How Napoleon Obtains And Maintains Power In

Animal Farm Essay, Research Paper

Outline the ways in which Napoleon obtained and maintained power on Animal Farm. What message is Orwell conveying to the reader through these processes.

There are many ways in which Napoleon obtains and maintains power on Animal Farm. Napoleon obtains power fundamentally by elimination of all opposing him. He obtains and maintains power by turning other animals weaknesses into his opportunities. He also uses his education and knowledge to obtain and maintain power, as well as his ability to defeat the resistant feelings in other animals. To obtain and maintain power Napoleon uses various degrees of manipulation. He also uses persuasion and propaganda, brainwashing techniques and violence to help him obtain and maintain power. Napoleon maintains power by elevating himself over the other animals, and taking on the characteristics of man. Through these processes, Orwell is trying to convey simply the message of the Russian Revolution. Orwell is also trying to convey a warning about propaganda, and a warning about absolute power through the ways in which Napoleon obtained and maintained power.

Napoleon obtains power primarily by elimination. He believes that if he eliminates all the people standing in between him and ultimate domination, then he can govern the animals in any way that he sees fit. His first step of eliminating is to divide the animals into two classes. Napoleon, along with the other pigs, became of a privileged class, while the rest of the animals were inferior. This division of the animals is first seen when the order went forth that all the windfalls were to be collected and brought to the harness-room for the use of the pigs . When the other animals question this decision Napoleon s propagandist, Squealer, assured the animals that it is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples if we pigs failed in our duty Jones would come back . This answer satisfies the animals, and they are content with this new separation, as Napoleon hoped they would be.

Napoleon continues to obtain power by elimination, next he starts to seize power from his rivals. He is already of a select class, the next thing he does is eliminate all those in his class that can displace him. Snowball was his rival for the place of supreme command; therefore he needed to get rid of Snowball. He does this by using dogs that dashed straight for Snowball In a moment he was out the door and was seen no more . This overthrow was a premeditated thought, as he had previously taken a litter of dogs away from their mothers, kept them in a loft and the rest of the farm soon forgot their existence. Napoleon had previously calculated how to obtain ultimate power, and eliminates all of the thoughts or animals opposed to his regime.

An important way in which Napoleon obtains and maintains power is by finding and utilising the weaknesses of others. Like himself, all of the other pigs are greedy, and soon begin stealing food from all the other animals. Napoleon knows that he can use their greed, to reinforce a group of companions who will support his decisions. He sets aside material things to entice their support, such as all the milk, apples, and barley, for which to make beer. This newfound pampering appeals to the pigs and they associate the upper-class society in which they live with Napoleon. This leads them to believe that if they follow Napoleon, and support his thoughts, their lives will be considerably better, so they follow and trust Napoleon. This is what Napoleon was aiming for, and the support of the pigs helps him to obtain and maintain power.

Napoleon uses education and learning to help him obtain and maintain power. Napoleon seems to use the Proverb A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength as one of his truisms. The pigs are clearly the most intellectual animals on the farm, and soon take control of running it. Napoleon increases his superiority by educating only the elite animals, such as the pigs and some dogs. By only educating the small portion of the aristocrats, he increases the likelihood of the superiority of the pigs, and gives the impression to the rest of the animals that the pigs are educated, therefore everything they say and do is right. By giving the animals this perception, they are far less likely to challenge the ideas and philosophies of the pigs, and the class boundaries widen, hence allowing Napoleon to obtain and maintain more power.

Napoleon also obtains and maintains power by conquering resistant feelings in the other animals, and controlling the animals by their dread of repercussions. Napoleon tries to make himself too magnificent for anyone to defy him or try to overcome him. His nine huge dogs frisking round him and uttering growls that sent shivers down all the animals spines made it possible for him to monitor all those who might revolt against him, and make sure that they don t. The animals knew that if they defied Napoleon, the price they would pay, would be their lives. By installing this fear into all of the animals, he makes sure that no one rebels against him, thus obtaining and maintaining power.

Power is obtained and maintained by Napoleon, through his extensive use of manipulation. Most of the animals are too accepting, unassertive and believe that Napoleon and the other pigs are right, and are legitimate in taking control of