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Vy Truong Ms. Larson College Writing 6 December 2011 Animal Farm Animal Farm is a satire written by George Orwell to criticize the Stalinist Russia and its communist government. The novel takes place on Manor Farm, a farm owned my Mr. Jones. At the beginning of the novel, a pig named Old Major declares that the animals should rebel against Mr. Jones in order to have a better life. According to Old Major, the farm should be a place where all animals are equal. The animals get control of the farm and change the farms name into Animal Farm. Although the idea of a farm controlled by animals first looks good, it eventually fails because of the leaders selfishness and desire for power. Throughout the story, Orwell uses characterization, conflict and plot, and symbolism to show the readers that the selfishness of the leaders can lead to the corruption and destruction of a whole government and society. Firstly, Orwell shows that the selfishness of the leaders can lead to the corruption and destruction of a whole government and society through characterization. The selfishness of the leaders is shown by the two characters Snowball and Napoleon, especially Napoleon. They take all the eggs and milk for themselves. The pig Squealer persuades all the animals to give them extra milk. The pigs food portions are always more than that of the other animals in the farm. The dogs prevent the animals from expressing their own opinions. The dogs also protect the pigs, especially Napoleon and Squealer, from the opposed animals. Napoleon is depicted as a very ambitious pig. He wants to be an absolute leader who possesses total power. Consequently, he eventually gets rid of Snowball. Later, he establishes himself as the number one leader of the

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whole Animal Farm. Every issue of the farm is under his control. The animals of the farm have to suffer a lot, and the quality of their lives is as bad as under Joness time: "They were always
cold and usually hungry as well" (Orwell 62). This is a vivid proof of how selfish leaders can

cause the suffering of the entire society. Secondly, Orwell also proves that the selfishness of the leaders will lead to the corruption and destruction of a whole government and society through conflict and plot. There are many different conflicts in Animal Farm: the animals versus humans, Snowball versus Napoleon and the animals versus Napoleon. The first and primary conflict of the novel, animals versus humans, represents the conflict between the working class and the leaders. In this conflict, the humans lose against the animals in the Battle of Cowshed and thus the farm is under the control of the animals. The conflict between the two pigs Snowball and Napoleon represents the difference of opinion between co-leaders of a society. In this clash, Napoleon wins and Snowball has to run away from the farm. The conflict between the two pigs Snowball and Napoleon represents the difference of opinion between co-leaders of a society. There is also the fight between Napoleon and the animals of the farm. Most of them do not agree with what Napoleon did, but they are all afraid of Napoleons dogs. Their lives are not happy as Napoleon has promised them. Therefore, they do not dare to express their opinions. They have no option but to live a miserable life. This directly proves how selfish leaders will cause the suffering of the entire society. Thirdly, Orwell also uses symbolism to show that the selfishness of the leaders will corrupt the whole society. There were many symbols in the novel. Napoleon is the symbol of a corrupt leader. The pig Squealer is the spokesperson of the pigs. The dogs are the bodyguard of the pigs. The two horses are the loyal workers. The motto "All men are enemies. All animals are
comrades" (Orwell 9) basically summarizes the whole idea of Animalism. All these symbols are used by Orwell to illustrate his point: the selfishness of the leaders can not lead to a good society.

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In conclusion, through the novel Animal Farm, George Orwell has shows that the selfishness of the leaders will lead to a corrupt society. The author has successfully presented the theme using characterization, mood and setting, and conflict and plot.