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Corruption in Orwell's 1984

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In George Orwell’s "Animal Farm," Napoleon shows how poor leadership can corrupt a society. Napoleon was a good leader at one point, but as soon as the power went to his head, he started to make poor decisions. Napoleon and his followers, that were pigs, thought that since they were the leaders in Animal Farm they were better than the other animals. When the leadership went to their heads, they decided the changes the rules. The new rule stated, “All the animals are equal, but some animals [Pigs] are more equal than others” (Orwell 90). Before the animals took the leadership to their heads, they were helpful and believed the all animals were together as one. They rejoiced and sang together decreeing that they were the best, “Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland, Beasts of every land and clime, Hearken to my joyful tidings Of the golden future time” (Orwell 12). Following leadership, Animal Farm shows a good deal of how greed can corrupt a society. Although the animals were level with each other, the Pigs felt the need to take all the supplies from the harvest. Since they were “higher” in rank and smarter than the other animals, the Pigs thought that they should have all the milk and apples to make them “smarter”; “Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. Milk and apples (this has been proven by Science, comrades) contains substances absolutely to the well-being of a pig. (Orwell 35-36) Also, when Napoleon was trading with other farms he tricks them into giving him more money. He uses two farms that are against each other and tries to see which farm can give him the most money. Napoleon had in the yard “a pile of timber which were stacked ten years earlier” (Orwell 77), was “well seasoned” (Orwell 77), and “both Mr. Pilkington and Mr. Frederick were anxious to buy it.” (Orwell 77) Napoleon is a prime example of how greediness goes straight to one’s head. When there is both lea

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