Pigs Gain Power with Propaganda in George Orwell's Animal Farm

The novel, Animal Farm, is a well-known allegory written by George Orwell. As a satire of the Russian Revolution, Orwell portrays the rise of a cruel dictatorship and the mistreatment of the general population under it. Like the Communist government in Russia, the government in Animal Farm employs the use of many manipulative tools, especially propaganda. Propaganda was used by the pigs throughout the book, deceiving many of the animals. As this story shows, propaganda can enable governments to bend people to any purpose. By spreading positive messages about Napoleon, persuading the animals that Snowball is an enemy, and convincing the animals that they can’t survive without the pigs, propaganda

On Animal Farm all animals are equal and all try to pull their weight, but some animals are more equal than others. And many other animals don’t work and some work more than others. Boxer is a hard working horse who is kind but he is very persuaded with the ideas of Napoleon. The sheep of Animal Farm are stupid and blind in following the pigs and just do what the pigs ask them to do. Napoleon develops a secret police out of nine puppies he stole and those nine puppies were taught in the way of Napoleon, who wants the dogs to be loyal and enforce his ideas. All of these animals are being manipulated by Napoleon and making choices so they can help others or help themselves.

As the saying goes, “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This text is an allusion to the Russian Revolution. After the rebellion the animals are left with two leaders, Snowball and Napoleon, that cannot agree on a single thing. Snowball was chased off by Napoleon’s dog and was left with all the power. in animal farm, George Orwell asserts the idea that absolute power results in corruption. Napoleon and the other pigs, interested in remaining superior, persuades the other animals by using intimidation and emotional appeals in order to keep control of the gullible animals.

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” That was when the animals knew the pig’s use of propaganda was so effective. Before the animals discovered the corruptness of the pigs, the animals of Manor Farm in England, irritated with the ways of life and how they are being treated, decided to start a revolution. The smartest of the animals, the pigs, took control of the farm while the other animals worked. Through the deception of the pigs, they changed the rules of the farm to better accommodate themselves. George Orwell’s historical literature work, Animal Farm, is a political allegory to the Russian Revolution. Orwell tries to convey

People play an enormous component in our lives and the choices we make. In George Orwell's “ Animal Farm” there are several people that show leadership and guidance. The Leaders of Animal Farm start off with good intentions, but as the story goes on it becomes obvious the leaders have grown power-hungry and have become the 'superior' animals, showing that equality does not exist. This source of power has been used by leaders at the expense of their followers for their own personal gain, like Napoleon, whose first sign of corruption occurred early in the book when he seemed to be the main leader of them all.

Squealer explains to everyone their motives, inquiring in a condescending manner. “‘You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples.” (52) He asks the question simply, making the others believe that it is due to their own foolishness for not knowing. In addition, the pigs create fear among the group to obtain obedient followers. “‘You would not rob us of our repose, would you, comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wish to see Jones back?” (80) Once hearing these words, the animals act meekly to their leaders. Although a mere prediction, the animals believe the threat and obey; terrified at the notion of Jones’ return. The animals stay obedient as Squealer and Napolean creates fear amongst them. Furthermore, the two are experts in lying, deception coming naturally to

Persuasion is an art. An art mastered by only the most atrocious of leaders. An art that embeds itself into the minds of its targets, enticing them to believe. It is for this reason that a reader can perceive the quote “Propaganda does not deceive people; it merely helps them to deceive themselves” (Eric Hoffer) to be very accurate in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. The allegorical satire and dystopian novella is about the Russian communist revolution. However, in a twist, the book uses animal characters. Through the book, Squealer, the propaganda machine of animal farm, cleverly uses the elements of persuasion ethos, logos, and pathos, to gain trust among the farm animals which consequently causes the animals to deceive their own thoughts. The

 Propaganda is one of the many ways people, or in this case animals use as a strategy to manipulate their ways of ideas into society. George Orwell use of it is presented frequently in

Governments and ruling bodies can make their citizens do almost anything with the correct use of propaganda. During the American revolution American colonies had a large network of newspapers and printers who printed propaganda to convince people to keep the morale of the American citizens up. Tom Paine played a major role in making propaganda supporting the fight for independence. Propaganda is also used in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. In Animal Farm the pigs, who are pretty much the ruling class, use Fear propaganda, The Big Lie, and Plain Folk to persuade the animals to do all sorts of things.

‘Animal Farm’ is an allegory of the Russian Revolution, where animals in the book represent certain revolutionaries and depict them through their similar actions and roles in the story. The pigs are able to gain power with their intelligence, but eventually oppress their fellow animals, and lead the revolution in the wrong direction. In George Orwell’s novel ‘Animal Farm’, the impacts of education and literacy are prevalent to the success of the revolution because the more knowledgeable animals are able to win the support and trust of their peers, as shown by Squealer’s rhetorical language, Snowball’s beneficial and brilliant ideas, and Napoleon’s assumed knowledge. Squealer continuously lies to his peers about how they have an abundance

Language is a powerful tool, some abuse it to obtain power and some use it to inspire movements and bring change. I believe that language is more powerful if you use it to control a population via lying, manipulation, and fear. There have been many instances of individuals and groups using fear and language for control.

The next few chapters of Animal Farm by George Orwell begin to settle the roles the animals fall into after the rebellion. They band together and complete the tasks required of the farm in a timely manner. The pigs easily take control over the farm and the animals follow their orders. They do successfully harvest the crops however, they ruin into problems quickly.

“Remember that all things are lawful to me” (Tranquillus). These words by Gaius Caesar Germanicus, more commonly known as Caligula, epitomize the corruption caused by absolute power. Under his rule, the Roman treasury was emptied, people suffered from seemingly random acts of brutality, and Rome was ruled by an emperor who thought of himself as a god. Similarly, in the novel Animal Farm, the Manor Farm is taken over by its four-legged inhabitants. Their equal government is soon taken over by a power-hungry leader, a young boar named Napoleon. George Orwell’s fictional dictator Napoleon in the allegorical novel Animal Farm and the lavish life of the Roman Emperor Caligula both prove that power always causes corruption.

In George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm the reader is taken to Mr. Jones Manor Farm where the animals begin a rebellion. Among the rebellion two pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, declare themselves as the new leader. Over the course of the story Napoleon manipulates animals into making him the sole leader. With all the power given to only him, he begins controlling every accept of the animals lives and forces them to follow his rules. Eventually they are back where they were in the beginning with Mr. Jones cruel punishment, now coming from the pigs. Animal Farm demonstrates that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely all through the novel by the pigs changing each of the commandments made by the animals in the begining of the

Throughout history, there are endless examples of people who became leaders and let the power they gained corrupt them. Some started as kind and generous humans and then turned to selfish, greedy dictators. One example of the corruption that comes with power can be seen in the events of the Russian Revolution which led to the death and destruction of a plethora of Russians under the communist rulers who let power corrupt them. George Orwell uses his novel Animal Farm as an allegory for readers to have insight into the corruption that power can bring. Power corrupts those who possess it because it makes them selfish, it makes them lie and be dishonest to serve their own agendas, and it leads them to compromise their morals.