Read the passage from Animal Farm.

Question

Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour. It had not been possible, he said, to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm, but he had ordered a large wreath to be made from the laurels in the farmhouse garden and sent down to be placed on Boxer's grave. And in a few days' time the pigs intended to hold a memorial banquet in Boxer's honour. Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims, "I will work harder" and "Comrade Napoleon is always right"—maxims, he said, which every animal would do well to adopt as his own.

Which detail does Orwell include to support the theme that dictators care only about themselves and not those they rule?

“Napoleon himself appeared at the meeting on the following Sunday morning and pronounced a short oration in Boxer's honour.”
“It had not been possible, he said, to bring back their lamented comrade's remains for interment on the farm, but he had ordered a large wreath to be made from the laurels in the farmhouse garden and sent down to be placed on Boxer's grave.”
“And in a few days' time the pigs intended to hold a memorial banquet in Boxer's honour.”
“Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims, ‘I will work harder’ and ‘Comrade Napoleon is always right’—maxims, he said, which every animal would do well to adopt as his own.”

Answer 1

The detail that most strongly supports the theme that dictators care only about themselves and not those they rule is: “Napoleon ended his speech with a reminder of Boxer's two favourite maxims, ‘I will work harder’ and ‘Comrade Napoleon is always right’—maxims, he said, which every animal would do well to adopt as his own.”

This line highlights how Napoleon co-opts Boxer's dedication and loyalty for his own benefit, reinforcing his authority while simultaneously exploiting Boxer's laborious work ethic. By promoting these maxims, Napoleon shifts the focus to emphasizing his own unwavering rightness and the expectation that the other animals continue to work hard without questioning. This showcases his self-serving nature and disregard for the true contributions and values of the individual animals, which reinforces the theme of dictators caring primarily for themselves.