PROPAGANDA IN ANIMAL FARM !

The Weapon of Napoleon in Animal Farm: Propaganda

George Orwell or Eric Blair is the English novelist of all time renowned story, Animal

Farm. His idea was influenced by Marxist theory as he was a Democratic Socialist. Marxism

is the political ideology that focused on class struggles between two different classes,

proletarian and bourgeoisie. In Animal Farm, it reflects the idea of Karl Mark by manifesting

bourgeoisie as Napoleon and proletarian as the rest of animals. Nevertheless, From the

readers perspective, it is apparent that Napoleon takes advantages from other animals but why

can he continue his authority. Propaganda plays the main role on this. Propaganda is

dissemination of informationfacts, arguments, rumours, half-truths, or liesto influence

public opinion (Smith, L, B. (n.d.).). It has been used for years in order to gather public

agreement and also it is gateway for people to influence others. In Animal Farm, Napoleon

accumulates the power and exploits other animals by the use of propaganda.

One of the most noticeable of Napoleons propagandas is Plain Folks by sending

Squealer as a mouthpiece instead of himself. In Animal Farm, it is obvious that Napoleon is a

leader of the farm and holds the most power over other animals ; however, why is he able to

gain a lots of support from animals while he rarely speaks to them in the public. For instance,

After the second windmill is destroyed by Frederick and his men, the animals are laborious

especially Boxer who devotes himself more than anyone for work; Eventually, he has severe

injury. Later on, Squealer tells everyone that Boxer will be sent to the hospital at Willingdon

where it has the best veterinarian. However, he is sent to kill. Even though at first, Benjamin

said Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of the van? (Pg.124) and Alfred

Simmonds, Horse Slaughter.Do you not understand what that means? They are taking Boxer

to the knackers! (Pg.124). Benjamin already told what the truth is to other animals but at the

end, Squealer plead to other animals with nonsense reasons that the van was a property of
PROPAGANDA IN ANIMAL FARM !2

knacker and did not paint the new name yet. From this, Napoleon uses ordinary person like

Squealer to communicate with others. The reason why Napoleon uses Squealer is because he

is in the same class with other animals technically. Animals will find that what squealer have

said is what he really feels because he is like us. In this case, Squealer told a further lie to

animals that It was an affecting sight I have ever seen!(Page 124). By describing how he felt

when he saw Boxer, Animal think that he faces the same situation and understands like the rest

of animals. There is no reason for him to tell lies to them and this why plain folk is sufficient.

Additionally, Squealer also praised Napoleon by announcing Long live Comrade Napoleon!

Napoleon is always right when explained the death of Boxer (Pg.124). Via Retelling the

same words repeatedly, it, eventually, is imprinted on the peoples mind forever (Khorsand,

M., & Salmani, B, 2014. p. 3). Consequently, the animals will eulogize and open chance for

Napoleon takes advantages.

Secondly, Napoleon motivates and persuades the animals by the use of high valued

words in order to remain in power. Animals greatest ambitions are equality and freedom. This

type of propaganda called Glittering Generality. Glittering Generality means using the abstract

words which associate with a certain groups feeling, usually is a vague word in order to cut

out their process of thinking (The Techniques of Propaganda. (n.d.).). This can be seen when

old Major are giving a speech to other animals, he says No animal in England is free. The life

of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth (p.7). Afterwards, the rebellion was

occurred. In the same way, Napoleon uses the animals desires like when old major uses them

to encourage animals for rebellion. From the book, it says "Do not imagine, comrades, that

leadership is a pleasure. On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes

more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal(p.55). This is a clarification

from Squealer when Snowball is exiled and Napoleon commanded the new arrangements
PROPAGANDA IN ANIMAL FARM !3

within the farm. From the quote, Squealer implies that the value of equality is tied to the

presence of Napoleon. Furthermore, the word equality provokes desire and demand of

animals; eventually, it makes other animals accept the new arrangements immediately without

any approval or inquiring. The Glittering generality propagandist hopes people will

automatically and favorably react to the label without thinking about what it represents and

without checking non-verbal facts (Charles, A. F, (n.d.), p. 6). Similarly, Equality is a broad

word and is favored by the animals. Plus, Napoleon does not define the degree of equality

specially; therefore, at the end, the seven commandments are changed to All animals are

equal, but some animals are more equal than others (p.134) as well as the truth.

Lastly, Napoleon abuses the power through the use of Transference by being

irresponsible for his mistakes and blame them on Snowball. Transference is the propagandist

method by transferring liability or blaming on others. In Animal farm, when the farm faces

difficulties during Napoleons rule, he convinces everyone that Snowball is the cause of all

disaster. For example, when the first windmill was destroyed, he says Do you know the

enemy who has come in the night and overthrow our windmill? SNOWBALL! (p.70) , and

also Snowball has done this thing!, this traitor has crept here undercover of night (p.70).

By calling the Snowball as a traitor and accentuating Snowballs name by using all

uppercase letters, these inform his irresponsible by using Snowball as an excuse to keep the

animals in his obedience since the image and stableness of a country are relied on the

competence of the leader. If the Animal farm are in crisis, the power of Napoleon can be

unsteady form the animals and the animals will realize the truth eventually. Napoleon was

worried about the ruined windmill threatening his leadership. Instead of owning up to his own

responsibility, Napoleon blames Snowball and further pushes propaganda to manipulate the

animals' heads and filling them with lies (Majeed H. Jasim., & Fatima H. Aziz, (2013), p.21).
PROPAGANDA IN ANIMAL FARM !4

The evidence confirms that Napoleon used the Glittering Generality. Additionally, the real

reason of windmill ruination is the thickness of the war is too thin; therefore, the storm can

ruin it easily, and during the construction of second windmill, he orders the animals to increase

the thickness of the wall as well.

In conclusion, there are class struggles within the story of Animal Farm between the

Pigs and the other animals. The tool that makes gap between classes still go on is the use of

Propaganda by the Pigs, especially Napoleons dictatorship. He uses variety types of

propaganda to power over others. For example, using ordinary animal like squealer to

communicate with other, blame all mistakes to snowball and provoke the desire of animals. As

a result, Animal Farm never meets the Utopia which is all has expected after the rebellion.

Speech and language have major impact on peoples process of thinking and decision making.

Subsequently, these can change the truth to be lies. Like Orwell has said before Political

language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an

appearance of solidity to pure wind ((Shafer, G., (2013), p.32).

PROPAGANDA IN ANIMAL FARM !5

References

Charles, A. F. (n.d.). Understanding Propaganda From A General Semantics Perspective. A

General Semantics Interpretation, Page 6.

Khorsand, M., & Salmani, B. (2014). Manipulation of original ideology through translation: a

discourse-based translation quality assessment of speeches. Squealer and his

ideological tactics and approaches, Vol. 3(No. 5), Page 3.

Majeed H. J., & Fatima H. A. (2013). Propaganda in George Orwell's Animal Farm : An

Allegorical And Satirical Study. Methods of propaganda in Animal Farm, (No.66),

Page 21.

Orwell,G. (1996). Animal Farm. New York: New American Library.

Shafer, G. (2013). Political Language, Democracy, and the Language Arts Class. The Class

Begins, Page 32.

Smith, L, B. (n.d.). Propaganda. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/

propaganda.

The Techniques of Propaganda. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cengage.com/

resource_uploads/downloads/0534619029_19636.pdf

Woodcock, G. (n.d.). George Orwell. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/

George-Orwell