Ignorance And Education In George Orwell's Animal Farm

In a society where the upper class has access to tools that the rest do not, this elite class of people often use these tools to overpower and abuse society. In George Orwell’s allegory, Animal Farm, there is a vital theme of education and ignorance. Among other important themes, Orwell shows that education is a powerful tool that can be used to gain the upper hand. Living in a place where it is effortless to gain power, the pigs quickly use education to manipulate the rest of the animals on the farm to work for them. This Allegory ultimately revealed the hidden message that first, education is important to all stages of society, when it is not, society is divided, resulting in the large groups suffering. Ignorance and education both play a

The pigs make an announcement in the morning following the hay harvest that reinforces their position of power. The pigs "revealed that they had taught themselves to read and write over the past three months," stunning the other animals. By stating that the pigs have learned to read and write "during the past three months," Orwell demonstrates that the pigs are aware of the power of education and keep it secret as a result. The pigs are intended to gain power through this education, thus they don't plan on teaching the other animals so they can keep power for themselves. Throughout the story the pigs use their knowledge to move up in what was supposed to be an equal and communist society, but unfortunately “some animals are more equal than

Boxer, a horse that works harder than any other animal, becomes weak and anticipates retirement as promised by Animalism; nevertheless, he must first visit the hospital. The animals gather around the "hospital" vehicle to bid Boxer farewell when Benjamin reads the van and yells, "Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van ? 'Alfred Simmonds, Willingdon, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler. dealer in hides and bone meal. Kennels supplied. Do you not get what I'm saying? Boxer is being sent to the knackers!” Boxer is denied permission to retire as he was promised because the pigs needed money for alcohol but because the animals can't read it is assumed that he is going to the doctor to get better. Even after they are told what it really says they are forced to accept Boxers wrongful treatment because they have no