Power and Possession in Animal Farm by George Orwell
Have you ever felt that rush of excitement when you can do whateveryou want without thinking of the consequences? If so, wasn’t it one ofthe greatest feelings you’ve ever felt? The feelings that describe usthat we are leaders, that we have followers and our every move areimportant to the people around us? Power is the one possession thateveryone desires. It lets you feel that one can do anything he or shewants without the consequences of his or her actions. In GeorgeOrwell’s illuminating fable of “Animal Farm,” he describes how a pignamed Napoleon takes over an entire farm. Napoleon, with his sly groupof trustworthy pigs, maintains power and takes over “Manor Farm” byusing the concepts of intimidation, fear, and persuasion.
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Intimidation is a malicious, yet intelligent way to gather up peopleto join a force. By intimidating someone, one would be too frightenedto stand up for his or her self. Thus, he or she would have no otherchoice but to go along with the event of intimidation. In Napoleon’scase, he uses intimidation by having a group of dogs to stand as hisbodyguard.
“Silent and terrified, the animals crept back into the barn. In amoment the dogs came bounding back. At first no one had been able toimagine where these creature came from, but the problem was soonsolved: they were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from theirmothers and reared privately. Though not yet full grown, they werehuge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves. They kept close toNapoleon.” (Orwell 68).
This shows that the ferocious dogs intimidate the silent and terrifiedanimals. Thus, when the animals are intimidated, they will followNapoleon’…
…eon work his way to thepeak of class. Since Squealer follows Napoleon’s orders, he has helpedhim persuade the animals to side with Napoleon instead of Snowball forit is said that Snowball had sided with Jones. So in the end,intimidation, fear, and persuasion combined have overcome every move,and knowledge of the animals.
In addition to Napoleon’s tactics to maintaining power, the innocentanimals of Manor Farm tricked without any precaution, are undercontrol of the great comrade Napoleon. Intimidation, by the use ofdogs and torture has compelled the animals to undergo his powers. Fearfrom Jones has frightened them to give up leisure time to worktogether and rethink a way to overcome humans. Furthermore,persuasion, with the help of the spectacular Squealer has played atrick in the minds of many helpless, and oblivious animals of ManorFarm.
