Introduction
Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is the central theme explored in George Orwell's allegorical novella Animal Farm, which uses a farm rebellion and subsequent totalitarian state as a metaphor for the corruption of socialist ideals in the Soviet Union. The tendency of those in power to abuse their authority for personal gain at the expense of others is a universal theme that still resonates today. This essay will analyze how the pigs in Animal Farm, most notably Napoleon, exemplify how power corrupts even those with benevolent intentions. By examining the evolution of the pigs from leaders of a righteous rebellion to dictators who betray their original ideals, this essay serves as a case study on the timeless dangers of concentrated authority and why power must have checks and balances.
Background
Animal Farm tells the tragic story of a group of animals who overthrow their exploitative human farmer in hopes of creating an egalitarian society. Led by the pigs Snowball and Napoleon, the animals establish a constitution of seven commandments, including that all animals are equal. However, the pigs gradually transform into tyrants even worse than the humans as Napoleon expels Snowball and assumes absolute leadership. He secretly alters the constitution to declare that all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. Napoleon establishes a violent police state and engages in the vices of the humans he originally accused. Orwell published the book in 1945 as a critique of how the communist Soviet Union under Stalin betrayed its founding principles and developed into a brutal dictatorship built on propaganda and fear. The tendency of leaders to abuse power holds true across times and systems of government.
Corruption of the Pigs
The pigs in Animal Farm exemplify how those in power can become corrupted by greed and the hunger for more control. At first, Snowball and Napoleon help lead the animals in righteous rebellion against their exploitative farmer and establish a system built on equality. However, once in power, the pigs gradually manipulate the rules and seize privileges for themselves. For example, Squealer secretly removes the commandment forbidding animals to sleep in beds so the pigs can enjoy comfort denied to others. Napoleon uses violent force to eliminate rivals like Snowball who question his authority. The pigs' corruption peaks when Napoleon makes deals with humans for money and luxury accommodations while depriving the other animals. The divide between the ruling pigs and the working animals reflects the class divides in humans' society that Animal Farm originally sought to eliminate. Power enabled the pigs to betray their principles without restraint.
The Role of Propaganda
Along with force, the pigs maintain control through propaganda and enemy creation. Whenever the animals question the pigs' legitimacy, Squealer twists language and facts to justify the pigs' contradictions and reinforces Napoleon's cult of personality. For example, after Napoleon executes dissenters on dubious charges, Squealer claims that the pigs had to restore order after Snowball stirred up trouble. Squealer's combination of appeals to fear, fabricated evidence, and repetition allow the pigs to brainwash the animals into dismissing their own memories and accepting the pigs' corruption. Napoleon's vilification of Snowball as a persistent threat enables the pigs to justify their privileges and cruelty as necessary for protection. The pigs condition the animals into complacency and servility, keeping them ignorant to ensure domination.
Counterargument
Some may argue the pigs were justified in securing privileges because as the most intelligent animals, they could govern Animal Farm best. However, Orwell portrays that intelligence alone does not prevent corruption, as the pigs ultimately used cunning to exploit the animals for material excess. While the pigs' superior abilities positioned them as leaders, Orwell shows that power requires moral wisdom and accountability. Furthermore, the pigs failed to serve the collective good of all animals. Thus, the pigs lost legitimacy the moment they acted against the ideals of animal equality. Additionally, the pigs failed to establish oversight and civic participation to represent the animals' interests. Power concentrated solely in Napoleon enabled his corruption.
Conclusion
In allegorizing the Soviet Union's descent into totalitarianism, Animal Farm shows how even a just revolution's ideals can be corrupted without democratic checks on power. Orwell's universal message is that power concentrated absolutely in rulers tends to breed exploitation and profound inequality, regardless of ideology or intent. Leaders may start out seeking the common good, but power for its own sake can lead even the most principled to betray founding ideals. Orwell's solution is eternal vigilance - systems must encode accountability, separation of powers and civic participation to maintain the integrity of any society. Only by understanding power's tendency to corrupt can societies inoculate themselves and uphold equality before the law.
