Napoleon- corruption, totalitarianism, exploitation

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

-trace Napoleon’s journey from a respected pig to the dictator of the farm.
-Orwell discusses the issues which stems from a dictator, one who is willing to exploit the rights of the animals, in order to achieve their own satisfaction.
-Initially, Napoleon embodies as the small proportion of animals - those who are literate, and are evidently seen to be intellectually superior, relative to the remaining animals on the farm.
-There is a clear sense of Napoleon accumulating power and authority, through un-democratic means, which is suggested and emphasised through the means on how Napoleon undergoes a completed psychosocial metamorphosis; in which he becomes exceedingly more
punitive and poses barbaric impositions onto the animals.

Question 2

PG 1

Answer 2

-filters through Old Major’s beliefs + creates idealisms which benefit him and the pig, rather than sticking to the foundation of Old Major’s ideals.

-first indication towards the inevitable fall of the farm, as there seems to be an imbalance and a sense of foreshadowing is created, which suggests the capability,
capacity and simplicity for an individual to change the rules, without any opposition.

-There’s a clear sense of stupidity which is portrayed through their apathy and their inability to comprehend what the pigs are saying; which suggests their intellectual
inferiority.

Question 3

PG 1 Quotes

Answer 3

‘The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others’

‘comrade’

‘with their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume leadership’

Question 4

PG 2

Answer 4

• Napoleon gains control and leadership through crowd control and the tactical use of rhetoric.
• Although he personally is not a great speaker, he relies on other means to persuade the animals – using the sheep to bleat, using Squealer as his mouthpiece and his propaganda.
• It is through these methods of which Napoleon asserts control and the factors which play a role in Napoleon’s rise to authority/leadership.

Question 5

PG 2 Quotes

Answer 5

‘But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?’

‘napoleon announced that there would be work on sunday afternoons as well.’ ‘strictly voluntary’ ‘rations reduced by hald’

Question 6

PG 3

Answer 6

• Napoleon presents tyranny and the collapse of communism
• He educates himself to surreptitiously assert control on the farm by manipulating the animals.
• The manipulative methods first come across as discrete/concealed, however, towards the end his methods become more flagrant as he disregards the commandments.

Question 7

PG 3 Quotes

Answer 7

‘It did not seem strange when the pigs… all carried whips in their trotters’

Question 8

Conclusion

Answer 8

• Orwell conveys the possibility to show how we all have the capacity to change, when presented with the correct opportunity.
• Through the character of Napoleon, Orwell is able to communicate the capability and capacity of certain individuals to exploit and abuse the remainder of society, in-order for them to obtain their own needs.
• Through this, there is a clear depiction that individuals have the tendency to assert themselves to a role of power/leadership, in face of an opportunity.
• Orwell projects his political views in that, by convention, when an individual has the aspiration to self- serve, it is certain the result would end up with a corrupt system.