The Role of Power and Corruption in Animal Farm by George Orwell (1945)

Expanding the Roles:
Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegorical novella that critiques the Russian Revolution and the rise of totalitarian regimes. The story follows a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner, only to have a new, equally oppressive government rise in its place. The novel explores the corrupting influence of power, the dangers of political manipulation, and the failure of revolutions to deliver true equality. For literature students, Animal Farm is a concise yet profound examination of the dynamics of power and oppression.

• Power and the Corruption of Leadership:
  The pigs in Animal Farm initially champion equality but quickly become as corrupt as the humans they replaced. Students can explore how Orwell uses the pigs’ gradual assumption of power to show the inherent corruptibility of leadership and the dangers of absolute authority.

• Propaganda and Political Manipulation:
  Orwell critiques the use of propaganda in shaping public perception and justifying corruption. Literature students can analyze how figures like Squealer manipulate language to control the animals’ thoughts and maintain the pigs’ hold on power.

What We Learn:
Animal Farm offers literature students a sharp critique of political systems and the corrupting effects of power. The novella encourages reflection on the cyclical nature of oppression and the role of propaganda in maintaining control over the masses.