Lord Acton wrote, “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

” In many
novels, antagonists and protagonists alike succumb to greed and lust for control. In
an essay, discuss how Lord Acton’s words apply to Animal Farm in terms of
manipulation and deception. Avoid mere summarization.

In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, power over others leads to corruption. After an
aging boar tells the farm animals of his utopian dream and dies, a group of pigs leads a
rebellion over their human masters and establishes a communist form of government
called Animalism. One boar, named Napoleon, takes charge and becomes the dictator of
the farm, using propaganda, deceit and manipulation on his journey to success and
absolute rule.
Throughout the novella, Napoleon uses propaganda to encourage the animals to
work harder, and to deter them from staging a mutiny. Prior to his betrayal, Snowball
helps Napoleon develop the concept of Animalism and organizes the other animals in a
rebellion. After Snowball threatens Napoleon’s influence over the others, Napoleon
chases him from the farm and takes control. From this point on, any failures experienced
on the farm are blamed on Snowball; the other animals are reluctant to voice their
opinions for fear of turning out like him. By doing this, Napoleon poisons the well; any
thought of Snowball is associated with treachery and lies. Napoleon’s right-hand man,
Squealer, also spreads news throughout the farm of false truths, such as the windmill
being Napoleon’s idea; in reality, the idea is Snowball’s but as he is gone from the farm,
he cannot dispute this statement. Napoleon uses Snowball’s absence to his benefit,
naming him a spy and a traitor, as well as telling the animals that Snowball is the one to
blame for the demise of the windmill. Later, Napoleon digs up Old Major’s skull and puts
it on display, as a sort of relic; the animals are ordered to pay it respect and it is placed
under the Animal Farm flag. This skull symbolizes the source of the dream and
encourages the animals to work ever harder, for a grand, happy future awaits them when
they fulfill the original “prophecy.” In the final chapter, when most of the animals who
participated in the Battle of Cowshed have perished, Squealer teaches a group of sheep to
recite the line, “Four legs good, two legs better.” Previously, the animals followed the
mantra that those who walk on two legs are enemies; now they learn the opposite, that
bipeds are what they should strive to be. Not only does Napoleon use propaganda, he
simply lies to the animals.
 The deceptive Napoleon cannot rely only on propaganda; no, he must keep the
wool over the eyes of the animals. The start of Animalism contains seven
commandments, drawn from Old Major’s dream. As time goes on, though, these
commandments mysteriously morph. The animals are too gullible to realize this; they
simply “do not remember” those words being there, but they know that the
commandments are nothing to be disputed. As Napoleon gains power, he begins to desire
the more posh lifestyle that Jones once experienced. Napoleon sleeps in a bed, drinks
alcohol, and kills other animals; however, he does not use sheets, he does not drink to
excess, and he has “good” reasons for which to kill. The animals simply take it that these
commandments have never changed and together agree that there is not real reason to be
worried, as long as they are not violating these sacred mandates. In the same way he uses
propaganda, Napoleon uses Boxer’s death to his benefit. Benjamin reveals to the animals
that Boxer is being taken to the knacker’s, but Squealer clears this up immediately; the
hospital simply did not have time to paint over the text on the newly purchased cart.
Instead, Napoleon uses Boxer’s absence to tell the animals of his everlasting devotion,
his last words spent praising the rebellion and Napoleon’s absolute authority. As the book
comes to a close, all of the commandments are gone except one: “All animals are equal,
but some animals are more equal than others.” Virtually none of the animals from Jones’
time are left and all those born since are brainwashed to follow everything Comrade
Napoleon says. Napoleon’s actions are not only cruel, but twisted, demented, and greedy.
However, this deception is not without reason; it also used to manipulate the animals.
Napoleon keeps the animals in line through fear; he is able to sway the animals’
actions and feelings by threatening them and keeping his vicious dogs at his heels at
every moment. When animals question his authority, Napoleon simply asks, “Would you
rather have Jones back?” The animals have been so conditioned to seeing Jones as their
enemy that even the mention of him evokes fear and causes them to shut off their
feelings. Napoleon’s use of the dogs also strikes fear into the hearts of all of the animals.
After Snowball is chased from the farm and the windmill fails, anyone who has done
anything to hurt the farm is obliged to step forward and reveal their betrayal. Each animal
that confesses, mostly out of fear rather than truth, is slaughtered before their friends and
those who survive leave shaken and disturbed. The combination of Jones, Snowball, and
the dogs are enough to keep the animals in check, terrified of what may become of them
if they are ever to step out of line. The animals listen to whatever Napoleon has to say
and do as he tells them, even if they are thinking inside that it may not all be right.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm shows that greed and lust corrupt even the most
simple of creatures. Not only can a group of individuals proclaim themselves above
others, but those who are deemed inferior become extremely gullible and willing under
the influence of fear and visions of chaos. Once they have dreamed of Utopia, they
pursue their goal, even though someone on the outside looking in knows this is
impossible. The dictators take advantage of this obscured vision, telling their inferiors or
subjects that everything they do takes them one step closer to happiness. The working
class is too caught up in fantasy to see that they are being taken one step closer to death.