Tyrant,cunning, ruthless, vain, hypocrite.
Napoleon is Orwell's chief villain in Animal Farm. Napoleon, he pig, is really the central character on the farm. An obvious metaphor
for Stalin, Comrade Napoleon represents the human frailties of any revolution. Orwell believed that although socialism is good as an ideal, it can never
be successfully adopted due to uncontrollable sins of human nature. For example, although Napoleon seems as first to be a good leader, he is eventually
overcome by greed and soon becomes power-hungry. Of course Stalin did too in Russia, leaving the original equality of socialism behind, giving himself
all the power and living in luxury while the common peasant suffered. Thus, while his national and international status blossomed, the welfare of Russia
remained unchanged. Orwell explains, "Somehow it seemed as though the farm
had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer--except,
of course for the pigs and the dogs."The true side of Napoleon
becomes evident after he slaughters so many animals for plotting against
him. He even hires a pig to sample his food for him to make certain that
no one is trying to poison him. Stalin, too, was a cruel dictator in Russia.
After suspecting many people in his empire to be supporters of Trotsky (Orwell's
Snowball), Stalin systematically murders many. By the end of the book,
Napoleon doesn't even pretend to lead a socialist state. After renaming
it a Republic and instituting his own version of the commandments and the
Beasts of England, Comrade Napoleon, he quickly becomes more or less a dictator
who of course has never even been elected by the animals. On the whole,
Napoleon is the ruthless, cunning tyrant who is responsible for the
betrayal of Major’s dream. Napoleon is relatively silent but still
manages to get his own way, suggesting a determined character. His
deviousness is signified when he puts himself in charge of the milk
and ends up feeding it to himself and the rest of the pigs.The fact
that he gets rid of Snowball underlines how powerful he really is.
His cowardice is hinted however when at the ‘’Battle of Cowshed’’
he is nowhere to be seen. The Seven Commandments are changed throughout
the novel to suit him. He becomes increasingly self-seeking as the novel
progresses. He keeps himself remote from the other animals and lives in
luxury (dines with luxurious chinaware and eats sugar, this last point
reminding us of Mollie who ate that and was considered a traitor.
He puts his power into terrifying use. The extent of his cruelty is
apparent in his treatment of Boxer. Once he attains his power, any original idea he may have about animalism is eroded. He gradually adopts human behaviour and contradicts all what Major said, believed and even dreamt about.
Napoleon becomes very privileged as a leader:
1. He attains his own private apartment.
2. He has four dogs guarding his bed.
3. He eats from the Crown Derby dinner service.
4. He starts drinking alcohol.
5. He becomes the food taster.
6. He is now called ‘’ our leader comrade Napoleon.’’
7. When an animal meets him on the path he must move to the side and allow Napoleon to pass by (sign of respect.)
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