Manipulation and Acceptance in Animal Farm (Book Analysis)

📌Category: Animal Farm, Books, Orwell, Writers
📌Words: 697
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 14 February 2022

George Orwell wrote a novel highlighting the manipulation and gaslighting that leaders use for their subjects. In Animal Farm, the animals on Mr. Jones’ Manor Farm want freedom from the humans, leading to a rebellion. Two pigs emerge from the battle claiming the positions of the leaders on the farm, Napoleon and Snowball, and they create a human-free society. The pigs abuse their power and the animals are too ignorant for it to register in their minds. In the end, the pigs become just as tyrannical as the humans once were. Relating to the Russian Revolution, George Orwell put similar current events and circumstances in simpler terms so the readers can relate real-world issues to the book. A common theme of manipulation and ignorance are relevant in real time and in Animal Farm. The revolution failed because the pigs became selfish rulers who manipulated their followers, and the animals were too gullible to realize what was happening.

The pigs on the farm are incredibly selfish and use manipulation to get what they want. When the animals are questioning the pigs' new addition to their meals, milk and apples, Squealer assures them that it is for the wellbeing of the farm. He also uses the trauma of living under Jones against the animals as a tactic to get them to follow the pigs. Squealer frantically tells the animals, "Do you know what would happen if we failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes, Jones would come back! Surely comrades...surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?" (52). This passage that Squealer pleaded was extremely manipulative. It shows that using fear is the most effective method for manipulation. Using fear to get what you want is commonly used in real life, but as well in politics and war. This question that Squealer asked was to spread fear among his "comrades" because the last thing they want is for Mr. Jones to come back. Hanging this threat of their perpetrator returning over their heads forces the animals to put the question into perspective: Jones coming back or giving up the milk and the apples? Above everything else, there is one thing they know for sure: that they do not want Jones to return. The animals are naive, so they agree that the pigs can have what they want. Using the word comrades excessively also shows that the leaders of Animal Farm are trying to prove that they are all equal, even when they are abusing their power. Along with the guilt-tripping that the pigs perform on the animals, the pigs also don’t do any work. They make the other animals do everything for the farm while they have a carefree and lazy life in luxury. “The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership” (19). The laziness displayed by the pigs displays that they are selfish and aren’t looking out for the farm, but rather themselves.

Along with the manipulation that the pigs used against the rest of the farm, the animals were too gullible to realize that they were being manipulated and gaslighted for years by their leader. Every setback that took place on the farm was blamed on Snowball. The leaders of Animal Farm didn’t take responsibility when the windmill collapsed twice and convinced the animals that Snowball was behind it. Squealer exclaims to the animals, “Comrades, do you know who is behind this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!” (82). This is an example of pushing the blame onto someone else, even though it might not be their fault. When Squealer blames the collapsed windmill on Snowball, it channels their frustration into someone else so they don’t turn on each other. Shifting the blame to Snowball gives an opportunity for the animals to trust in Squealer more. The excessive use of comrades also makes the animals feel unified and puts Squealer in an equitable light. One of the strongest supporters of Squealer and Napoleon is Boxer. The animals on the farm follow Boxer’s lead because he’s trustworthy and strong. When Boxer believes that Napoleon can do no wrong and trusts him, the rest of the animals do the same. “Comrade Napoleon is always right” (126). Because of the faith that the animals put in Boxer, they all agree that “comrade Napoleon is always right” even though that is obviously not true.

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