1984 / Animal Farm

        Essentially, my big question pertains to both 1984 and Animal Farm in an extremely similar way.  In both novels, a higher power (Napoleon in Animal Farm and Big Brother - meaning the inner party and the thought police collectively - in 1984) holds sway over the general populace.  This higher power employs highly effective means of manipulating history (in 1984, namely) and/or tweaking their own laws without their subjects being aware - as an object of blame is provided (Emanuel Goldstein and Snowball) as the reason for change (though the higher power usually states that no change ever occurred at all).  Such perversion of law and history to suit the needs of such higher powers paired with the constant state of ignorance and unconditional (and unavoidable) obedience that the people are kept in ensures that the higher power is never in the wrong, and ultimately has complete control over its subjects.