Throughout Animal Farm, George Orwell employs rhetorical devices to construct parallels between the novel and Russia in the early 1900s and when it was under Stalin's reign in the 1920's. During this time Communism started to go to downhill as the “perfect government” that Karl Marx had envisioned started to go in an opposite direction. Karl Marx believed in a society where everyone was equal, but when Joseph Stalin came to power it became evident that there will always be some kind hierarchy with the poorest living in poverty. His use of rhetorical devices helps portray his message to the reader about the flaws of Communism and why it never works.
With the help of syntax, Orwell made the connection between Animal Farm and Soviet Russia,
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For example in chapter one, "Let us face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short.” (Orwell 5). These words are referencing the fact that non-aristocratic people felt as though they were being mistreated by the aristocrats. The tone of sorrow in Old Major's voice makes the reader realize that people of higher status are often blind to the needs of those of lower status. Along with the previous example, chapter six also has an example of language when Napoleon says, "Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? Snowball!" (Orwell 49). In other words, the accusatory tone makes Napoleon's words more serious and enhance his and Snowball's rivalry, the quote always makes someone realize that even though someone might seem loyal, there is a chance they are not. In historical terms, Napoleon's and Snowball's counterparts, Stalin and Trotsky never got along to the point where Stalin forced him into exile. Later in the novel, it is revealed that Snowball had been working with the enemy just as Trotsky did. Enhancing the meaning of a word using language helped Orwell convey his message, but his use of imagery also does a fantastic job of using words to help the reader visualize the story in their mind. As with syntax and language, Orwell's use of imagery also enhanced the meaning of his