Propaganda and Force in Animal Farm Essay Example

đź“ŚCategory: Animal Farm, Books, Orwell, Writers
đź“ŚWords: 441
đź“ŚPages: 2
đź“ŚPublished: 13 March 2022

Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, explores the crafty methods used by the pigs to gain power as well as the trust of the public, leading the democratic government to mutate into a repressive state. Napoleon, the leader of the pigs in Animal Farm, wants control over the animals and uses his subordinate Squealer to achieve this by having squealer spread lies. As a direct result of this, the animals become slaves for the pigs who enjoy the rewards. In Animal Farm, by George Orwell, force alongside propaganda is used to manipulate the animals into mindlessly serving the pigs, making the pigs abusive as well as an untrustworthy government. 

The pigs use the dogs as a force of violence alongside strict authority to shut down the animals. The dogs first appeared when Napoleon called them in to drive out Snowball, leaping “straight for Snowball” who ran away just in time to “escape their snapping jaws” (Orwell 5). Napoleon’s actions show that he is wielding the dogs as a weapon against anyone that disagrees with him. Furthermore, the pigs use the dogs to scare the animals into obedience, ultimately taking away the animals’ rights and free will. This is shown when the killings happen and “no one dared speak his mind” as “you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes” (Orwell 7). The pigs use the dogs to intimidate or harm the animals, causing most of the animals to avoid speaking out their minds. All in all, the dogs are used to keep the animals in line while also maintaining the pig’s status as leaders. 

Additionally, Squealer, the messenger for Napoleon, uses emotional propaganda to alter the animals’ views of the government. Napoleon ends the animals’ Sunday meetings and instead has the animals take orders, causing some of the animals to worry. In response to this, Squealer reassures the animals, saying that Napoleon “would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves” but that” sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?” (Orwell 5). Squealer is spreading propaganda to make Napoleon and the pig’s decisions look good, reassuring the animals that what the pigs are doing is right and the best outcome for the animals. Squealer also says that Snowball was on Jones's side all along, stating that “the plot was for Snowball, at the critical moment, to give the signal for flight and leave the field to the enemy” which failed because of Napoleon who “sprang forward with a cry of 'Death to Humanity!' and sank his teeth in Jones's leg” (Orwell 7). Squealer is trying to alter the memories of the animals as he adds details and events that never happened. Squealer is taking advantage of the animal's short-term memories in order to have the animals believe the government is good.

+
x
Remember! This is just a sample.

You can order a custom paper by our expert writers

Order now
By clicking “Receive Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails.