Politics on Animal Farm by George Orwell"Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely" –Lord Acton (1834-1902). It is believed and can be seen in the past that many great people become dangerous and corrupt under large amounts of power. This is usually the main cause of their downfall. As we know many people fail, lose their status or reputation when they are in a higher position. People of status, who have a great deal of control seem to become "power hungry" and find it necessary to have it in their daily lives, they need this power to function. Unfortunately in these types of situations, the well-being of the "lower classes" becomes irrelevant and the only beings of importance are the ruler, his "companions" and associates who benefit from the agreement and application of their superior figure's beliefs. George Orwell reveals the effects, evils and corrupt actions behind the communist regime in his novel Animal Farm. Orwell achieves this by indirectly exposing the relationship between historical figures from the past and communism through his characters, power, and situation. George Orwell created a character, Napoleon the Pig who emerges as leader of Animal Farm after the Rebellion, who best corresponded to the attitudes and characteristics of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Napoleon, just like Stalin, initially appears to be a good leader; unfortunately he is eventually overwhelmed and is immensely imbued with greed and desire for power. Stalin, after suspecting that many people in his empire were followers of Trotsky (George Orwell's character, Snowball, who is intelligent, passionate, persuasive and less conniving than his rival, Napoleon), methodically kills many of them. Napoleon decides that Snowball must be eliminated, just like the situation where Stalin felt these emotions towards Trotsky. (Stalin Archive Ref., 2) Old Major, the award-winning boar whose vision of a socialist utopia serves as the initial inspiration for the Rebellion, as a character, is the best parallel to the philosopher, social scientist, historian and revolutionary Karl Marx. This "pure breed" of pigs is the "gentle philosopher and grandfather of change" - an obvious metaphor for Karl Marx. Both Marx and Old Major were convinced that they should proclaim their vision of a society full of equality. Marx developed a belief that he identified as "Marxism". Marxism considers property to be evil. Old Major similarly created a name for his beliefs which he identified as "Animalism". Karl Marx was an idealist, imagining a paradise on earth where all men and women were equal and could enjoy an adequate standard of living.