Napoleon’s best advantages were that he came from a back line of pigs, which he was. As pigs have been recognized on the farm to be
the smartest of all animals, intended that the other animals believed that they were being treated in the best way possible and that they have complete trust that nothing terrible could happen under his commands.
As being pigs, they are said to be brainworkers so rest is needed so they can be at there best. This slots Napoleon in the position he needed to be in order for him to take complete authority on the farm.
Some early clues that have been given to show Napoleons intension of becoming absolute leader are that he had taken a bundle of puppies to educate. It is clearly stated, ‘As soon as they were weaned, Napoleon took them away from their mothers, saying that he will make himself responsible for their education’. Another clue was given when Snowball was giving his speech about his ideas on making field drains, silage and basic slag, Napoleon said that he was deliberately wasting his time and that Snowball would have nothing left. It reads clearly in the text, ‘Napoleon produced no schemes of his own, but said quietly that Snowball would come to nothing, and seemed to be biding his time’. This shows that Napoleon is waiting for a good chance to become leader, only if he gets Snowball out of his way.
Napoleon goes around the farm to settle a group, which are formally the pigs, into a position, which has great authority over the other animals. This shows the intention of Napoleon wanting to become a dictator. Napoleon uses a pig named Squealer who is fantastic at giving speeches to other animals and making them believe what Napoleon wanted them to believe. It had been said by the others that Squealer could a turn a fib to the truth and vice versa, for instance, ‘The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white’.
If an elite member of the farm were to disagree and object on the coming affairs, they would surely be chased away from the farm and no longer would be identified as, ‘Comrade’. This had sadly fallen on top of Snowball, who disagreed with napoleons ideas, similarly Napoleon did the same but, he had dogs which chased him out the farm from the middle of his speech. It clearly states, ‘By the time he had finished speaking, there was no doubt as to which way the vote would go…Then he put on an extra spurt and, with a few inches to spare, he slipped through a hole in the hedge and was seen no more’.
Napoleon had used extreme violence to clasp and maintain authority on the farm he did several things such as setting a prize for an animal who murders Snowball. They were to be rewarded animal hero second class and a bunch of apples, or a full bushel to whom seizes him alive. Napoleon also slaughtered any animals that were caught working secretly for Snowball. He made the animals confess and then were slain on the spot. This made the other animals frightened of him. In a way the animals thought that it was all for their benefit.
Napoleon goes about awarding himself once having gained absolute power more and more privileges for himself, as now he is known as being their leader and as the animals know that leaders need great comfort they let him have it. One of the privileges he took was, when he came out in public he had his dogs with him. He also had a black cockerel, which crocked just before he spoke and after he had finished. He had his own room away from the other pigs; he also had his meals alone served by two dogs.
Napoleons way of life is infinitely superior to even the elite group of pigs on the farm because unlike the other pigs he gets his own room guarded by four dogs on each corner of the bed. The other pigs share a room without guards. Napoleon eats separate from the other pigs, in better dishes and a food taster in case the food had been poisoned, whereas the other pigs don’t. If the other pigs where to agree on one
thing and Napoleon on another, they would have to agree with Napoleon. These are just one of the things which made Napoleon far superior than the other animals. The animals on the farm did not try to resist Napoleons actions in the beginning because they were to foolish to think for themselves. They believed Napoleon when he said they were getting richer whereas they weren’t. When the animals such as clover, began to think about what was really going on, it was to late because Napoleon had gained much power. If the animals thought they could stand up for themselves they sat back down because it was useless. Boxer was one of the animals that got outwitted by Napoleon, he created his own motto, which went, ‘Napoleon is always right’. This proves that some of the animals fell for Napoleons lies.
Napoleon uses Squealer to propagate news and ideas to the other animals. The word propaganda means, something written or spoken by someone to make him or her believe what you want him or her to believe. This was very important for Napoleon because in order for him to become supreme ruler he need to make the animals have trust in him. Squealer was a good propagandist because he used, repetition, rhetorical questions, assertion and deceitfulness in his speeches.
George Orwell was trying to convey a message that if a person were to preserve great power, they would become corrupt. He was also trying to show Napoleons characteristics in reality, and how people got treated with cruelty.
