Corruption and power are the main themes in Animal Farm. The animal rebellion that is launched at the beginning of the text is as a result of corruption exhibited by the farmer known as Mr. Jones. This farmer is delineated as a drunkard and an evil master who treats animals with great cruelty and only cares for himself. Seemingly, the author supports the animals in their rebellion against humans. Orwell uses the Marxism philosophy to deride the apparent class stratification. The capitalists are portrayed as corrupt and greedy individuals who exploit the working class. For instance, the Old Major in his speech points out that man is the only creature that produces nothing yet he keeps all the milk, eggs and fruits. Man is seen as useless but is somewhat the master of all animals. Further, at the end of the novel, the pigs take the helm of the animals’ destiny. They are corrupted by power and become much like Mr. Jones. The animals go through unspeakable horrors and brutality under Napoleon’s leadership. Another prime example of corruption in Animal Farm is depicted in the evolution of the precepts of Animalism. Apparently, animals had established a fair set of rules that are supposed to guide them. Throughout the novel, these rules undergo significant changes. For example, the commandment that says "all animals are equal" is corrupted by the pigs to justify their vile behaviors. Moreover, the authority has considerably corrupted Napoleon and made him use it in a way that harms others. Napoleon has resorted to using fierce dogs to control the other animals. In one occasion, he uses them to chase his opponent Snowball from the farm. Napoleon uses these violent dogs to slaughter animals that are deemed a threat to his government. Animal Farm is regarded as political satire aimed at the Soviet Union. It is also important to bear in mind that Orwell’s text, though directed to the Soviet Union, is a witty narration about leadership in general.
Animal Farm is a novella written by George Orwell. The book was published in 1945. The story of Animal Farm is an allegorical tale of totalitarianism.
Corruption and oppression by the human farmers were the main grievances by the animals on the farm. This led to a revolt and, eventually, guerrilla warfare against the humans. Initially, the animals, led by the pigs—mainly Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer—envisioned a Utopian vision for the farm. However, as time passed, the pigs began to show the same greed and corruption that the farmers possessed.
For instance, Napoleon disposed of Snowball when the latter tried to modernize the farm by initiating a windmill project. Napoleon believed that the animals on the farm should live a simple life, even though the pigs enjoyed the spoils of the animals' labor.
When Boxer, the loyal but naive horse of the farm, became old, Napoleon sent him to a slaughterhouse. When the animals questioned the actions of Napoleon, Squealer acted as a propagandist for Napoleon's "administration" and lied to them.
Later on in the novella, the pigs began to closely resemble the humans who came before them. They began to wear human clothing, carried whips to punish the animal laborers, and enforced strict authoritarian rules.
The message Orwell was trying to convey in Animal Farm is that even idealistic revolutionaries are prone to corruption; that a Utopian vision of society is not possible for as long as desires for wealth and power were inherent in human behavior.
https://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/media/Documents/English/Study_and_Revise_Animal_Farm_sample_material.pdf
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