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Animal Farm Rhetorical Analysis

Decent Essays

George Orwell’s allegorical novel Animal Farm can be perceived as a fable or as a more complex story. The novel can be viewed as a warning and outlines the specific dangers that come with the rise of a corrupt government, and also draws sympathy from the readers towards the working class who blindly follow the orders of the regime and rely on the unethical leaders for everything. Orwell strategically draws attention to how most political parties who promise to be better leaders than the previous become equally as manipulative and immoral, and how the working class suffer from oppression and also how with the rise of a new government, drives a wedge between the social standing of the government and the rest of the working class. Ultimately, …show more content…

Napoleon uses military force to intimidate the other animals and consolidate his power. In his supreme craftiness, Napoleon proves to be more treacherous than his counterpart, Snowball. At the regular meetings, Snowball often won over the majority by his brilliant speeches, but Napoleon was better at canvassing support for himself in between times. He was especially successful with the sheep. The sheep had taken to bleating “Four legs good two legs bad!” both in and out of season, and they often interrupted meetings with this. It was noticed that they were especially liable to break into the chant at crucial moments in Snowball’s speeches. Also, it was observed that Napoleon had been taking the sheep aside to teach them a new song. After weeks of secret meetings, the sheep started shouting “Four legs good, two legs BETTER” and then the pigs were seen walking on their hind legs. This is a perfect example of how the pigs change the rules and bend the overall concept of Animalism to satisfy them and to make life easier for them. Also, the pigs start executing animals that don’t do what they are told. The other animals recall that it was in fact against the rules for an animal to kill another. The animals go to read over the 7 commandments to confirm their suspicions only to …show more content…

Orwell clearly demonstrates that those in power who aren’t held accountable for their actions will unescapably become fraudulent. Also by accepting praise that is not theirs to receive it will force them to see themselves as superior and God-like. The chickens are a shining example for those who applaud the pigs for something that has nothing to do with them: “Under the guidance of our leader Napoleon, I have laid six eggs in five days”. In one of the final scenes, the pigs are witnessed to be walking around in human clothing, which again, is a violation of one of the 7 Commandments. This further creates a divide between government and working class. This act by the pigs, further proves Orwell’s warning of political corruption. Not only are the pigs and other animals divided by class, they are also divided by their morals. The working class are only trying to better their lives and please the leaders, whereas the pigs are only interested in having luxury and

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