Official Essay

In the novel, Animal Farm by George Orwell corruption is a memorable idea. Corruption is defined in a dictatorship as taking power, abusing it and only using it for your own good. It is strongly shown by the farm leader Napolean and his team (the pigs). Corruption is a memorable idea as we can now understand what actually happened in part of the Russian revolution. The story informs us of situations and scenarios that occurred in the Russian revolution. Bribery is also a huge part of corruption and is again shown by Napolean. This is memorable as without Napolean’s smart mind for dishonesty and bribery the farm would not have been able to operate in the way he liked. The idea of corruption brings out the high emotions in all of the characters and it shows us exactly who they are. Corruption is threatening, violent and brings out anger in the story.

Corruption is a memorable idea in Animal Farm as we can now understand the ideas of the Russian revolution. Animal Farm informs us of some of the events that occurred throughout this time and tells us that most of the leaders were only in it for their own good and wealth. A key example of this is in the battle of the cowshed. This represents infighting during the Russian Civil War between 1917 and 1922. During the battle of the cowshed, Napolean is strangely reported as “missing”. It is then assumed that he purposely disappeared at this time so he did not have to fight. This represents exactly what Joseph Stalin did during the Russian civil war; hid, didn’t contribute and then claimed his victory. This is again memorable when Napolean uses the totalitarian dictator theory. This is when the dictator chooses to control all individuals freedom and lives; Napolean applies this to the farm animals lives throughout his ruling. Orwell implements that Napolean is alike Joseph Stalin and Snowball is alike Leon Trotsky, this relates to our world as there are still some leaders today who act like this.

Corruption is memorable throughout Animal Farm because without doing it Napolean would have not been a successful dictator. Napolean’s main techniques were bribery and dishonesty. These are both under the same definition of corruption and are very alike each other. This idea sticks out as the novel would have not been the same without the idea of corruption, bribery or dishonesty. Napolean would have not been able to implement his ideas and have ruled the farm like he did if weren’t for his techniques and smart mind. An example of this is the building of the windmill. Napolean implements ideas in the animals minds that they will have luxury once the windmill is complete. This is an example of bribery as the animals would not actually achieve luxury through the windmill. Napoleon’s smartness made the animals believe him. Orwell then places the idea in our mind that he would have only used the windmill for the pigs and his own good. This shows us that bribery was a strong point in Napoleon’s corruptive dictatorship throughout the book.

The last idea that shows us that corruption is memorable is the emotion that it brings out in all of the characters. Corruption is threatening, violent and will hardly ever bring out the good in someone. Corruption may bring out commitment friendship and persistence in Boxer, Clover and Benjamin but in most of the other characters it brings out anger, selfishness and hatred. This is strongly represented when Boxer is taken off the farm. It shows Clover and Benjamin’s love and friendship with him but it shows Napoleon’s cold and selfish heart towards the other animals on the farm. Orwell shows us that some people will do anything for money and if so fame. This idea is memorable in the real world and can often occur in our lives; people will put themselves before others and only think about their sake.

These three points show us all together that corruption is a memorable idea throughout Animal Farm. It relates to real life scenarios and past problems. It tells us the story would have not been nearly as successful without it. Lastly, it brings out emotion, anger and people can relate to it. This is why corruption is memorable in the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell.

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Hi Mikaela,

You have a good start here.

Focus on your sentence types. There are a couple areas where you could break up your sentences to make your essay read better. Try reading your essay out loud to hear where the natural pauses in your writing are.

Remember to follow the SEXY structure. Statement at the beginning saying what the paragraph is about. Explain what your statement means. Provide an eXample that relates to your explanation. Discuss Your opinion talking about the author’s purpose, connections to outside the novel and link back to your statement.

Don’t forget to keep bringing it back to the question. Describe your memorable idea and explain specifically why it is so memorable. What does Orwell do in his writing that makes it stand out. Think about including some of his writing techniques like personification, metaphor and hyperbole.

Good start here. Keep at it!

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