figures of authority on the farm

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is an old chestnut but it still resonates today. Napoleon is the best example of this. The pig takes Old Major’s idealistic ideas and twists them into his self-serving dictatorship. The other animals live in fear and obey. The power becomes intoxicating. Suggestions from other animals like Snowball make him angry. Napoleon’s rule becomes increasingly a process to keep himself in power and punish those who might threaten it. Squealer doesn't stop to investigate exactly why he is so loyal to Napoleon. He simply does his bidding. This, of course, is an allegory to many leaders, like Stalin, in our history.