Essay Sample on Joseph Stalin in Animal Farm

It becomes self-evident that power leads to corruption in Chapters 1-6 of George Orwell’s Animal Farm while analyzing allegorical connections to Stalin, the deeper significance of the windmill, and while observing the psychological impact of power. 

Napoleon, representing Stalin, exploits his elitist prerogative to amass food and alleviate duties at others expense. Newfound power ultimately leads the pig’s to stray from communist ideals in pursuit of personal gain. Rebellion of man is intended to cut the loop as, “…he(man) sets them (the animals) to work, he gives back the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and keeps the rest for himself” (Orwell 8). Yet the pigs exclusively reserve milk and apples for the themselves as, “Milk and apples…contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. We pigs are brainworkers.” (Orwell 35-36). We learn that pigs don’t do manual labor and exploit others willful apathy to hoard food. As the story progresses, the pigs leave their communistic stance of equality so that their power can bring privilege. Stalin acted in the same manner of regulating others food and privileges. Unlike hunger or work, power is an appetite which cannot be filled. 

Other animals build the windmill under the pig’s vision, symbolizing the pig’s manipulative power grabs above all else. From propaganda to blatant lies, Napoleon does anything to further his power. The windmill can no longer be a manifestation of progress if it breaks the first commandment and the ideology that the only good human is a dead one. Against rule of the commandments, “From now onwards, Animal Farm would engage in trade with the neighboring farms…the needs of the windmill override everything else” (Orwell 63). Commanding the construction of the windmill and breaking rules articulates the unspoken truth of the pigs. Their ruthless corruption and exploitation to gain power, as symbolized by the windmill, shines the pig’s true colors to the reader.

The pigs Machiavellian traits (manipulating, exploiting, and deceiving others in pursuit of self-interest) prove that the more power one gets, the more controlling they become. Powers definition is the ability to control, through restriction of resources including information and food. Subordination appears to become the pig’s primary goal with threats used as logic. Napoleon announces that there will be work on Sunday and, “This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.” (Orwell 59) Understandings powers use as leverage makes Napoleon’s corruption clear. When one person has too much power, fear of loosing power, in part, corrupts them to abuse it.

Rigorous analysis makes it evident that power creates corruption, and the fear of loss of power leads to an abusive wielding of it. Napoleon demonstrates this and the windmill lets you infer this. Power and corruption are likely the most valuable aspects to take into account when looking upon Animal Farm.