‘Power lacks moral and principle, it only has interests’-Horacio. George Orwell effectively uses Napoleon’s despotic character to illustrate how Stalin employed cunning and unfair methods to gain and abuse power. This is acknowledged as a powerful allegory of fascism and communism. This is a harrowing fable of fictional dystopia that critiques the socialist philosophy and depicts how a desperate society can be turned into a terrorizing and traumatizing environment.
George Orwell depicts Napoleon as a tyrant and an authoritarian, who uses fear to control the farm animals. Clearly, Old Major, a Marxist vision inspired Napoleon not to fight against Jones, but to seize the opportunity to establish himself as a dictator. Throughout the novel, Napoleon’s method of ‘getting his own way’ involves a combination of propaganda and terror that none of the animals can defy. Orwell also tells us that Napoleon was not much of a talker but a fierce-looking Berkshire boar, suggesting that he may use aggression and violence to get what he wants. Similarly, Stalin terrorized the proletariats.
The manner in which Napoleon makes a point during a meeting carries a threat. A piece of evidence from the text is when the author clearly states, ‘he said very quietly that the windmill was nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it. And promptly sat down again.’ The technique to convey this line is auditory imagery. The sense of threat when Napoleon speaks is ‘quietly’ is sinister and menacing. There is a hint that he is planning something and does not need to raise his voice. Napoleon also frightens the animals by misusing his power and bringing in executions.it is evidently stated in the text, ‘and so the tale of confessions and executions went on until there was a pile of a corpse lying before Napoleon’s feet and the air was heavy with the smell of blood.’ The author uses visual imagery to convey symbolism.
The author paints a glorious image of nefarious macabre events. napoleon is certainly the villain of the animal farm. Though he seems like any other animal before the rebellion, it not take him long to establish his reign of terror. The reader would relate to Stalin who also enforced executions, which forced people to confess crimes that they had not committed to protecting their families from persecution. The reader also realizes what an autocratic and domineering character Napoleon was. He demanded obedience from the animals and sentenced a few to death. The reader sympathizes towards the animals who cower in fear.
The author further mentions how Napoleon begins to consolidate his power on the farm. This clearly shows he was an authoritarian dictator and was an ostentatious totalitarian
Clear evidence of this from the text is when the author states, ‘they were puppies who Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately’. The technique used to convey this line is foreshadowing. As soon as the nine puppies were weaned Napoleon took them away from their mother and said that he’d be responsible for their education. He took them away into some loft and rose them in isolation until the rest of the farm forgot their existence. This secret enforcement will allow Napoleon to be the supreme leader of all the animals. Although Napoleon was a political figure, he hardly made public appearances, he was rarely seen, and when he was he was always seen with a retune of dogs. He also enforced the law of addressing him formally.
Eg: ‘father of all, our leader comrade Napoleon’. This evoked a sense of fear in the minds of the animals. Evidence of this is, ‘out came Napoleon himself, majestically upright, casting haughty glances, with his dogs gamboling around him’. The transformation from a common animal to the leader of Manor farm was complete. His power evolves through these shreds of evidence moving closer to his final dictatorial, whip-bearing image. On reading this the reader understands that power corrupt and Napoleon represented a tyrannous power hunger authoritarian.
Throughout the novel, Napoleon is portrayed as a dictator who took advantage of his position and power. By the end of the novel, most of the commandments have been altered. Napoleon and the other pigs learn to walk on two legs, carry whips, drink alcohol and play cards. napoleon is now nothing like Mr. Jones, he is much worse, akin Stalin who was worse than Tsar Nicholas 2. The commandment, ‘all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others’ reflects lust for power and highlights that oppression is impossible to escape.
