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   scarletpimpernel Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Napoleon is given "shared" power when the animals first take over the farm.  In fact, he and the other pigs give credit to Old Major and encourage the farm animals to honor their former inspiration.  As the novel progresses, however, Napoleon becomes more hungry for power.  He infamously expels Snowball from the farm, and his reign as the sole leader begins.  At this point, the animals begin to question Napoleon's actions and Squealer's speeches, but Napoleon violently has them stifled.  In the end, Napoleon has become so corrupted by his thirst for and maintenance of absolute control that the values and goals of the original "animal farm" are forgotten and destroyed.

   Napoleon's character and career cause readers to ponder if Stalin was once a team player who shared noble goals for his people or if he had a scheme in mind from the very beginning to gain ultimate control.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/animal-farm/characters

   http://www.enotes.com/animal-farm/historical-context

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   Posted by scarletpimpernel on Wednesday October 21, 2009 at 1:28 PM