Animal Farm is a novel written by George Orwell that uses anthropomorphic animals to satirize the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the early years of the Soviet Union. The story revolves around the farm animals' uprising against their human owner, Mr. Jones, and their subsequent attempt to create a society of equals, free from human oppression. However, as the pigs, who take the lead in the revolution, consolidate their power, the utopian vision of the animal society becomes corrupted, and the pigs become as bad as the humans they overthrew. Two characters that illustrate how power is taken and given up in Animal Farm are Squealer and Benjamin. Squealer is a pig who serves as the mouthpiece of the ruling pigs, particularly Napoleon, and who is skilled at persuading the other animals to accept the pigs' decisions. Benjamin, on the other hand, is a donkey who is wise and cynical, but who remains aloof and indifferent to the changes taking place on the farm. …show more content…
He is a master of propaganda and manipulation, and he uses his skills to justify the pigs' actions and to keep the other animals in line. For example, when Napoleon decides to build a private living quarters for himself, Squealer convinces the other animals that it is necessary for the leader's safety and well-being. Similarly, when the pigs start to trade with humans, despite their earlier pledge never to do so, Squealer justifies the decision by claiming that it is necessary for the greater good of the