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The theme of leadership and corruption in animal farms
Animal farm leadership and corruption
Animal farm leadership and corruption
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“The work of teaching and organizing…fell naturally upon the pigs who were generally recognized as being the cleverest of the animals” (Orwell,9) , two of them being Napoleon and Snowball. But who posed to be the most prominent leader in Animal Farm? Was it Napoleon who was a large fierce-looking Berkshire boar, or Snowball who was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon and quick with his speech? With both wanting to gain power, Napoleon and Snowball used similar tactics to persuade their comrades in Animal Farm, but Snowball was a better and worthier leader than Napoleon.
In the beginning of Animal Farm, Napoleon and Snowball “held secret meetings in the barn and expounded the principles of Animalism to the others” (Orwell, 10). In fact, this
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To begin with, Snowball organized numerous Animal Committees that allowed the animals, for example, learn how to read and write. “Egg Production Committee…Wild Comrades’ Re-education Committee…Clean Tails…[and] Whiter Wool Movement” (Orwell, 20), for instance was made into reality from Snowball’s ideas. This characterize Snowball as being a pig who takes responsibility of others and not limited to himself. Not only did Snowball organized the Animal Committees but also, coordinated the building of the windmill for the farm. The windmill was essential for the farm because it could operate a dynamo and supply the acreage that the animals owned electrical power. Snowball used three books to attain the knowledge of how to construct the windmill. Snowball, lastly, created a new maxim; “[four] legs good, two legs bad” (Orwell, 21). This was made, particularly to the animals who were the opposite of clever and Snowball helped them understand that this was containing the essential principle of Animalism. The maxim is an example of a propaganda technique called bandwagon and slogan. Many sheep bleated it since it was easy to remember, causing Snowball’s tactic to be
Appearing for a brief time in Animal Farm, Snowball represents Trotsky, the Marxist revolutionary and Lenin’s right hand man. After the death of Lenin, Trotsky was eligible to succeed Lenin and was “the favorite candidate because he was best known” (English). Able to execute brilliant speeches, Trotsky proved to be an undoubtedly promising candidate that, Unlike Stalin, showed concern for the future of the Soviet Union and longed to spread the Revolution to other nations. Likewise, Snowball’s intentions are pure and for the benefit of the working class. Both Trotsky and Snowball demonstrate great determination to further the prosperity of
When Snowball says “A vote for me is a vote for the three day week” he uses propaganda to convince the other animals to side with him. The type of propaganda he uses in this promise is bandwagon. Obviously, everyone on the farm wants to work less so by promising a three day week Snowball appeals to the animals greatly. No one wants to be left out of working less, so after Snowball makes his speech the majority of animals side with him.
He was unselfish, was a great planner and a resolver, and he was friendly, smart and sociable. Snowball was proven to be a great planner and resolver when he took over the planning for the farm and led them to the best year of harvest that they had ever had, even with Jones as a leader. Overall, Snowball was a good leader, but he did have some faults in his leadership style too. His style of leading was poor in the way that he was a quitter in the way that he didn’t come back to the farm to help the other animals from Napoleon's dictating leadership. Also in the ways that he was a lier in the way he promised that he/they would never be like the humans, and he shot the gun as a remembrance of the Battle of Cowshed and gave brass metals, and how he did put the pigs in front of all the other animals on the farm. Snowball was ultimately exiled due to Napoleon and his power struggle. They didn’t see eye to eye on much at all, so Napoleon had him kicked off the farm for good since he isn't okay with his teachings and ideas. Napoleon becomes a dictator of the farm when Snowball is
After the rebellion on Animal Farm and the increasing need for one leader Snowball developed a plan to help with his debate. Snowball wanted to help his society grow and get better. So Snowball created the windmill plan for animal farm to bring electricity, and a much needed harvesting help. On Leon’s side of the society he worked on peace as mentioned above along with the rules that were made for the rest of the society and Leon to follow. Snowball created the seven commandments for the animals to follow, he didn’t have to follow these rules indefinitely just look like your following them. Leon was not incorporated in making the rules, he was just called to abide by them instead. That being one of the things that separates snowball and Leon from each other. Leon’s influence to the society also was when he “built up the Red Army which prevailed against the White Russian forces in the Civil War. “ (Leon Trotsky, 1) which was different from the rebellion Snowball faced because of the forces of everyone on the farm doing what they needed to prevail through no one’s
George Orwell, writer of the book Animal Farm captures important aspects of the Russian Revolution and portrays them in a humorous and more understandable way. Each animal represents an important person or event that happened during this time. Snowball is a pig that lives on Mr. Jones farm who is enthralled at the idea of a Revolution and one of the main animals to help get it going. The inspiration for his character was from important revolutionist, Leon Trotsky. Snowball was modeled after him, showing most of his character trails and interest. Most of the people and events that look place throughout Trotsky’s life are also incorporated in Snowball’s life. Orwell’s imagination ran wild as he wrote this memorable story so that he might warn the people of Russia for what was to come. Snowball and Leon are the same in every way from what they believed to their personality.
