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Characterization In Animal Farm

Decent Essays

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and and from pig to man again, but already it was impossible to say which was which.” Orwell wrote Animal Farm as an allegory based on problems resulting from the Russian Revolution. In Animal Farm, George Orwell uses tone, characterization, and stylistic elements to show that people in power use manipulation to stay in power. George Orwell uses characterization to show Napoleon’s character development throughout the story. Orwell uses characterization in Animal Farm to show how Napoleon went from an ordinary pig to the dictator. In the beginning of Animal Farm, while Jones was still in charge, Napoleon started out the same as the other pigs. He had to follow the …show more content…

Orwell is also shown being very cynical in his tone throughout the story. Being cynical means to believe that people only act on their own selfish ideas. Orwell shows this through his portrayal of Napoleon. Napoleon became the educator for the dogs. However, it ends up that he only did this to help himself. Finally, Orwell uses different stylistic elements to enhance elements of manipulation in the story. George Orwell uses dramatic irony to show the impact manipulation has on the animals. Boxer gets hurt and is being taken to the horse slaughterer. Squealer reassures the animals that Boxer is just going to the hospital to heal and will return back to Animal Farm healthier than ever shortly. This dramatic irony is being used to ‘manipulate’ the other animals. Since Squealer is a pig, he is already raked above the others and given absolute power. It turns out that Boxer was in fact taken to a “Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler.” However, the other animals could not comprehend this due to their lack of literacy skills. Next, Orwell uses verbal irony to enhance the way manipulation is portrayed in the story. All animals are given certain rules that they are required to follow in the beginning/making of Animal Farm. For example, on the first day of Animal Farm, one of the rules they were given was “No animal shall sleep in a bed.”

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