Animal Farm

A Theme of Betrayal

Betrayal is a reoccurring theme throughout the novel, Animal Farm. It is the basis for all acts committed by the residents of, “Animal Farm,” both deviously and inadvertently. Many of the animals did not understand that the deeds they carried out were betraying one another. By accepting the mistaken commandments that had been re-written from time to time, was a perfidy against the animals’ morals and beliefs. One might argue that to betray is a habitual stroke taken by many in order to achieve in life. Within politics deception is not looked down upon, but is not entirely accepted. A reason for infidelity is power. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is what spurs betrayal. Napoleon, Squealer, Snowball, Jones and the other humans, Boxer, and even Clover; were victims of treachery. Orwell writes this allegorical story to be compared with the Russian Revolution, where the Czar, Lenin, Stalin, and Trotsky embody the characte...