The Corrupting Influence of Power in Macbeth and Animal Farm

Power often reveals or magnifies the darker elements of human nature. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and George Orwell’s Animal Farm, both protagonists—Macbeth and the pigs, particularly Napoleon—begin with apparent noble or revolutionary intentions. However, as they gain power, their morality disintegrates, and they become tyrannical. This transformation resonates with a central theme in both texts: power can corrupt and often lead to destruction when unchecked by conscience, accountability, or democratic institutions.

At the start of Macbeth, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a valiant and honorable warrior. He is described as “brave Macbeth—well, he deserves that name” (1.2.16). Initially loyal to King Duncan and Scotland, Macbeth’s descent begins after encountering the three witches, who prophesy that he will become king. The witches catalyze Macbeth’s ambition, but his desire for power and willingness to subvert moral law ultimately lead to his downfall. Lady Macbeth encourages this ambition, telling him to “look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (1.5.65–66), further reinforcing the theme of deceit and corruption.

Once Macbeth murders Duncan to seize the throne, he descends further and further into madness. He becomes paranoid, seeing threats to his power everywhere, particularly in Banquo and his son, Fleance. He arranges Banquo’s murder without even consulting Lady Macbeth, showing how power has not only corrupted him but also isolated him. As he says, “To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus” (3.1.52), Macbeth reveals that gaining the throne was not enough; he must now maintain it at all costs.

As Macbeth’s moral compass is led astray, so is his humanity. By the final act, he becomes numb to death and suffering. Upon hearing of Lady Macbeth’s death, he coldly remarks, “She should have died hereafter…Life’s but a walking shadow” (5.5.17–24). His grasp on meaning and morality is gone, consumed by the consequences of his own ambition. Power has destroyed him.

In Animal Farm, Orwell explores a similar arc through the allegorical rise of Napoleon, a pig who leads a rebellion against human oppressors and ultimately becomes a tyrant himself. The novel opens with hope: the animals of Manor Farm unite under Old Major’s vision of an egalitarian society where “all animals are equal.” The most intelligent animals, the pigs, assume leadership roles after the revolution, with Napoleon and Snowball taking charge.

However, Napoleon gradually consolidates power by ousting Snowball through propaganda and force, using the dogs he has secretly trained to chase him away. His tactics mirror those of totalitarian regimes, particularly Stalin’s rise in Soviet Russia, which Orwell is satirizing. Napoleon then begins altering the commandments of Animalism to justify his growing privileges. For example, the commandment “No animal shall sleep in a bed” becomes “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets,” symbolizing how power rewrites morality to suit itself.

Like Macbeth, Napoleon relies on fear and manipulation. The dogs serve as his enforcers, and Squealer, his mouthpiece, constantly revises history and facts to maintain control. One striking moment comes when the animals, despite their suffering, are told their lives are better than ever: “Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?” (Orwell). This rhetorical question silences dissent, even as conditions deteriorate.

The ultimate betrayal of the revolution comes in the novel’s final line, where the animals can no longer distinguish between the pigs and the humans: “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig…but already it was impossible to say which was which.” (Orwell). The pigs, who once fought for equality, have become indistinguishable from the very oppressors they overthrew.

Macbeth and Napoleon exemplify how power generates fear, paranoia, and cruelty. Each character begins with some semblance of justification. Macbeth believes he deserves kingship due to the witches’ prophecy; Napoleon sees himself as the guardian of the revolution. However, as they gain power, their original justifications justify no more. Macbeth becomes a tyrant, desperate to eliminate anyone who threatens his rule, while Napoleon systematically dismantles the ideals of Animalism to create a society where he alone thrives.

Notably, both narratives illustrate how power can corrupt, but through systems that either allow or even encourage such corruption. Macbeth is influenced by prophecy and Lady Macbeth; Squealer and the ignorance of the other animals aid Napoleon. In both cases, unchecked power flourishes because there is no effective resistance. Shakespeare and Orwell seem to warn that society's failure to hold leaders accountable inevitably leads to a tyrant’s rule.

Through different genres (tragedy and allegorical satire), Macbeth and Animal Farm both explore the theme of power’s corrupting influence. Shakespeare focuses on the psychological and moral decay of one man. Orwell paints a broader picture of how one leader’s lust for dominance can undermine an entire ideology. In either case, the message is clear: destruction is inevitable when power is separated from morality and accountability. Whether it be Macbeth’s blood-soaked reign or Napoleon’s betrayal of a revolution, both texts show readers how pursuing power for its own sake is a path to ruin.