"Chapter 6 and 7 show us Napoleon's willingness to distort the truth, to lie and to kill in order to retain and increase his control of Animal Farm."

Throughout the book Napoleon goes to extreme lengths to gather power and immortalise himself in a position of luxury above the level of the other animals. In chapters 6 and 7 Napoleons actions prove to the reader just how willing he is distort the truth, lie and kill in order to retain and increase his control over Animal Farm. He is willing to lie and blame others for his own mistakes, change the laws to suit his own desires, completely over ride the rights of the other animals and purge the farm to insight fear.

‘It was absolutely necessary, he said, that the pigs, who were the brains of the farm, should have a quiet place to work in.’ Napoleon ensures that the pigs not only get a quiet place to work in (if it is even work they are doing) but a place to relax in that is far more comfortable and above that of which the rest of the hard working animals are forced to dwell in. Through means that are not explained the commandment governing the use of beds is altered to accommodate the pigs and through Squealer the truth is manipulated into doubt in the mind of Clover and any other animal who dares question Napoleon’s authority. Napoleon proves that even the laws laid down as the foundation of animal Farm stand no chance against his formidable megalomania.

‘ALL that year the animals worked like slaves.’ All, that is, except the pigs.
When the windmill that the animals had worked so hard on is mysteriously destroyed in a storm due (we assume) to the fact that the walls were too thin, it is Snowball who is blamed for Napoleon’s mistake and it is the working animals who have to pay for it. Napoleon uses the destruction of the windmill to his advantage by blaming Snowball and inciting outrage whilst also uniting the animals against the common foe: the traitorous Snowball. He avoids blame for his own miscalculations by blaming others, he manipulates bad situations to use them for his own benefit, thus proving how little he cares for the hard work of the others and how far he is willing to go to protect his blameless, idolised status.

‘Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly.’ No better words can be used to describe Napoleons retaliation to the rebellion of the hens. Rather then to explain the situation to the hens in an attempt to have them agree placidly, he orders them to give up their eggs and then when they refuse, he denies them the right to food and instead gives them an ultimatum without any real choice: give eggs or die.
This is not the first step towards the destruction of the Animal’s democracy, it is the action that fortifies the end of their democracy. It proves that Napoleon is willing to do anything to have his way; the animals no longer have rights.

The purging of the animals in the yard is one of the most horrible events described George Orwell’s novel. The confessions and executions of the supposedly traitorous animals serves no other purpose but to demonise Snowball further and terrify the other animals into a rigid regime of fear and submission. This massacre transforms Napoleon from dictator to tyrant. It is ‘the last nail in the coffin’ so to speak in the fate of animal farm as a fascist doctrine of hate. In modern terms it immortalises Napoleon as the ultimate terrorist: willing to slaughter innocents in order to uphold and increase his control.

Chapter 6 and 7 of animal demonise Napoleon for his appalling actions, decisions and above all his unquenchable megalomania. What happens in these chapters of George Orwell’s novel proves undeniably that Napoleon is willing to go to any lengths to retain and increase his control over Animal farm including; lying, manipulating, abusing and killing. Napoleon is a tyrant who’s control over animal farm remains throughout the novel, from the moment of Snowballs exile completely unrivalled.