Corruption of Pigs, Leaders and Modern Day Life
Corruption is a provoking issue for many societies around the world, impacting multiple generations and at various degrees. Corruption is defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary as, ‘dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people’. It is displayed by Hitler in the Holocaust, George Orwell’s book Animal Farm, and even in our modern day. George Orwell conveys a powerful message that applies to all three situations, supporting Orwell’s compelling message. Orwell’s political message about corruption of the government and leaders abuse of power is depicted in the way Hitler led Germany, the current U.S. government and George Orwell’s portrayal of the Russian Revolution in Animal Farm.
There are many examples of people taking advantage of power in our country today. In a New York Times Article titled “ "Officials Push to Bolster Law on Wiretapping", author Charlie Savage informs readers of the government’s new push for an increase in surveillance. Recently, phone companies and networks have updated their software, causing it to be additionally difficult for the government to spy on them and take the customers personal information(Savage 1). As the U.S. government continues to wiretap and collect information from large phone carriers such as AT&T and Verizon(Savage 1), it will become an extreme and impactful invasion of privacy. This push will extend the laws to companies like Gmail, Facebook and Skype(Savage 2). Savage paraphrases Valerie E. Caproni’s (FBI spokesperson) comment at the FBI’s general counsel “...the government was seeking only to prevent its surveillance power from eroding”(Savage 2). The government also wastes money on fixing technical problems that occur with access to data provided from telecom companies(Savage 2). Civil liberty groups have spoken out about the government’s abuse and their willingness to expand laws on wiretapping(Savage 3). These laws violate privacy of all American citizens and represent radical actions that the American government has worked in the past to prevent.
These examples show that the government's abuse of power has developed into an immense problem within our nation causing them to attain more power than ever before. Large companies and their customers are being manipulated by the government, these actions should be stopped, instead lawmakers are becoming increasingly greedy in wanting more information. Savage shows how the government has been confusing the difference between an invasion of American citizens’ privacy and terrorism prevention act. The government has secured more power than ever before. This law that legalized wiretapping causes Washington to seem increasingly power hungry and ruthless. As lawmakers attempt to increase surveillance in order to prevent terrorism, they are violating the privacy of American citizens in the process. The expansion of laws is similar to the way the pigs in Animal Farm changed the commandments and how many cruel leaders have become dictators throughout history such as Adolf Hitler. If this continues our lives will no longer have any privacy .
Adolf Hitler is one example of a leader who was corrupted by power. Hitler’s actions were immoral and unjust and are becoming more extreme as he gained more power. An example of this is how he enforced the Nuremberg laws “It prohibited marriages and extramarital intercourse between Jews and citizens of ‘German related blood’”(Hilberg 29). This quote shows how Hitler’s harsh prejudice affected the entire European nation. The unfairness Hitler brought to Germany and other nations throughout Europe was brutal and further proves Orwell’s theory of the corruption of leaders.
Another example of Hitler’s corruption is his path to antisemitism. It is unclear when Hitler became an antisemite(Gutman). However, Hitler’s mother was treated by a Jewish doctor in 1907 before she died(Gutman). This may have been the beginnings of his psychotic concepts. Hitler was then an orphan and moved to Vienna in 1908, where anti semitism was a popular belief(Gutman). “In Hitler's own words, the Vienna period of his life was formative and decisive in shaping his views, and especially his concept of the Jews”(Gutman). After he served in the Bavarian army in WWI he decided to go into politics to fight the Jews(Gutman). He published a political document that the final goal of anti semitism was “‘the total removal of the Jews’”(Gutman). There are theories that Hitler may have been mentally ill, but attaining full power over the german government in 1933; when he was appointed chancellor could have only enhanced his insanity and caused him to make rash and ludicrous decisions. Having the power made Hitler think that he could do whatever he wanted and as his ego grew he became a more dangerous man.
A third example of how Hitler became corrupt is Nazisim, a belief he followed and spread. This belief contradicts greatly with the beliefs of George Orwell. Orwell believed that all leaders, when given power, would become corrupt, Hitler shows this in the examples above. Nazism is an abbreviation for National Socialism. “Nazis synthesized a variety of strands of extremist political thought that had developed in Germany and Austria in the late nineteenth century”(Darity). This quote explains what Nazism is and is important in order to compare and contrast the difference between Hitler’s beliefs and George Orwell’s. Another important view is Martin Niemoller the, who did not approve of Hitler’s actions and fought to spread peace, he also wrote a famous poem, “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”(Holocaust par.3). This quote accurately explains Hitler’s actions throughout the Holocaust and the horrible things he did. This quote also represents how Hitler affected so many lives and partially due to the fact that other european people did not speak up for the European Jewish community. Hitler constantly seeking power and the more power he received the more corrupt he became. These examples show that Orwell was correct in his theory that power corrupts leaders. They also relate to today’s government, the Russian Revolution as depicted in George Orwell’s Animal Farm and Hitler. This situation is similar to what is happening in our country today and how just because you don’t care if the government spies on you because you have nothing to hide it doesn’t mean you should sit back and let other’s privacy be violated. Hitler’s Nuremberg laws affected both the Jewish population and also the other European nation because the law of not being able to marry people who were Jewish. This is similar to the way the government is currently trying to attack terrorism but in the process is affecting their own people. Also connecting to Animal Farm because Napoleon the pig attempts to conceal themselves from the humans and have a better life for the animals but becomes self involved and hurts the other animals on the farm instead.
An example of how Orwell portrayed his beliefs about communism in Animal Farm is how there was a gradual difference in how the pigs are treated to the other animals on the farm. Napoleon the pig is the representation of Joseph Stalin, the leader of Russia during the Russian revolution. Napoleon the pig is also the leader of Animal Farm and treats some animals better than others, breaking the commandment ‘all animals are equal’. Napoleon treats the pigs as superiors because they are ‘more intelligent’ and also work for Napoleon, helping him to spread his lies. When Napoleon the pig is first put into power he is meant to follow the commandments. As the commandments are broken he becomes a tyrant and a dictator. By the end of the book the pigs don’t work at all and the other animals do all the work. The other animals are forced to give up their children, and are not allowed the same privileges as the pigs. This completely contradicts what Old Major wanted Animal Farm to be representing, as he proclaimed at the beginning of the novella, just as communism is not what Karl Marx wanted it to be. By changing the last commandment from ‘all animals are equal’ to ‘all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others’ is the final assertion in the use of propaganda, fitting his situation and wishes.
Animal Farm shows how manageable it is for a government or leader to become corrupt. Napoleon the pig’s character is in place to convey Orwell’s point. In the last line of Animal Farm is “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 tell which was which”(Orwell 141). This quote represents Napoleon’s final transformation into a tyrant. Orwell’s message that all leaders become corrupt. This is portrayed by how the pigs and all the other animals on the farm wanted a society where the commandments are followed and are the guidelines for a happy (non-human) farm. As the novela progressed the animals broke all of the commandments and used propaganda so they wouldn’t technically break them. Once all the commandments had been broken the pigs had become exactly the opposite of what the point of animal farm was meant to avoid becoming corrupt leaders like humans.
These examples show By having the pigs on the farm have one feeling about power when they are the ones being controlled, and have a different feeling once they are the leaders in power proves Orwell’s point that all leaders become corrupt. When the process begins becoming like humans is exactly what they don’t want to become however, they become human anyway. The process of morphing into humans was explained by Orwell in Animal Farm clearly infers how the change was gradual, emphasizing that as the pigs broke commandments they became more human. The transformation isn’t just for the pigs, it also give a message of how the human race has morphed into pigs, and will do anything for power over other creatures. Animal Farm’s Napoleon the pig supports Orwell’s message by becoming the corrupt leader. George Orwell’s beliefs and theories have become true in many situations throughout history. Orwell’s believed that if people didn’t take a stand for their rights the governments need and hunger for power will be fulfilled. He represented his message that all leaders become corrupted by power with Napoleon the pig in Animal Farm. George Orwell had very strong beliefs about society and government. He put these beliefs into Animal Farm and into his purpose for writing the novella. George Orwell’s message is also relevant for the way Adolf Hitler believed in Naism and the way he ruled Germany. All of these examples reflect the world today as American privacy is violated and the government has aquired more power than ever.
Orwell’s political message about corruption of the government and leaders abuse of power is depicted in Hitler’s way of leadership, the current U.S. government and Orwell’s portrayal of the Russian Revolution in Animal Farm. All of the previous examples support George Orwell’s message and show the common occurrence of corruption. Corruption is inevitable by the human race, it will alway occur to powerful people no matter how much effort they put into keeping their intentions pure.Bibliography
Gutman, Israel. Encyclopedia of the Holocaust. New York: Macmillan Pub., 1990. Print. Hitler, Adolf (1889-1945), leader of the Third German Reich. Born in Braunau. HIs father died in 1903 and his mother in 1907. He served in World War I and received medals for bravery. After the war Hitler went into politics and joined an anti semite group. He was a public speaker and was soon sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to bring down the government. In prison he wrote the first volume of his book, the second volume was published a year later. He ran for Reichstag five times and lost every time. Hitler eventually gained power and created a dictatorship. Antisemitic riots took place and Jews were eliminated from public life in Germany. By the end of 1937 about 150,000 Jews had left Germany. The first executions of Jews in the Soviet Union were carried out in June 1941. Hitler had erratic work habits and his processes didn't function smoothly. His main goal was to solve "The Jewish Problem".
Hilberg, Raul. The Destruction of the European Jews. Chicago: Quadrangle, 1961. 60, 102-3, 157-8, 161, 163-4, 166, 168, 265, 293, 143, 215-16, 281, 242, 256, 52, 225, 56, 37, 44, 29, 129, 259, 18, 29, 43, 44, 47. Print. The pages concerning Hitler are primarily about his participation in the Holocaust. Hitler signed many important documents and spread 29, 129, 259, 18, 29, 43, 44, 47. Print. The pages concerning Hitler are primarily about his participation in the Holocaust. Hitler signed many important documents and spread his ideas of anti semitism all over Europe. Hitler became the most corrupted man involved in the Holocaust and knew all about the concentration camps, "killing centers" and did nothing to stop it. The book points out that Hitler's methods as a leader were not as effective as they have to been rumored. The book showed how Adolf Hitler was one of the cruelest tyrants of all time.
Orwell, George. Animal Farm. New York: Signet Classics, 1977. Print. One night, all the animals at Mr. Jones' Manor Farm assemble in a barn to hear Old Major, a pig, describe a dream he had about a world where all animals live free from the tyranny.
Savage, Charlie. "Officials Push to Bolster Law on Wire-tapping." New York Times 18 Oct. 2010. Print. This article shows how the U.S. government is illegally obtaining and selling information under the Patriot Act. Many major companies are now becoming victims of wiretapping and the FBI is spending millions of dollars trying to stop it.
Darity, William A. International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. Detroit, Mich.: Macmillan Reference USA, 2008. 448-450. Print.