Comparing Power In Animal Farm And The Lord Of The Rings

In addition, both Animal Farm and The Lord of the Rings clearly demonstrate the danger of giving too much power to even the most (at least seemingly) intelligent, trustworthy or well intentioned of individuals. In Animal Farm, this is demonstrated by the pigs’ rise to power. After the revolution, the pigs – Napoleon and Snowball in particular – quickly assume a leadership role. None of the other animals have a problem with this, feeling that “with their superior knowledge it was natural that [the pigs] should assume the leadership” (Animal Farm, 23). As the government of pigs, led by Napoleon, begin taking more and more liberties to benefit themselves, the other animals continually allow themselves to be convinced that the pigs are acting

When Frodo agrees to take the ring to Mordor, it is made clear that he sees the task as an undesirable, but important responsibility. This is demonstrated by his thoughts upon offering himself for the task: “with an effort he spoke… as if some other will was using his small voice. ‘I will take the Ring.’” Frodo’s absolute devotion to his mission can be seen throughout his journey, and especially when he and Sam are in Mordor. Here Frodo is hungry, exhausted, and likely very close to his death, but he continues on, driven by the importance of his mission; at one point telling Sam “‘I can manage it… I must’” (The Lord of the Rings, 934). By the time Frodo reaches the top of Mount Doom, however, the power of the ring has corrupted him. “‘I have come,’ he said. ‘But I do not choose now to do what I came to do. I will not do this deed. The Ring is mine!’ And suddenly he set it on his finger” (The Lord of the Rings, 945). Here we see a good-hearted hobbit, who was willing to give everything he had to a noble cause, lose sight of his morals and succumbed to the corruption of the Ring’s power. Frodo’s failure to resist the lure of the ring drives home the message that power, in and of itself, can dangerous, even to those who may who appear best equipped to resist its

Orwell’s illustration involves the unjust use of political power, very similar to real events of the 20th century, while Tolkien takes a much more fantastical approach, the source of power being a magical ring. The pigs won the trust and approval of the other farm animals with their intelligence and government based on seven commandments, including “All animals are equal” (Animal Farm, 21). Similarly, Frodo was entrusted to resist the power of the ring long enough to destroy it. In both cases, however, the individuals in power became corrupted; the pigs only made the lives of the farm animals worse, and Frodo put everyone in danger when he made the decision not to destroy the