Propaganda in Animal Farm: Powerful Persuasion by Pigs
Throughout the Russian Revolution of 1917 propaganda told people what to believe, ridding them of their right of freedom to think. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm the pigs use
tactics of influence against the other animals in much the same way. The leading pig, Napoleon
promptly takes over the farm after the rebellion against Jones and consequently turns his
comrades’ lives into a living hell without them even realizing it. Animal Farm vividly displays
how the varying use of propaganda can easily misguide and potentially harm the uneducated or
misinformed.
All the animals despised Mr. Jones for the way him and his men treated them, so
naturally when he is run off the farm, the animals are overjoyed. Since the rebellion, the animal’s
biggest fear has been that Jones may one day come back. With Squealer being Napoleon’s right
hand man, it is his job to convince the lower animals that is indeed will happen if they do not
follow under Napoleon’s rule. After the rebellion, Squealer is instructed to explain to the other
animals why the milk and apples will now go into the pigs mash. He announces “It is for your
sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happen if we pigs
failed in our duty? Jones would come back!” (23). The mere thought of Jones returning is
enough for the animals to forget all about the milk and apples. This shows that the easily
moulded minds of the animals allow them to be greatly taken advantage of when fear is
involved. A second act of when the pigs use fear to control the animals is when Napoleon let the
dogs loose on Snowball. They are meant to scare as Orwell explains, “Though not yet fully
grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves.” (36) From this statement, there is
an understanding for the previous question as to why Napoleon separated the dogs from the other
animals. The animals are blinded by the fear
tactics of influence against the other animals in much the same way. The leading pig, Napoleon
promptly takes over the farm after the rebellion against Jones and consequently turns his
comrades’ lives into a living hell without them even realizing it. Animal Farm vividly displays
how the varying use of propaganda can easily misguide and potentially harm the uneducated or
misinformed.
All the animals despised Mr. Jones for the way him and his men treated them, so
naturally when he is run off the farm, the animals are overjoyed. Since the rebellion, the animal’s
biggest fear has been that Jones may one day come back. With Squealer being Napoleon’s right
hand man, it is his job to convince the lower animals that is indeed will happen if they do not
follow under Napoleon’s rule. After the rebellion, Squealer is instructed to explain to the other
animals why the milk and apples will now go into the pigs mash. He announces “It is for your
sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happen if we pigs
failed in our duty? Jones would come back!” (23). The mere thought of Jones returning is
enough for the animals to forget all about the milk and apples. This shows that the easily
moulded minds of the animals allow them to be greatly taken advantage of when fear is
involved. A second act of when the pigs use fear to control the animals is when Napoleon let the
dogs loose on Snowball. They are meant to scare as Orwell explains, “Though not yet fully
grown, they were huge dogs, and as fierce-looking as wolves.” (36) From this statement, there is
an understanding for the previous question as to why Napoleon separated the dogs from the other
animals. The animals are blinded by the fear