How Does Orwell Use Propaganda In Animal Farm

Throughout history, leaders have used propaganda to maintain control over various populations, elevating the social standing of an individual or a particular group. This tactic uses extremely slanted and false information that supports a particular viewpoint and restricts the target audience’s capacity for original thought. In George Orwell’s book Animal Farm, propaganda limits the rebellion against a supreme being, Napoleon. The pig population utilizes propaganda techniques such as employing slogans, creating mythic enemies, and mobilizing Squealer as the official voice of the pigs to maintain control over all the animals. The pigs employ many propaganda techniques to maintain their control over all the farm animals. For example, Napoleon

For instance, accusing Snowball as a spy for Jones, Squealer states that Snowball “‘was Jones’s secret agent all the time. . . Did we not see for ourselves how he attempted−fortunately without success−to get us defeated and destroyed at the Battle of the Cowshed?’ The animals were stupefied” (56). Forcing this information on the animals, Squealer manipulates them into thinking that Snowball causes all of their problems and leads them away from the truth. The untrustworthy and devious Squealer convinces the animals that their memory of the Battle of Cowshed was wrong and that Snowball has always been plotting against them, ready to rebel. Justifying their wants, Squealer asks, “Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes, Jones would come back! . . Surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?” (13). To convince the animals that the pigs need milk and apples to stay healthy, Squealer persuades them to think that if the pigs are not healthy, then Jones will return. Threatening the animals that their worst nightmare will come true, Squealer preys on their fear to keep them from finding skepticism about the truth. Moreover, to introduce the idea of an animal farm, Old Major tells the animals to “never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of one is the

For example, when the pigs take all the milk and apples for themselves, Squealer explains to the others, “Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. I dislike them myself. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. . . We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us” (26). Squealer, the most persuasive pig, convinces the other animals that milk and apples are necessary for the pigs’ health, and without those, the farm would fall apart. Squealer also rationalizes the animals into thinking that he always tells the truth, even if he logically justifies the pigs’ controversial behavior. The animals easily believe him, returning to their daily work without suspicion. Similarly, in the winter, when the animals’ portions were getting smaller, Squealer “had no difficulty in proving to the other animals that they were not in reality short of food, whatever the appearances might be. For the time being, certainly, it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations (Squealer always spoke of it as a ‘readjustment,’ never as a ‘reduction’), but in comparison with the days of Jones, the improvement was enormous” (77). Squealer tries to hide the negative connotations of the word reducing by replacing it with readjustment. When Squealer changes the wording, the situation does not sound as