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Ethical dilemmas when leaders use their power
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Every human being has a certain amount of power, the ability to do something or act in a particular way. In most societies, the power granted to different individuals is limited by certain laws, rules, and regulations. The trouble in different civilizations occurs when leaders, political parties, and governments have unlimited power. A leader with limitless power has the authority to do anything and act any way he wants to. The misuse of power is a repeated theme found in George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm. Not only is this theme found in literature, but it has also occurred in history, and in present day societies. Limitless power often corrupts those who possess it. George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm portrays the theme that limitless power defiles those who possess it. Animal Farm is an allegory to the Russian revolution and government in the early 1900’s. George Orwell used this novel to portray how power corrupted the individuals involved in the Russian leadership. One example is found in the character Mr. Jones, the owner of Manor Farm. George Orwell describes Mr. Jones as a lazy drunk by saying, “…he [Mr. Jones] lurched across the yard, kicked off his boots at the back door, drew himself a glass of beer from the barrel in the scullery, and made his way up to bed…” (Orwell, 1997, pg.3) Mr. Jones was given unlimited alcohol which caused him to treat his animals any way he pleased. His alcoholism spoiled him and led him to starve, whip, and be cruel towards all his animals. Mr. Jones is a direct representation of Czar Nicholas II. Just like Mr. Jones was drunk with alcohol, Czar Nicholas was drunk with power. Czar Nicholas took advantage of his limitless power and forced his citizens into poverty, war and starvation. Another e... ... middle of paper ... ...the future. Works Cited "Adolf Hitler." U*X*L Biographies. Detroit: U*X*L, 2003. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. Idi Amin. (2011). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/20642/Idi-Amin Pol Pot. (2011). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/466663/Pol-Pot Robert Mugabe. (2011). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/396102/Robert-Mugabe Orwell, G. (1997). Animal farm, and related readings. (pp. 3-97). Houghton Mifflin School. Muammar al-Qaddafi. (2011). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/485369/Muammar-al-Qaddafi Fidel Castro. (2011). In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/98822/Fidel-Castro
Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” ("Abraham Lincoln Quote"). Lord Acton also said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” (“Lord Acton Quotes”). Both of the quotes show that power is not always a good thing, and can sometimes make good people, do bad things. Animal Farm by George Orwell is a novella about animals rebelling against humans on a farm in England. The novella has been said to be directly related to the Russian Revolution of the early 20th century. Immediately after the animals gained power, the pigs took over as the leaders of the animals. The pigs became corrupt with the power, and may have made conditions worse than they were with humans
In 1917, a majority Russian people were unhappy with their leader, Czar Nicholas II. As the dislike grew, Vladimir Lenin began forming a revolution against the leader. After Lenin, along with Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky, overthrew the Czar, they began to slowly take control of the people (Stults). Orwell wrote an allegory to the revolution, Animal farm, which includes the same pattern of events as in the Russian revolution. He explains how the manipulation using words can be a powerful tool against many audiences (“Animal Farm” Novels). The animals on Animal Farm supported the revolt against Jones because they felt they were not living as they should be, in the same way that peasants and farmers supported the revolution because they felt they were not treated right (“Animal Farm” Literature). In both situations the purpose of rebellion in to overthrow the hierarchy that later forms again by the leaders of the mutiny. A...
In Orwell’s novel the farmer Mr. Jones based on the old ruler of Russia Tsar Nicholas the II (who ruled from to 1868-1918), the last true leader of an aristocratic Russia. His reign was marked by his constant demonstrations of absolute rule to show he was the true ruler of the nation. During his reign, the Russian people experienced horrinle atrocities such as mass hunger and violence which culminated in an upheaval, known as the Bloody Sunday massacre that occurred 1905 when an unarmed mob of workers and peasants demanded more food, social reforms and freedom but were answered with shots fired by the army near Tsar Nicholas' palace. This was represented in Orwell’s novel when the animals under Jones rule were forced to live lives of starvation and misery; this was similar to the countless lives that suffered under Nicholas' rule. When Russia joined World War I and lost the most men of any country, the people of Russia were outraged and began a series of rebellions against The Tsars control. The Tsar’s own generals left him and after that, Tsar Nicholas gave up his thr...
George Orwell’s foremost objective when composing Animal Farm was to depict the Russian Revolution of 1917 as an affair that produced a government more repressive, totalitarian and lethal than the one it replaced. Various components of the text including the setting, characters and plot were created intentionally to parallel key figures and events surrounding the communist territory of Russia during the revolution. Manor Farm – where the plot unfolds – is based on the country of Russia. The character of Mr Jones is a replica of Tsar Nicholas II, the final Russian emperor. Throughout Nicholas’ rule, the Russian people were faced with horrendous poverty and turmoil, just like the animals in Orwell’s novel lead lives of starvation and desire, as revealed when the creatures rebel against Mr Jones due to the fact that he hadn’t fed them in days (page 12)...
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This story Animal Farm by George Orwell is a novel about an animal revolution over an oppressive farmer. The irony in the story comes when the pigs turn into the very thing revolted against. They exhibit the same cruelty by treating the other animals the same or even worse than previous owners. This cycle of cruelty is shown in the Russian revolution by Joseph Stalin who is represented by Napoleon in the story. Cruelty in animal farm is shown by the human’s treatment of the animals, and the animal’s eventual treatment of each other and the ironic characteristics of the two.
Animal Farm is an excellent allegory of the period in Russian history between 1917 and 1944. George Orwell symbolizes the characters, places, objects, and events of the Russian revolution superbly. His symbols not only parallel those of the Russian revolution, but any revolution throughout history. The fable Animal Farm relates not only to the Russian Revolution, but also to any revolution where an absolute dictator emerges.
The allure of power and the difficulty of resisting said temptation has long been an issue for several rulers. In the metaphorical comparison of the Russian Revolution and Animal Farm by George Orwell, both face the temptation of power and ultimately fall to is corruption. Stalin and his animal representation, Napoleon, are proof that the quote “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” by Lord Acton rings true.
Author, George Orwell published his novel, Animal Farm in the mid 1940’s. it is a dark, “Fairy story”, describing an imaginary society of animals living in a farm, under miserable conditions, being treated badly by the farm’s owners, Mr & Mrs Jones. Their rebellion under its rule and the creation of a new system of living leading to that new systems’ eventual decline. Whilst this fable is based on Orwell’s view of political systems of a totalitarian nature at the time, in particular communism, it is equally indicative of many other political systems that seek to control its population and not allowing individual freedom under its authority.
Animal Farm is a fairy-tale with a much deeper topic of the Russian Revolution hidden in satires. It presents the unjust “equality” promised through communism. The book satirizes the dictatorship manipulation, and the citizen’s blatant innocent trust in their leaders. Orwell tells of communism and totalitarianism through the outside perspective, revealing the many faults of such societies.
In Animal Farm by George Orwell, the dominating pigs are the ultimate hypocrites. They implement many harsh rules for the farm, but continuously bend and break them according to their own needs. These actions lead to the breakdown of the animals’ supposed communal society and make evident how the dystopian elements in the novel lead to a controlling and dictatorial government. Through the ruling class of pigs, Orwell is able to provide commentary on the authoritarian governments of his time, as well as those in the future. Animal Farm by George Orwell uses the dystopian elements of societal control and the illusion of perfection to provide a critique of authoritarian governments and their tyrannical impact on society.
Gerhard L. Weinberg. "Hitler, Adolf." Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia. 2002. Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia. 25 Oct. http://encarta.msn.com
What George Orwell said in the book 1984 has a correlating textual essence of what he wrote in the story Animal Farm. Not only does George Orwell show his presumption of the negative effects of a communist state, but he also provides multiple themes that exploit the hardships and tyranny that is presented in a communist system due to megalomaniacs fulfillment of power. Animal Farm is also known to be an allegory that shows the true meaning behind the Russian Revolution, and how leaders manipulated people’s minds in order to abuse their power and serve for their own interests. In animal farm there are many symbolic characters that are represented by their role in the Russian Revolution. These characters include Mr. Jones who represents Czar
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