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George Orwell's Animal Farm is a powerful allegorical novel that sheds light on the corrupting influence of power and the propensity of individuals, or in this case, animals, to become what they despise. The last sentence of the book, "The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which," resonates profoundly throughout the narrative. This essay delves into the multifaceted ways in which the pigs on Animal Farm progressively morph into the very humans they initially rebelled against, highlighting their manipulation of language, violation of their own commandments, and their oppressive rule over the other animals.
From the outset, it is evident that the pigs' revolutionary ideals begin to erode.
The Seven Commandments, originally formulated to establish equality among all animals and to condemn anything human as an enemy, are gradually abandoned. The first deviation occurs when the pigs justify their appropriation of the milk, claiming it is essential for their well-being.
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Their hypocrisy is further exposed when they train a pack of puppies to become ferocious enforcers, subsequently using them to eliminate Snowball and consolidate Napoleon's tyrannical rule.
Squealer, a persuasive propagandist, manipulates the animals into believing that the pigs deserve special privileges due to their apparent hard work. Despite the pigs' initial commitment to a classless society, they collude with humans for mutual benefit, directly contradicting their own commandment that labeled humans as enemies.
Napoleon's desire to construct the windmill, which he attributes to himself and falsely accuses Snowball of stealing the idea, underscores the pigs' pursuit of human-like comforts and luxuries.
As the story unfolds, the pigs' actions increasingly mirror those of their former oppressor, Mr. Jones. They engage in vices such as excessive drinking and unrestrained greed, mirroring Jones' own flaws. Moreover, Napoleon's ruthless rule surpasses Jones' cruelty, as he employs tactics like blaming the "phantom" Snowball for any hardships endured by the animals.
What is most disturbingly human about the pigs is their manipulation of language, which serves as a powerful tool to control the animals. They employ propaganda, emotive language, and meaningless doubletalk to manipulate not only the animals' behavior but also the very essence of history itself. This distortion of reality challenges the fundamental nature of truth and facts. Alongside linguistic manipulation, the pigs maintain control through the menacing presence of Napoleon's vicious pack of trained dogs, symbolizing the threat of brute force.
The closing sentence of Animal Farm underscores a profound revelation: humans and animals are not inherently distinct, for power and corruption can corrupt any living being. The pigs, once the champions of equality and liberation, succumb to the allure of power and gradually transform into the very oppressors they once rebelled against. In the end, the boundary between pigs and humans blurs to the point of indistinguishability.
In conclusion, George Orwell's Animal Farm serves as a stark warning about the corrupting influence of power and the human propensity to become what they despise. Through the transformation of the pigs, Orwell illustrates how noble ideals can be eroded, and oppressive regimes can emerge. The pigs' manipulation of language, abandonment of their own commandments, and oppressive rule over the other animals exemplify the insidious nature of power. The closing sentence of the book reinforces the chilling message that the line between oppressor and oppressed can blur to the point of non-existence, demonstrating that absolute power corrupts absolutely, regardless of the species.
The Transformation of Pigs in "Animal Farm". (2016, Jun 24). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-irony-in-george-orwells-animal-farm-essay
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