Propaganda is the spreading of ideas, rumors and other information to injure or help a person or an institution. One can see this concept in the book Animal Farm, a tale written in 1945 by author George Orwell. Orwell illustrates the use of propaganda in the Russian Revolution by utilizing animals as the main characters. In the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, the animals use elements of propaganda like scare tactics, scapegoating and disinformation to influence the other animals on the farm. An element of propaganda the animals used to influence others is the scare tactics technique. The scare tactic technique is when one is trying to warn the audience that some disaster will overtake them if they do not do what is suggested. To illustrate this method, the author writes “It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. You know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back!” (Orwell 23). In this quote, the character Squealer is trying to use Jones as a tool to make the animals consume the milk and apples. He is well aware of the fact that the animals hate Jones and the thought of him returning is a horror to them. So, squealer uses his name to manipulate the animals and makes them do what he wants. Another example of the application of Scare Tactics is the use of the dogs by Napoleon. For example, on page 36 it states “... though not yet fully grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves.” (Orwell 36). This
Tree frogs, maybe, or snakes or flying squirrels or who-knew-what.” The author’s purpose for using personification in this particular passage is to reveal how chilling this war is, how it’s unlike any other battlefield. Also, how it intimidated the soldiers. The war must had been alarming for these animals to behave this way, abnormal and out of character. Another reason why this war is horrifying.
In this literature, animals were used to demonstrate how fear can cause one to turn against another. In the text, it says, “there is a very proper gander.’ An old hen overheard this and told her husband about it that night in the roost. ‘They said something about propaganda… A guinea hen recalled that she had once seen somebody who looked very much like the gander throw something that looked a great deal like a bomb.”
Jones would come back, yes, Jones would come back”(Orwell 14). Squealer is essentially saying that if he and the rest of the pigs fail to watch over everyone and keep them in check, then Jones will return and take back the farm. With Squealer giving them the idea that if they do not uphold their position as leaders Jones will come back, it leads the animals on the farm to feel as though there are only two options, Jones, or the pigs, which connects to the main idea that, when a leader gives only two options, it blinds the people from the other possibilities and other solutions to their problem. Mao Zedong and Squealer from only gave their people 2 possible outcomes to their current scenarios, which caused them to look past the other potentially better
When the animals looked outside they no longer recognized their surroundings and leaders. The had realized that they have been blind and could no longer tell the difference between man and pig. They had become indifferent. This was said by the narrator yet really explains the thoughts going through all the animals on the farm’s heads except the pigs.
The first example of threatening the animals with Jones would come back is when the pigs ate the apples and drank the milk. “It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back. Surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back (Doc C).”
One prominent example is when, before the rebellion, an old boar named Major expresses his wishes for the farm, “And remember also that in fighting against Man, we must not resemble him. Even when you have conquered him, do not adopt his vices” (8). This is important because he directly reveals the rest of the plot of the book in that statement. Major goes on to point out that an animal should never drink alcohol, sleep in a bed, wear clothes, or live in a house, which all of the pigs end up indulging in. “When the boulder began to slip and the animals cried out in despair at finding themselves dragged down the hill, it was always Boxer who strained himself…
Contrary to popular belief, a society can be successful without being flawless. To prosper, one simply needs modest inhabitants. While utopias consist of humble citizens, they are also places with faultless economies, places of equality and perfection. On the contrary, dystopias are places of ideality where everything goes wrong. The government is typically a totalitarianism one where a self-absorbed leader degrades most inhabitants, like in Animal Farm.
A Critical Analysis of the Rhetorical Strategies Used in Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant”. In George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant”, the author begins with a definite statement about his views toward British Imperialism. Orwell uses pathos to appeal to the readers emotions about his situation and also uses logos when trying to decide on shooting the elephant. His powerful technique of illustrating the message, “Imperialism was an evil thing” and that it affects both the oppressor and the oppressed is effective with the use of description, classical appeals, extended metaphors, and rhetorical devices.
In Animal Farm, Squealer, chief propagandist, attempts to convince the animals that their lives under the regime of the animals is better than that of the humans. Squealer tries to convey this message, for example, by telling the animals that the animals would better off if Napoleon made decisions for them. Squealer says, “No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves.
Animal Farm- Lies and Deceit The book Animal Farm by George Orwell portrays the theme of how someone can lie and deceive others to get what they want just like how the two pigs Napoleon and Squealer used lies and deceit to gain power over Animal Farm. Napoleon lied to other animals, Squealer lied to other animals and they both deceived the other animals, but the sad part is that neither of them lied for the better of the other animals. They both lied to get what they want- power over the animals and the farm.
Manipulation is the most deceitful way for us to achieve the things we desire the most. Throughout George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm, language and the use of persuasive language lead to the accumulation of power. Language and the disappearance of Mr.Jones is where Napoleon dictatorship is made possible. The powerful rhetorical and their smart manipulations skills of language for any situation was what controlled the farm of its entirety. Pigs manipulated the Seven Commandments,Napoleon dictating, and the deceitful lies told by the Pigs were all methods for them to gain more power.
He therefore had used the animal’s fear to gain power; and later on, the supporting “sheeps broke out into a tremendous bleating of ‘Four legs good, two legs bad! (Orwell 55)’” to end any chance of discussion on this topic. This is one of the propaganda the sheeps used to support Napoleon. In
Animal Farm’s intentions were to be an allegory of the Russian Revolution and both were uses of propaganda in similar ways. In the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks used propaganda to declare their laws and rules to the Russian population and their authority of the Russian Revolution. In Animal Farm, propaganda was mostly used by the pigs. The use of propaganda allowed Napoleon to persuade the animals that Snowball was the reason their hard work of the windmill was wasted and that he was the reason of all the negative aspects of their lives. Also, the use of propaganda also benefited the pigs into having to do less work at times or them gaining the most apples or milk.
In addition, Squealer often threatens the animals that Mr. Jones will return if they did not follow as instructed by Napoleon to manipulate the farm animals. For instance, pigs decided that the milk and windfall as well as the main crops of apples should be reserved for the pigs alone. Ostensibly, pigs need to be in healthy state as they claimed to be the Einstein of the welfare of the farm. Here also, Squealer threatens the animals that Jones would return if they oppose the idea. Therefore, the animals agreed with
The Use of Propaganda in Animal Farm by George Orwell Propaganda is defined as misleading or biased information spread for the advancement of a cause. In the historical fiction novel Animal Farm written by George Orwell farm animals overpower their human leader and attempt to construct a movement in which all animals are equal. Propaganda is evident throughout the story. Not far in it becomes apparent that the pigs are the most intelligent. Squealer, the propaganda agent uses propaganda in the story as a way to manipulate the animals who are not pigs.