The Power of Propaganda in Animal Farm (Essay Example)

control the animals' everyday lives. Propaganda and the spread of false information is rapid and oftentimes uncontrollable. George Orwell's use of propaganda in the book helps convey the allegory in the novel. Propaganda might just be the most powerful tool used in society today.

Orwell uses the 3 main characters Squealer, Snowball, and Napoleon to manipulate the other animals on the farm. In the novel, the pigs think that they are at the top of the ranks on the farm, and believe that every other animal is below them. However, in actuality, the pigs are the laziest as well as most manipulative on the farm. The most prominent user of propaganda in the book is Squealer. He habitually uses his words to mislead the other animals as well as to gain their trust. As a result, the other animals listen to everything that the pigs say, which makes the animals believe that the pigs are the most powerful on the farm. An example of this would be when Squealer tells the animals false information that misleads them into believing things that they normally would not listen to. In the book, Squealer says that Boxer is being taken away, which leads the animals to believe that Boxer was going to a glue factory. But in actuality, Boxer was being taken away to be killed.

On page 56 Boxer says that“ If comrade Napoleon said it, it must be true!”. This quote further helps explain the situation on the farm. The animals are completely oblivious to what is taking place on the farm. Though Boxer does not realize it, he is helping napoleon further manipulate the other animal on the farm. Boxer’s biggest weakness is his trust in others. Time and time again, Boxer puts his trust in the pigs, and they continue to manipulate him. Since Boxer is well respected on the farm, other animals believe what he says, which helps with the spread of false information.

“We pigs are brain workers. The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happen if we pig failed in our duty? Jones would come back!”' (pg.52). Although the animals were wary of the pigs getting milk and apples mixed into their food every day, squealer was able to make the animals believe that the pigs were eating the food for a good cause. The good cause being the welfare of the farm.  

To conclude, Orwell was able to efficiently use Squealer, Napoleon, and Snowball to help the reader understand the misconceptions and false information that the government was persistently feeding to the people during the Russian Revolution. Like the uncontrollableness of  Covid-19, propaganda is like a plague that controls the people. Propaganda plays a significant role in the novel as well as the Russian Revolution and is a very effective use of language.