Examine the idea of leadership on the farm. How does it change? Who gains the leadership role? Why? Is this significant (or not), and does it reflect our society in any way? Use textual evidence from chapters 2-4 to to support your response. 250 words.
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2019-2020 English I Honors 
In the beginning, Major is the leader and all of the animals listen to him. After he dies, the animals take over the farm. Soon, a pig named Napoleon rises up to become leader. An unfair hierarchy starts to take place, and using his nine dogs as protection and to scare the other animals, Napoleon keeps his high position. He slaughters innocent animals saying they are traitors to the farm, and changes the original seven commandments set by all the animals at the beginning. The book states,”Napoleon stood sternly surveying his audience; then he uttered a high-pitched whimper. Immediately the dogs bounded forward, seized four of the pigs by the ear and dragged them, squealing with pain and terror, to Napoleon’s feet. The pigs’ ears were bleeding, the dogs had tasted blood, and for a few moments they appeared to go quite mad. To the amazement of everybody, three of them flung themselves upon Boxer. Boxer saw them coming and put out his great hoof, caught a dog in mid-air, and pinned him to the ground. The dog shrieked for mercy and the other two fled with their tails between their legs. Boxer looked at Napoleon to know whether he should crush the dog to death or let it go. Napoleon appeared to change countenance, and sharply ordered Boxer to let the dog go, whereat Boxer lifted his hoof, and the dog slunk away, bruised and howling. Presently the tumult died down. The four pigs waited, trembling, with guilt written on every line of their countenances. Napoleon now called upon them to confess their crimes. They were the same four pigs as had protested when Napoleon abolished the Sunday Meetings. Without any further prompting they confessed that they had been secretly in touch with Snowball ever since his expulsion, that they had collaborated with him in destroying the windmill, and that they had entered into an agreement with him to hand over Animal Farm to Mr. Frederick. They added that Snowball had privately admitted to them that he had been Jones’s secret agent for years past. When they had finished their confession, the dogs promptly tore their throats out, and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess.” This quote shows Napoleon abusing his power to scare and kill the animals that disagreed with him.
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In the beginning of the book, Old Major is considered the leader. The animals listened to him and wanted to follow him. However, after his death, they give the title of leadership to Napoleon and Snowball. In the beginning of their new roles, you can already see their corruptions and manipulations of Napoleon and Snowball. It says, “‘What is going to happen to all that milk?’ said someone. ‘Jones used sometimes to mix some of it in our mash,’ said one of the hens. ‘Never mind the milk, comrades!’ cried Napoleon, placing himself in front of the buckets. ‘That will be attended to. The harvest is more important. Comrade Snowball will lead the way. I shall follow in a few minutes. Forward, comrades! The hay is waiting.’ So the animals trooped down to the hayfield to begin the harvest, and when they came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared…The mystery of where the milk went to was soon cleared up. It was mixed every day into the pigs’ mash.” In this, you can see that the beginning of their leadership is merely to get what they want. Napoleon and Snowball are using their titles as a way to get what they want, as with the milk. If they truly wanted equality for animals, they would have shared the milk and listen to the other animals. They convinced the other animals since they are more intelligent than them, they must be the leader. It also says in the novel, “Snowball, who had studied an old book of Julius Caesar’s campaigns which he had found in the farmhouse, was in charge of the defensive operations. He gave his orders quickly, and in a couple of minutes every animal was at his post…Snowball now gave the signal for the charge. He himself dashed straight for Jones. Jones saw him coming, raised his gun and fired. The pellets scored bloody streaks along Snowball’s back, and a sheep dropped dead. Without halting for an instant, Snowball flung his fifteen stone against Jones’s legs.” In this, Snowball is the one who was leading the animals into a battle against the animals and the humans. Though, he uses old human tactics to win instead of using his own tactics. Despite saying they wouldn’t do anything that humans do and how they must be free of their ways, they use human tactics in order to win. As a society, we tend to judge everything based on intelligence. If you are smart, you can do anything you want. But what do we use to measure intelligence? The pigs use manipulation, how are we any different? Manipulation, in our society and Animal Farm, are wielded in everything and use this to gain power in multiple ways. To stay in charge, to defend yourself, etc. Snowball and Napoleon are using tactics that are not ideal for animals, but rather for themselves. This can reflect our versions of corrupt societies, yet we can still see human behavior in these animals.
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Leadership on the farm went from Major to three other pigs: Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer. The text states: “ The work of teaching and organizing others fell naturally upon the pigs… Pre-eminent amoung the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon…All of the other male pigs were porkers. The best known among them was a small fat pig named Squealer… These three had elaborated old Major’s teachings…” This is significant because thoses three pigs were so determined to continue Majors teachings and as a result of this they are able to drive Mr. Jones away from the farm. In the text it says: “ And so, almost before they knew what was happening, the Rebellion had been successfully carried through: Jones was expelled, and the Manor Farm was theirs.” This results in another leadership change because now Mr. Jones is no longer the farm owner because of the rebellion, so the pigs are the only leaders now. This reflects our society because it shows a change in leadership because of a rebellion, which in our society is like a change in government due to a rebellion. Examples of this are: the Chinese Communist Revolution, the Cuban Revolution, and the French Revolution.
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the leadership on the farm was in the hands of old major and then was taken over by 3 pigs napoleon,snowball and squealer when they took over the farm a lot of things went down hill. when they took over the animals wanted to take over the farm so they slowly started to rebel “‘What is going to happen to all that milk?’ said someone. ‘Jones used sometimes to mix some of it in our mash,’ said one of the hens. ‘Never mind the milk, comrades!’ cried Napoleon, placing himself in front of the buckets. ‘That will be attended to. The harvest is more important. Comrade Snowball will lead the way. I shall follow in a few minutes. Forward, comrades! The hay is waiting.’ So the animals trooped down to the hay field to begin the harvest, and when they came back in the evening it was noticed that the milk had disappeared…The mystery of where the milk went to was soon cleared up. It was mixed every day into the pigs’ mash.” they said this is merely the beginning of leadership for the farm the other piece of textural evidence ” This results in another leadership change because now Mr. Jones is no longer the farm owner because of the rebellion, so the pigs are the only leaders now. the leader of animals on the farm continually get worst
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