“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” A person with sinister intentions is said to be corrupted, yet they don’t usually begin as such. George Orwell’s Animal Farm, examines the nature of corruption through symbolic animals. He warns against tyranny in society, and provides a clear example of good intentions becoming evil.
Orwell believes that humans have an internal lust for dominance. He elaborates on this idea by equipping the pigs with whips, a weapon of power and suppression. “Amazed, terrified, huddling together, the animals watched the long line of pigs march slowly round the yard”(Orwell 123). The whip symbolizes the highest form of corruption that the animals recently “rebelled” against. The pigs inch their way into greater power; propaganda and fear were the tools of the trade. Dictators in our history have employed much of the same tactics. They come to power with empty promises, and become corrupt through a indefinite craving for influence.
A corrupted leader has no sympathy. Orwell demonstrates fear tactics used by dictators in the execution scene. “When they had finished their confession, the dogs promptly tore their throats out”(Orwell 83). The dogs represent the strength of Napoleon. Humanity will not be put against their will if there is no reason to yield. A corrupt leader must draw their authority from intimidation and example. “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal then others”(Orwell 123). The single maxim also identifies Napoleon’s corruption. It’s not logically possible for something to be “more equal,” but Orwell states that dictators refuse to follow rules; they make their own.
Corruption is progressive. Orwell begins with the pigs in a modest leadership role, yet they slowly tighten their grip on society. He illustrates this by granting the pigs increasing privileges over the other animals. The trend of dominance continues until finally “the creatures looked from pig to man...but already it was impossible to say which was which”(Orwell 128). The original doctrines of Animalism, through corruption, were extruded into exactly what they feared. The citizens of Animal Farm were lead into believing, and accepting, what they once stood against. The Rebellion became a legend, and those who dared apposed the new regime were annihilated. Orwell successfully warns us about the power of corruption on the mind; through progression, an obvious fallacy becomes construed into a sensible argument.
Orwell strongly believes in the power of propaganda and lies. “All that year the animals worked like slaves. But they were happy in their work; they grudged no effort or sacrifice...”(Orwell 63). The animals have been fed enough lies to be blinded. They happily assume vigorous work to build the foundation of empty promises. Napoleon’s chief of propaganda, Squealer, forms advanced lies and threats to shape the society to his master’s needs. Our society fights corruption every day; we live by constitutions and laws that provide for an open and fresh government. Our government at the same time tries to convince the people that its functions are “correct” through media.
The inevitability of a totalitarian government appears through Animal Farm’s corrupted nature. Orwell holds the pessimistic belief that all governments have the ability to quickly become sinister and disturbed. The whole Animal Farm novel is a flashing warning to a society of corrupted regime. Even at the beginning of the novel, Orwell manifests the hibernating nature of corruption through the pigs:
‘Comrades!’ he cried. ‘You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. I dislike them myself...Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. We pigs are brainworkers...Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes, Jones would come back!’(Orwell 42)
The pigs believe early on that they are superior to the other animals. They even use this as an excuse as to why they need to “suffer” the extra nutrients. Likewise, Orwell views the world as a brewing cauldron of corruption. Even communistic societies, where everyone is supposed to be equal, are ultimately separated into classes.
Orwell suggests that humans are profoundly bound to their instincts. He explores the complicated ideals of corruption in the simplest way possible: remove the human element. Symbolic animals played out the basic story of a government gone wrong; Corruption is essentially the human lust for power distorted by time and aspiration.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
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