What is the theme of chapter eight of Animal Farm?

There are two major themes in chapter eight. First, there is Napoleon's unquestionable dominance. His status has been manipulated to such an extent that he is treated with the type of reverence and respect that is reserved for a demi-god. Napoleon is now referred to as 'Our Leader, Comrade Napoleon.' He rarely appears in public, and if he does, he is attended by a retinue of guard dogs who are preceded by a cockerel marching in front who lets out a crow to announce that Napoleon is about to speak. He has also taken separate quarters in the farmhouse, eats alone from the best dinner service and has the gun fired each year on his birthday.

Added to that, Squealer, when speaking about him, always becomes overly emotional and Napoleon is, as a rule, given credit for every bit of luck which befalls the farm and given credit for every successful achievement. Minimus, the poet, composes a poem giving praise to him in glowing terms which are usually employed only when referring to deities or figures of royal stature. He uses terms such as 'thou' and 'thee' in reference to him.

Secondly, there is the question of deception. The animals are deceived into believing that the farm is doing much better than before by Squealer providing glowing statistics in the form of percentages which show great improvements. There is also the deception about Napoleon doing business with Pilkington to sell an unused pile of timber, at the same time declaring Frederick the enemy. It is also said that Snowball has been skulking around Pinchfield and plotting to kill Napoleon, a plot confessed to by three hens who are executed immediately.

It is given out that Frederick abuses his animals in a most horrific manner. The news of his ill-treatment angers the animals so much that they wish to attack his farm, but are calmed down by Squealer, who tells them to trust in Napoleon's strategy.

However, it is later discovered that the timber was sold to Frederick and that Pilkington is the enemy, all because of a so-called clever strategy that Napoleon was using to get a better price. Frederick then pays for the timber with counterfeit notes (another deceitful act) and Napoleon declares a death sentence on him, promising to boil him alive if he should be caught. Frederick then unsuccessfully attempts to overthrow the animals but manages to blow the windmill to smithereens.

The pigs later discover a crate of whisky which they drink to celebrate their victory in defeating Frederick and his men. Napoleon gets so drunk that it is believed that he is close to death. He, however, recovers fully. The animals are again deceived when yet another commandment is altered. After the pigs have drunk whisky, the commandment "No animal shall drink alcohol" is altered to read, "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess."  

These two themes indicate the level of corruption and superciliousness the pigs have devolved into. Animal Farm has ceased to be a democracy and has become a place where manipulation, arrogance, violence, and deceit have become the new tenets. The general animal population, because of their poor intelligence, have become mere pawns in the trotters of a bunch of no-good and selfish pigs.