Julie Tagg| Think and Write for CSEC English A and B

“Man serves the interests of no creature except himself.”

Write an essay that explores the theme of selfishness in the novel. Your essay should analyze the portrayal of human selfishness as well as the selfishness of the pigs in the novel. Additionally, comment on Orwell’s use of irony to illustrate how oppressors often exhibit selfish behavior.

Animal Farm is a significant novel by George Orwell that critiques human selfishness and how it leads to oppression and exploitation. The novel portrays humans as serving their own interests at the expense of all other creatures. For instance, Mr. Jones, the farmer who owns the farm, mistreats the animals, and only cares about the profits he can make from their labor. Additionally, the humans who come to the farm to negotiate with the pigs after the rebellion are only interested in their own interests, and they use the animals to achieve their goals. The humans in the novel do not care about the well-being of the animals, but only about what they can gain from them.

Similarly, the pigs on the farm also become selfish and tyrannical once they gain power. Napoleon, the main pig who takes control of the farm, is particularly selfish and manipulative. He uses his power to enrich himself and to suppress any dissent or opposition to his rule. The other pigs follow his lead, and they become just as selfish and authoritarian as the humans they had overthrown.

Orwell’s use of irony is particularly effective in exploring the selfishness of oppressors. Throughout the novel, the pigs justify their actions by claiming to be working for the greater good of all animals. However, their actions betray this claim, as they become increasingly selfish and manipulative once they gain power. The pigs use language and propaganda to control the animals, just as the humans had done before them. The irony lies in the fact that the pigs become the very thing they had overthrown, using the same tactics and justifications that the humans had used to maintain their power.

Another example of irony in the novel is the way that the animals’ rebellion against the humans ultimately leads to their own oppression. The animals had rebelled to free themselves from the humans’ tyranny, but they ended up being oppressed by the pigs instead. The pigs’ selfishness and desire for power ultimately lead them to become the new oppressors, perpetuating the cycle of exploitation and oppression.

In conclusion, Animal Farm is a powerful critique of human selfishness and how it leads to oppression and exploitation. The novel portrays the dangers of power and how it can corrupt individuals. The pigs’ selfishness and desire for power lead them to oppress the other animals, and their actions demonstrate how power can be abused. Orwell’s use of irony is particularly effective in exploring the selfishness of oppressors, as it highlights the hypocrisy of their claims to be working for the greater good of all. The story serves as a warning about the dangers of power and the importance of remaining vigilant against the selfishness and tyranny of those in positions of authority.