Napoleon's resourcefulness and well-thought out decisions leads to his success

 

“Napoleon took no interest in Snowball’s committees. He said that the education of the young was more important than anything that could be done for those who were already grown up....giving birth between them to nine sturdy puppies. As soon as they were weaned, Napoleon took them away saying that he would make himself responsible for their education....Snowball’s eloquence had carried them away....there was no doubt as to which way the vote would go....Napoleon stood up and, casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball....At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn....but the problem was soon solved: they were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately" (Orwell 34), (Orwell 52).

 

The purpose of this quote in the novel is to establish the resourcefulness of Napoleon by demonstrating his reaction to an adverse situation; namely the election at which the animals decide whether or not to build the windmill. Faced with the possibility of losing the election, Napoleon skillfully and promptly deals with the unfavorable situation by utilizing the nine pups he trained. He shows himself to be resourceful due to the fact that he adapted quickly and utilized his resources, the nine dogs, in order to prevent his loss. The usage of the dogs in order to expel Snowball and strengthen authority over the other animals also exhibits Napoleon's practicality, as Napoleon could not have won against Snowball through mere oratorical skill. He recognized and exploited the dogs' potential for violence for his own gain. Napoleon's creation of a private dog army also reflects on Joseph Stalin's creation of the KGB; both dictatorial figures used a private army to control and repress their government's citizens.

 

The impact of this excerpt on the novel as a whole is to establish the means of which Napoleon will control the other animals, the usage of the dogs. This excerpt also demonstrates to the reader how power-hungry Napoleon truly is, and how far he is willing to go to satisfy his ambition.