it is safe to say that them as individuals were corrupted

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before they gained power. The pigs were planning on betraying their own principles of animalism prior to their attainment of power, this demonstrates how power is not truly an initiator of corruption. Moreover, corruption in a position of power eventually takes the same shape and produces similar outcomes. In more simple terms, corrupt power tends to take similar forms over the decades. This is reliant on the idea that humans are corrupt by nature, not by other secondary influences. To show how corrupt power always takes a similar shape, I’d like to focus on the pigs’ transformation towards the end of “Animal Farm”. Orwell stated how “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 101). Eventually, the difference between Jones and Napoleon, pig and man, was not noticable. However even before that we start seeing human mannerism adopted by the pigs. In chapter 5, when Napoleon's dog army is revealed, the animals took note of how they “wagged  their tails to [Napoleon] in the same way as the other dogs had been used to do to Mr Jones” (Orwell 40). These are both metaphors Orwell uses to insinuate that history will always repeat itself, regardless of who’s in charge or what system of government one chooses to employ; corruption in a position of power will always take the same form. Further support for the idea that humans are inherently corrupt is Benjamin the donkey, whose most famous catchphrase is the cryptic “Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey” (Orwell 23). Benjamin is saying that he has lived long enough to see history repeat itself. He, unlike the rest of the animals, understands that human and animal nature are both inherently flawed, and further comprehends that the corruption of power is something that has been repeated over time. The strongest individuals will always want to gain power at the

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expense of the weak, most of which is prompted by our greed and the idea of survival of the fittest. That being said, we can assume that in the eyes of Benjamin, the idea of an egalitarian utopia is considered to be impossible, given the innate desire of stronger, more intelligent individuals to continuously attain power. Later in the novel, when he was asked about his thoughts on the windmill, he explained how “windmill or no windmill, life would go on as it had always gone on- that is, badly” (Orwell 38). This again shows how corrupt power eventually produces the same outcomes. Benjamin is old enough to have witnessed and realized that things will never truly, fundamentally change. Regardless of the events taking place (such as a revolution or the building of a windmill) or the individuals in power (either Jones or the pigs), things don't have a chance at improving or worsening- they simply remain the same. Through the lense of benjamin, we are shown how nothing is permanent, and therefore nothing will have a permanent effect. A similar point is reiterated in chapter 10, when Benjamin stated  that “the unalterable law of life” is “hunger, hardship, and disappointment being” (Orwell 93). This demonstrates once more how human nature tends to produce the same outcomes, and therefore the current events or changes taking place will eventually pass and people will move on.

Claim 3: Power Brings Out the Best in People

In  certain cases however, the acquisition of power can bring out the best qualities in an individual. This is only ...