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Examples Of Prejudice In Animal Farm By George Orwell

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The first forms of human prejudice emerged from a fear of outsiders and a feeling of superiority. When tribes interacted, they needed to decide if they would take the risk of competition or attempt to initiate a mutual interdependence. Some feared different types of people, feeling a need to challenge the outsiders and often fight violently against them. However, other people viewed the outsiders as an opportunity to create a partnership that would equally benefit both groups. Instead of the strangers being a group to contend with, the people could trade commodities and share ideas. The people who view the outsiders as a threat developed a sense of hostility and prejudice toward them. On the other hand, people who were able to develop a relationship …show more content…

Prejudice greatly influences how the victims see themselves and the world around them. Those affected by discrimination often have a decreased sense of self-worth. Prejudice can cause crime, violence, and even death, as well as many psychological effects on the victim. Penn State Black Caucus president Holman explains, “[Prejudice] is belittling because [prejudiced people] don’t see you as a person, they see you as a color, they see you as a stereotype, see you as a character. And they don’t see you as their equal.” In Animal Farm, the pigs grow overweight while the other animals starve. Orwell states, “They were always cold, and usually hungry as well” (84). “Napoleon was well aware of the bad results that might follow if the real facts of the food situation were known, and he decided to make use of Mr. Whymper to spread a contrary impression” (85). The empty food bins were filled with sand and then covered with the little grain the animals had left. Whymper was led to believe that the animals were not, in fact, nearly out of food. While the animals were hungry, though, “Squealer was so fat that he could with difficulty see out of his eyes” …show more content…

In Germany during the Holocaust, Hitler spread his extreme anti-semitic beliefs through propaganda. However, anti-semitism existed before Hitler wrote Mein Kampf. Anti-Jewish sentiments can be traced back to the Spanish Inquisition during the Middle Ages in which Jews were exiled or forced to convert to Christianity, and even earlier. Hitler did not create anti-semitism, he just perpetuated it. In Animal Farm, Old Major expresses his ideas that humans are the cause of the animals’ misery. Old Major explains, “Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever” (29). Similarly to how Hitler used the Jews as a scapegoat during the Holocaust, Old Major blames Mr. Jones and the farmhands for every problem the animals face. Old Major did not create the anti-human feelings on Manor Farm, though. Old Major’s propaganda appeals to the animals because they already felt angry toward mankind. They had experienced the hardships that humans had caused. When Old major introduces “Beasts of England,” the animals immediately feel connected to the song. Orwell states, “The singing of this song threw the animals into the wildest excitement. [...] The cows lowed it, the dogs whined it, the sheep bleated it, the horses whinnied it, the ducks quacked it” (33-34). The animals found comfort in the

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