Essay on the topic If a seven-year-old had read Animal Farm he would have thought that it was a sad story about a farm in England. However, if an older person reads it, they realize that this story has much more meaning. The story is full of themes that help us understand the world around us. In this essay I will talk about four themes that Orwell discusses in this story. They are power, totemism, coercion and violence. Power leads to absolute power, the task of totemism is to keep people loyal, after which it does not work coercion comes into force through the use of violence. There is no specific message that Orwell is trying to emphasize regarding power, instead he lets us gain insight into the negative effects of power. It also helps us understand what kinds of things are used to maintain power. Many people come into power saying they will do what is best for the people. But what happens is that a strong leader takes absolute power. As the leader takes control, he begins to abuse his powers to improve his life. The tyrant then uses his powers for his own good; whenever there is power there is money (luxury) involved and people will go a long way to have a good life. In the story, Napoleon gains power by saying that he will do what is best for the animals, but he soon begins to do what is beneficial to them. himself. An example of his better life would be: «It was also more suited to the dignity of the Chief (for of late he had begun to speak of Napoleon under the title of "Chief") to live in a house than in a simple pigsty.» .(page 79) Also the quote: «And soon the news leaked out that each pig was now receiving a ration of a pint of beer a day, with half a gallon for Napoleon himself, which was always served to him in the Crown Derby tureen» ( page 117) Power can be a good thing sometimes, but people can't handle power and get things done or good for everyone. Then they begin to become dependent on power and when people begin to doubt them they do everything they can to keep it. Power ruins people, because the passion for power comes to people naturally. Orwell might also be trying to get the idea that if one person has absolute power and becomes corrupt, the whole nation is ruined because that tyrant controls everything..