Animal Farm: Propaganda Satire In A Novel

downloadDownload
  • Words 725
  • Pages 2
Download PDF

Propaganda is information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view. Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. Propaganda and rhetoric is still used in modern society, such as commercials and advertisements. The purpose of propaganda and rhetoric in the book Animal Farm by George Orwell is to spread the idea of Animalism and promote Napoleon.

Rhetoric is used in the book Animal Farm by George Orwell to rebel against Jones. “It is summed up in a single word- Man. Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever.”(Orwell, 7) Old Major was trying to exaggerate that Man was the only problem in the “system” and that getting rid of them was the only solution to all their problems. As Old Major said “But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me, every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year…”(Orwell, 8) Old Major is using propaganda to promote animalism by showing all the animals that Mr. Jones is very cruel and that everyone will die anyway if they don’t do anything about it. “Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labor would be our own… What then must we do? Why we must work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race!”(Orwell, 9). Old Major said this to encourage the idea of a rebellion and to over-exaggerate how overthrowing Mr. Jones will make life on the “Manor” farm extremely better. Orwell used rhetoric in the book Animal Farm to persuade the animals to rebel against Jones and to believe in Animalism.

Click to get a unique essay

Our writers can write you a new plagiarism-free essay on any topic

Propaganda is used in the book Animal Farm to promote Animalism. Old Major said “I have a little more to say. I merely repeat, remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and all his ways. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs or has wings is a friend.”(Orwell 11) He said this to spread the idea of Animalism to all the animals because the seven commandments were a major part of the idea of Animalism. “ And what is more, the words of the song also came back, words, I am certain, which were sung by the animals of long ago and have been lost to memory for generations… I am old and my voice is hoarse, but when I have taught you the tune, you can sing it better for yourselves. It is called ‘Beasts of England’.” (Orwell 11-12) This song helps spread Animalism because it is easily remembered. Snowball helped spread the idea of Animalism by “declaring that the seven commandments could be in effect reduced to a single maximum, namely ‘four legs good, two legs bad’. This he said, contained the essential principle of Animalism.”(Orwell 33-34) The whole concept of Animalism is that one quote “four legs good, two legs bad” so shortening the commandment to something that could be easily remembered by the dumber animals and something that sums up Animalism was a good example of propaganda. Propaganda was used by Orwell to spread the idea of Animalism.

George Orwell used propaganda in Animal Farm to promote Napoleon. Squealer said “I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labor upon himself. Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure.” (Orwell 55) Squealer is implying that Napoleon is “selfless” and that he didn’t have to become a leader. That he made a sacrifice to do that, implying that he was just the apparent choice. “ ‘It is no longer needed, comrade,’ said Squealer stiffly. ‘Beasts of England was the song of the Rebellion. But the Rebellion is now completed.’… So Beasts of England was heard no more. In its place, Minimus, the poet, had composed another song which began: Animal Farm, Animal Farm, Never through me shalt thou come to harm!” Napoleon banned the song Beasts of England because it was a direct reminder of the rebellion and he wanted to stop all ideas of rebellion and protestation so that they wouldn’t have the idea of rebelling against him

image

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy.