Animal Farm: the Danger of an Uneducated Working Class and the Use of Language as Instrumental to the Abuse Ofpower

First, the inability to read or write automatically let the pig take advantage of the other animals. The animals were attempting to learn the alphabet however, most couldn't get passed the first letter. "Muriel, the goat, could read [better than] the dogs. . . Benjamin could read as well as any pig, but never exercised his faculty. . . Mollie refused to learn any bu the six letters [which] spelt her own name. . .None of he other animals [could get] further than A." (Orwell, 28) The few animals that did understand how to read and write was inferior to the pig's level of literacy and/or did not use what they knew to their own

When the pigs gain power they start to organize committees throughout the farm. They also position the animals for labor work and basically act as a congress. This allows them to be passive making others do all of the work. They have a wide variety of knowledge to brainwash the animals into thinking the

None of the animals seemed to quite understand what the two pigs seemed to talk about they weren't informed properly. If the animals couldn't make informed choices, then they couldn't make good choices. Some animals had the proper education and learned to read and write. These same animals had such a lack of intelligence that they couldn't figure out what the pigs were talking about.

In a society where an elite class has access to tools that the masses do not, this elite group of people often use these tools to dominate and oppress society. In George Orwell’s story, Animal Farm, Orwell demonstrates that education is a powerful weapon and is a tool that can be used to one’s advantage. Living in a world where power is easy to gain, the pigs quickly use education (or lack thereof) to manipulate the rest of the animals on the farm to serve themselves. This story ultimately reveals the underlying message that  first, education is important to all levels of society, next, for when it is not, society is stratified, resulting in the masses suffering.

In Animal Farm, the pigs used their superior knowledge to persuade the other animals into thinking whatever they say is true. The first example of this in the novel is when the pigs are caught sleeping in beds. Clover remembered a rule against animals sleeping in beds, but when she went to check, she found “...herself unable to read more than individual letters...”(47) When she finally finds someone that can read the rules, it seems as though it has changed. This lack of education shown in Clover allows the pigs to change one of the Seven Commandments. Yet another example of the pigs changing history is just a few chapters later. Originally, the sixth commandment stated that no animal shall kill another animal, however when the animals checked after the massacre put on by Napoleon, “It ran: "No animal shall kill any other animal without cause." (63) This once again goes to show that without education, these animals are susceptible to deception. The pigs realize the power they have and use it against the unintelligent animals in order to cover up their

The pigs in Animal Farm use their intelligence to make the common animals do dirty work that

The pigs as we know by now, were the best educated but they gradually demoralise through the novel. ‘All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others’. This quote for me

Everywhere in the world and in almost every aspect of life, people strive for power. The desire of power is a natural thought to humans. In Animal Farm, a group of animals win their power from humans and create their own community, which they said would have no leaders. Naturally, though, leaders arise due to certain things, one of which, is knowledge. In Animal Farm, the animals on the farm gain power over the humans and start their own society, which leads to the pigs rising as natural leaders primarily because of their knowledge.

In today’s society, influences from the western world depict education as a prerequisite for adulthood, required to be undertaken as a child. We as students in a western world must learn the ways of the western world and how we can alter and instil it into the societies of the honourable eastern world. In ‘Animal Farm’, the pigs first tried to teach the other animals to read; some animals learnt the alphabet, but most did not. Seeing this, the pigs realized that they could tell the animals anything and they would have to be believed. Gradually, the pigs began to control education and began to indoctrinate the animals. For example, the sheep were taught to say ‘Four legs good, two legs bad’ at certain times so that the animals had to listen to the pigs’ propaganda, which was accepted and remained unquestioned.

In the novella “Animal Farm” written by George Orwell, we see many different themes. It goes from talking about power, to talking about democrats and socialists. We are going to be talking about education. This will show you that all of the animals other than the pigs have a lack of education. It will show that being illiterate and innumerate is very dangerous in society. There are no perks to being uneducated but, there are many disadvantages. Being taken advantage of, being tricked, and having less rights. All of these things show how having a lack of education is dangerous.

“No animal shall drink alcohol” (Orwell 25) was the 5th commandment, but Napoleon didn’t let that stop him. After he got drunk he had Squealer change the 5th commandment to “No animal shall drink to excess” (Orwell 109). Having that much power can be used for self-interest instead of thinking about the common good. No man or animal should have that much power or they will abuse it, just like Napoleon. Napoleon starting to think that the pigs were more superior. Orwell seemed to be stating that if Napoleon was the only one who knew what was right or true, then Napoleon could convince the animals that he and the pigs needed more of the resources, like milk and apples. Simultaneously Napoleon later on state that “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” (Orwell 134) Napoleon is literally saying all the other animals are less than the pigs. Because they are using tyranny as their style of government they can say whatever they want without having to prove it. From the start Napoleon is gaining control by having a better education, having apples and milk, drinking alcohol, wearing clothes, walking on two legs, and manipulating the animals to think they are dumb. Power is corrupting the farm and all of the other animals besides the pigs are losing control. From the start the pigs only did what they wanted to benefit themselves, by pretending to have the other animals

One of the main reasons why the pigs were able to stay in control is because the animals were easily brainwashed into supporting and believing that whatever the pigs say is right. The pigs were able to control the animals like this through the use of propaganda, they used many forms of propaganda and controlled the animals very strategically. When the other animals notice that the pigs took all the milk and apples Squealer said, “ Comrades!" he cried. "You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples … It is for YOUR sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples ” ( Orwell-14). It is seen how squealer bends the truth in this excerpt to make it seem like the pigs are doing this for the good of the animals, but they are actually doing this out of greed for more food and power. The pigs often use different propaganda techniques to encourage the animals to keep working and supporting the pigs. Squealer once stated that “ production of every class of foodstuff had increased by two hundred per cent, three hundred per cent, or five hundred per cent, as the case might

George Orwell includes a strong message in his novel Animal Farm that is easily recognizable. Orwell’s Animal Farm focuses on two primary problems that were not only prominent in his WWII society, but also posed as reoccurring issues in all societies past and present. Orwell’s novel delivers a strong political message about class structure and oppression from the patriarchal society through an allegory of a farm that closely resembles the Soviet Union.

Language is a powerful tool. It is a means of universal communication and allows for people of all different cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds, to come to a mutual sense of understanding. However, with great power, comes great responsibility. Words have the power to create both good, and bad. Given with the right emphasis and emotional touch, certain words, phrases, and sentences have the potential to persuade and move an audience to think or do something in a certain way rather than another. In George Orwell’s, Animal Farm, a group of farm animals are manipulated and exploited by a group of selfish and egotistical pigs. Orwell includes euphemisms, ad nauseam, ad hominem, and appeal to fear. Using their words to instill the feelings of hopelessness and fear in the rest of the animals, the pigs are easily able to control their every action. Their choice and use of words heavily impact the way the animals think causing them to be easily persuaded, enslaved, and used to the pig’s advantage.

On a beautiful Saturday morning on a Kansas farm,which smelled strongly of manure and hay there was a massive commotion.What was the cause of the commotion you may ask, it was feeding time, the day where all the farm animals got fed corn and vegetables and occasionally decent people food such as pudding and Peter the pig’s favorite bread.Peter was a pig, he was a very bright pig too,all the farm animals thought pigs were greedy,foul smelling and easily manipulated,but of course it was not true.Even though pigs are not as horrendous as the farm animals suspect,the farm animals still think pigs are inferior,for the fact that long ago pigs were the most unfavorable farm animal they did horrendous things, for example, stealing, going to the bathroom on the floor not in buckets and being inconsiderate to the other animals needs and feelings.Due to their misjudgment of pigs thinking they have not changed, pigs are oppressed by the other farm animals due to the farm animal’s false sense of superiority.