Napoleon, the chief pig, eventually used force to carry out his orders in Animal Farm. His attack dogs drove Snowball away, and inspired the fear necessary to gain total control of the Farm, as these beasts left the animals “… too amazed and frightened to speak.” His foresight to train these dogs, and his use of force, slowly move Animal Farm away from its original utopian equality and more towards Napoleon’s totalitarian ideas.
Snowball and Napoleon held a great deal of contrast between the way they each ruled over “Animal Farm/Manor Farm.” The only thing he did lack, was the ability of pursuasion to the other animals. Snowball had all the right ideas, all to better the whole farm. Napoleon, on the other hand, had a knack for stealing other animals’ ideas, then telling the rest it was his and getting credit for it. His ideas only seemed to benefit the pigs and not the animals. It was this, that led to the crumbling of the farm. Napoleons obsession with becoming the ruler is what got Snowball nearly killed by the dogs...in a plot made by Napoleon. Which then produced a whole new rebellion not of the animals to the humans, but of the animals to the pigs. So for these reasons, Snowball showed better qualities for leadership than Napoleon because he wasn’t selfish and thought about the future of “Animal Farm.” First, the dominated farm animals viewed Napoleon and Snowball differently at different times throughout the book. The way the animals reacted to each leader brought upon new problems of the farm. The animals respected Snowball, and believed that his teachings were all true and had a good cause. Although Snowball and Napoleon had superior qualities leadership, it was clearly Snowball who had the better qualities for running a farm. Under Snowballs’ rule, the animals were generally content with what was going on and were all for it if it was to better the farm. It was obvious that Napoleon had the better half of getting his own way on the farm. However, the animals had some problems with Napoleon but they didn’t know haw to express their feelings and show him that they didn’t like the way he ran things. It was the animals’ ignorance that helped keep Napoleon in rule for as long as it was. The responses were so different between the animals that it must have been a drastic change between Snowball and Napoleon.
By first using propaganda to persuade the animals that Snowball was an enemy, Napoleon’s rise to power began. Snowball was Napoleon’s only real threat to assuming leadership. In the story, the two pigs always disagreed with each other. The other animals were divided equally in supporting either Snowball or Napoleon. By spreading the rumor that Snowball was a traitor, Napoleon was able to drive Snowball from the farm and become the leader of Animal Farm with no one to oppose him. Napoleon, with the help of Squealer, turned all the animals against Snowball. Squealer, who was a masterful manipulator, played an important part in convincing the animals that Snowball was an enemy. Naming Snowball as a “traitor”, Squealer played on the animals’ fear of humans and told them that Snowball had been a spy for the humans. The animals believed Squealer and thought that Snowball was only trouble on the farm. They later suspected that S...
First of all, Napoleon is a huge Berkshire boar and he clearly is the most powerful of all the animals. He was able to take complete leadership of the farm because he secretly trained the dogs to attack Snowball. George Orwell writes, “ ‘Never mind the milk, comrades!’ cried Napoleon, placing himself in front of the buckets. ‘That will be attended to, the harvest is more important’ (817). Napoleon is quite demanding none of the animal’s even question his authority because they know that he has more control than any other animal. Throughout the novel Orwell has many quotes that describe Napoleon as a leader, “ ‘long live Comrade Napoleon’ ” (846). All the animals on the farm (no matter what Napoleon did to them) would treat him as a powerful leader and whatever he said they would do. Often Orwell stirs up controversy about the rebellion, “ ‘forward in the name of the rebellion. ‘Long live Animal farm!’ ‘Long live Comrade Napoleon!’ ‘Napoleon is always right.’ Those were his very last words, comrades’ ” (849). Squealer’s letting everyone know that no matter what happens to Animal Farm, just remember that Napoleon was an outstanding leader most of the time. Napoleon was an outstanding leader and contributor to Animal Farm without his power the farm would have collapsed earlier.
Snowball the mirror image of Leon Trotsky, in all except appearance is the most promising leader of Animal Farm. Like Trotsky, Snowball is a kind ruler who is best interested in the prosperity and happiness of his ?comrades?. Snowball brought literacy and equality to Animal Farm through his teachings, and the writing of the Seven Commandments. Another way in which Snowball is similar to Trotsky is his role in the Battle of the Cowshed, where he organized the farms defenses and was the key to victory. Much like when Leon Trotsky organized the Red Army. Both Snowball and Trotsky were excellent public speakers and could win a crowds favor easily. ?Snowball was a more vivacious pig than Napoleon, quicker in speech and more inventive, but was not considered to have the same ...
Surrounding the premise of the barn were a whole army of animals. Walking up to the barn was a pig that was old but could still be recognized. “Where is Napoleon, the dogs and the other pi….” Snowball never realized until now that the farm house was burned down and all the new advancements to the farm. “Well…. I guess I didn’t need to waste 12 years of gathering an army to take Napoleon and all of them down, when I’m guessing that you all took care of them…” All of the animals finally gathered in front of the old Snowball and Snowball cleared his throat, “Today, I will be your leader, but I will make this place a democracy! Where all animals are free to do whatever and that they get a right to vote!” The animals didn’t seem to disagree when they gave a cheer in response. After that, England’s animals left their farms and went to the Animal farm. Where they all made a large civilization that was remember for centuries. For it was the first civilization of
The relationship surrounding Snowball and Napoleon in George Orwell's Animal Farm tends to be on rocky grounds. Snowball, a clever pig, tends to be loyal, brave, and outgoing. These are just a few excellent qualities of a leader. Napoleon, a boar, on the other hand, is quite frankly rude, wretched, and full of greed. Both have had their share of leadership on the farm, yet both have had their share of conflict as well.
From the death of Old Major, Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer replaced him. At first things started off pretty well; the harvest was very good the first year and the reading and writing system had helped some, but had limited success on others. In time, the leaders of animal farm started to have mixed feelings. Snowball and Napoleon were in constant disagreement. An important meeting that was held ended with an astonishing outcome. One decision that was made was concerning the windmill project and the most important decision made was who would be the head animal. Snowball and Napoleon each gave their input on what needs to be done around the farm. “Snowball stood up and, though occasionally interrupted by bleating from the sheep, set forth his reasons for advocating the building of the windmill. Then Napoleon stood up to reply. He said ver quietly that the windmill was a nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it” (57).
The corrupting influence of power on Animal Farm creates two very different characters, Snowball and Napoleon. Even though Snowball, who is the lively and friendly pig, and Napoleon who is the fierce, cruel boar, they have their similarities. They want to become the leaders of Animal Farm, they agree on the seven commandments and Animalism, and they are masters of convincing and persuasion. Although most characters are not perfectly similar or polar opposites, it is important to know that the end of Animal Farm may have been quite similar if it had ended with Snowball as the leader.
Snowball, who is the original inventor of the windmill, wanted it to ease the workload off of the animal’s shoulders. However, Napoleon, uses the windmill as support from the animals, this helps him establish his dictator persona. “But of all their controversies, none was so bitter as the one that took place over the windmill” (Orwell 48). The windmill then became the center of controversy. Even though Snowball is legitimately the correct one to be trusted and what he is saying is true, the animals still support Napoleon because they are manipulated by his words. Napoleon uses Snowball as a scapegoat for the windmill’s first destruction, this causes the animals to still believe in him. This brings him to