The True Value of Intelligence

     Have you ever wondered what the true value of intelligence is? The novel Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, is a story about animals rebelling against their oppressive and cruel human owner, only for a pig to take over and slowly become even more corrupt. The book contains many hints to how intelligence can both help and harm others. In Animal Farm, intelligence alone is shown to be worthless, unless it comes along with moral integrity.

     Snowball, one of the main pigs in the story, used his head in many great ways before Napoleon exiled him. Right after the rebellion, “Snowball also busied himself with organizing the other animals into what he called Animal Committees. Before the Battle of the Cowshed, he read a book of Julius Caesar and organized a successful strategy that won them the battle”(Orwell 32). For the plans of the windmill, Snowball “conjured up pictures of fantastic machines” (Orwell 49) and many complicated plans to build it. Snowball’s intelligence was useful because he used it to aid the farm.

     In contrast, Napoleon, the other pig with power, used his smartsfor the wrong purposes. He cleverly manipulated animals and “now called upon them to confess their crimes” (Orwell 83) This happened when he was about to kill the four pigs who protested against the ban of Sunday meetings. He used his insight, killing all chances of rebellion of argument, but in doing so made conditions for the farm worse. Napoleon also used Squealer to brainwash the animals with many lies. For building the windmill, Perhaps he would have found another way to break boulders instead of tossing them off a cliff, but used that as a method of tiring the animals so they wouldn’t be able to protest. Napoleon used his wits to grab power and oppress the others, severely harming them.

     Benjamin the donkey, while very clever, stayed neutral and remained out of the conflict. However this intelligence still isn't being put to good use. When he “nodded his muzzle with a knowing air” (Orwell 109), he didn't protest, and allowed the situation to worsen. When the humans destroyed the windmill, Benjamin understood what they were doing, but rather than stopping them he found it amusing. The only time Benjamin used his insight in a way that warned his comrades was telling Boxer and the other animals that boxer was being sold to the knacker. But even still it was too late, Boxer wasn't strong enough to break free, and he was killed. This is why it is not enough to understand the situation if one does not have the courage to speak up and take a stand.

     These examples demonstrate why being bright is not useful on its own. Intelligence needs to come with morals and courage to take a stand and do what is right. This is how Orwell expresses this theme of the value of intelligence using Snowball, Napoleon, and Benjamin.