Kamat 1!
Ayush Kamat
Ms. Shultz
Period 6
December 8th, 2014
Two Legs Bad, Four Legs: Just as Bad
Throughout the course of human history, power has been taken and held, used and abused, and has always corrupted. A single look at antiquity will convince one that power is a seductive concept that brings to bear the predatory nature present deep inside all humans. These characteristics allow power to corrupt the individuals who attain it or want to attain it, and compels the latter to do anything to attain it. At the same time, power allows the individuals with power to take advantage of the vulnerable populace that trusts them with their fate. By doing so, the corrupted individuals crush the hope and idealism within the population, creating an environment where in which their power goes unchallenged. Therefore, while power is a device for enacting the predatory nature of human existence, people get it and keep it through manipulating others and use it to crush the hope and idealism within a vulnerable populace.
Power brings out the worst in all people; a corrupting force that turns a harmless individual into a dangerous predator that preys on the weak for self-benefit. This predatory nature of power is one of the central ideas of Animal Farm, an allegorical novella by George
Orwell. In it, Napoleon, an intelligent Berkshire boar allegory of Joseph Stalin, preys on the generally weak-minded animal community by manipulating the law to benefit him at the expense of the others. Among the manipulated animals is Boxer, a horse who represents a foolish working class, who, when confronted by Napoleon’s blatant attempt to murder him, chooses to believe
Kamat 2! that “It must be due to some fault in [the animals].” and that “The solution…is to work harder
(85)”. Here it can be seen the extent of Napoleon’s desire to prey on the weak. Because Boxer is intellectually inferior to him and the pigs, they feel that they can take advantage of him, and in his naivety, he won’t notice. By preying on the intellectually weak, the pigs showcase the predatory nature of power, and consolidate power for themselves.
To enact the predatory nature of power, the pigs even go so far as to actually murder
Boxer. By taking advantage of the less intelligent animal populace, the pigs succeed in “taking
Boxer to the [glue factory] (122)”. In doing so, the pigs eliminate Boxer, a weak liability to the
Animal Farm workforce, which, in other words, means they would rather murder Boxer then let him die peacefully on the farm. This train of thought brings into focus the truly predatory nature of power, and it’s heinous effect on the wielder. By driving the pigs to the point where murder is more enticing then keeping a ‘liability’, the predatory nature of power is fully realized.
One cannot deny that power has been recurring theme throughout human existence.
People manipulate others to get power. This theme is exemplified in Animal Farm when
Napoleon desires power so strongly that he declares that “the Sunday-morning Meetings would come to an end (54)”. By ending the animals only channel of input, Napoleon creates an environment in which his power goes unchecked. Without the animals’ opinions being factored in, the management of Animal Farm rests entirely on the judgement of Napoleon. Here, quite clearly, is shown the allure of power. With a single taste, Napoleon wants the entire thing. To get his way, he manipulates the system of government instituted on Animal Farm to be more friendly to a
