In the novella Animal Farm, George Orwell explores the augmentative nature of power and its susceptibility to corruption through his fable allegory of the Russian Revolution. Orwell exposes his audience to the inevitable escalation of power, especially in socialist societies where the motives of individuals are tainted with a lust for power. Through the symbolic character of the pigs, in particular Napoleon who symbolizes Joseph Stalin, power is initially seized through the corruption of food rations amongst the animals. When Squealer, representing propaganda, notifies the animals that ‘milk and apples contain substances necessary to the wellbeing of pigs,’ dramatic irony is used to great effect. By reasoning that ‘it is for your sake that we drink the milk and eat those apples,’ the audience can see, as the animals cannot, that this is the turning point whereby the pig’s leadership gradually befalls to corruption. Power continues to be augmented up until the denouement of the novella where, ‘the creatures looked from pig to man, and from man to pig…but it was already impossible to say which was which.’ Though satirical in nature, this symbolism is demonstrative of the pigs’ ever-increasing demand for power, which inescapably resulted in a more corrupt government than the one it overthrew. Orwell urges his audience to pay cautious attention to, and be critical of; the decisions made by their leaders and ensure they too are not corrupted by an infatuating desire to gain political power and control.

Tom Lehrer’s satirical song ‘Who’s Next?’ similarly explores the augmentative nature of power and its susceptibility to corruption, however uses the context of the Cold War to portray the reality of the nuclear arms race. In contrast to Orwell, Lehrer’s use of first person narration highlights the incessant battle between countries to possess superior military power as is evident through the repetition of the rhetorical question, “Who’s next?” Consequently, Lehrer unites his audience as one, satirizing their apathy concerning the possibility of worldwide nuclear annihilation; making it known that humanity is capable of destroying itself. In addition, Lehrer uses the satirical tool of hyperbole in stating that, “we’ll try to stay serene and calm, when Alabama gets the bomb.” Whilst Orwell uses hyperbole to portray the corrupt nature of propaganda, Lehrer hyperbolizes the escalation of power and its capacity to be dispersed within states. In suggesting this, Lehrer exposes his audience to the absurdity of nations, becoming internally divided and ultimately urges them to become more conscious. Lehrer uses these satirical tools in accompaniment with a jaunty tune in an attempt to inspire people to not blindly adhere to the policies of their governments, and instead think critically about the effects of their government’s decisions on the rest of the world.

Moreover, both George Orwell’s Animal Farm and Tom Lehrer’s Who’s Next?, explore societies tendency to dismiss the moral principles given to them. Where Orwell exposes his audience to the inconsistencies of equality by socialist governments, Lehrer underlines the dismissal of personal beliefs, particularly faith, in capitalist governments. As the story of Animal Farm progresses, the seven commandments of Animalism are slowly but surely changed to accommodate the self-interest of the pigs. The perversion of the foundational commandment, ‘All animals are equal,’ to the paradoxical but effective ‘All animals are equal but some are more equal than others,’ is verbal irony at its finest. The impossibility of something being ‘more equal’ shocks the audience into attention and through its absurdity highlights the reality of the dictatorship regime on the farm. The dismissal of moral principles by society is also clear in Lehrer’s satirical song ‘Who’s Next?’ In saying that ‘the Lord is our shepherd…but just in case, we better get a bomb,’ Lehrer satirises Israel’s participation in the nuclear arms race. The irony of this statement, that countries with strong religious affiliations acceptingly dismiss their own teachings, is satirical in nature as Lehrer urges his audience to hold true to their personal beliefs and moral principles, or otherwise risk being unwillingly involved in conflict. Similarly, Orwell pushes for society to question and critisise the inconsistencies of the policies enforced by their leaders.