How does Orwell depict the relationship between Napoleon and the other animals in this extract?

        The destruction of the windmill brings about increased tension and anxiety among all the members of the farm. This is a key moment in the novel as Orwell shows that such is the extremity of the circumstance that it needs Napoleon to ‘race ahead of all of the rest of the animals’ to examine the damage; ironically Napoleon would rather have sent Squealer to sort out the situation but this was such an occasion that it needed Napoleon himself to decipher the problem to the animals. All the animals ‘stood gazing mournfully’ as ‘there it lay, the fruit of all their struggles leveled to its foundations.’ Even Napoleon was ‘unable to speak’; he clearly realised that something had to be done immediately. He ‘paced to and fro in silence and twitched from side to side’; clear signs of ‘immense mental activity’ were being shown. Suddenly he halted and silently made up his mind to find a scapegoat in the form of Snowball. Napoleon roars out in a thunderous voice branding Snowball as a traitor who is attempting to ‘avenge himself for his ignominious expulsion.’ Napoleon’s relationship with the other animals is clearly eminent here, as with incredible ease he brainwashes the animals into believing that it truly was Snowball who committed this attack. Orwell shows that the animals cannot think for themselves and that they have to relate to what Napoleon says. Moreover he goes further and awards the title of ‘Animal Hero, Second Class and a full bushel of apples to any one who was to bring Snowball to justice.’ Orwell leads one to wonder that such is the egotistical regime of Napoleon that even if an animal did find Snowball whether or not Napoleon would reward them as he promised.

        Napoleon has immense control over the animals and can adjust their feelings and actions almost at will. The fact that Napoleon found a pigs’ footprints and immediately affirmed them as being Snowball’s, reinstates his use of propaganda to make the animals follow his pint of view without argument. Other similar circumstances recorded in the novel showing the use of propaganda are through Squealer. He uses fear incorporated with propaganda in stating his view, and then using the technique of a rhetoric question; ‘Surely none of you wishes to see the return of Mr. Jones?’ This is a question which clearly does not need answering, hence instating control over the animals. After persuading the animals that this event was completely due to the jealousy of Snowball, Napoleon then makes them start rebuilding straight away, he declares it is to ‘teach this miserable traitor a lesson.’ Through the use of symbolism in the portrayal of the relationship between Napoleon and the animals, Orwell lets us see the harsh reality of a totalitarian state. It shows the nature of dictatorship in a society like Animal Farm, thus it neatly expresses the hypocrisy of those who preach equality.