Many dictatorships vastly differ but two commonly used concepts, oppression and tyranny, bring fear into the everyday lives of citizens. George Orwell, the renowned novelist, uses Animal Farm to illustrate how Napoleon and Squealer apply the ideas of a totalitarian government to grow a tyrannical nation. All of the animals who grow up in the Manor Farm under the cruel ruling hand of Mr. Jones, eventually expel him and establish an animal-ran farm, which Napoleon and Squealer begin to manipulatively take over. Once shifted to Animal Farm from Manor Farm, the animals notice that the boars in charge began to manipulate the once bright vision they had, back to a harsh, dictatorial environment from which they were trying to escape. Napoleon and …show more content…
Serving as Napoleon’s mouthpiece, Squealer defends the boar’s wrong-doings and manipulates the other animals by using his clever vernacular. Orwell shows how Squealer defends Napoleon’s confusing and sometimes selfish actions: “No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be? “(21). Squealer calms the animals’ disapproval of violently scurrying Snowball away by guaranteeing that Napoleon makes all arrangements in their best interest. The Times Literary Supplement stated, “Dictatorship is evil, argues Mr. Orwell with a pleasant blend of irony and logic while busily telling his fairy story, not only in that it corrupts the characters of those who dictate, but in that it destroys the intelligence and understanding of those dictated to until there is no truth anywhere” (n.pag.). As explained, the other animals’ minds become progressively tainted and they begin to find it more difficult to resist manipulation as Squealer and Napoleon join together to distort the truth and rule in tyranny. Squealer skirts the truth and regularly validates Napoleon’s actions, eventually transforming into his spokesperson and head of …show more content…
The boar’s immense lust for power causes him to act selfishly and violently execute the other animals. Orwell shows Napoleons dictatorial personality often: “But just at this moment Napoleon stood up and, casting a peculiar sidelong look at Snowball, uttered a high-pitched whimper of a kind no one had ever heard him utter before. At this there was a terrible baying sound outside, and nine enormous dogs wearing brass-studded collars came bounding into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who only sprang from his place just in time to escape their snapping jaws” (21). Napoleon’s violent actions and power-hungry attitude creates a place of misery, making him a prime example of tyranny. The critic V.C Letemendia states, “In the last scene of George Orwell’s “fairy tale”, Animal Farm, the humbler animals peer through a window of the farmhouse to observe a horrible sight: the pigs who rule over them have grown indistinguishable from their temporary allies, the human farmers, who the originally fought to overthrow” (127). The animals’ vision of prosperity becomes demolished once Napoleon converts the farm into what they were all trying to escape from. The animal executions, private army, and manipulative tactics used by Napoleon progressively transforms the Animal Farm back into the Manor
Napoleon then bans the Beasts of England which shows his abuse of power and desire to establish a totalitarian state. Overall, the actions of Napoleon show that he has abused his power because the animals are now in constant fear and can’t express their minds on animal farm. Not only that, but they don't realize that the true power is not within Napoleon but within themselves. Overall the actions that Napoleon has presented is so detrimental that he has taken control of animal farm to the extent that Old Major’s ideologies are now evanesce to the animals. Napoleon’s abuse of power has established himself to the point that it is inevitable for Old Major’s ideas to be fortified in the future. He has also manipulated the animal’s mindset through the means of fear in order to fulfill his desires instead of benefit the farm in all. By Napoleon’s actions and his mindset it is quite clear that he is ruthless, brutal, and downright human internally and
As Napoleon becomes the leader of the pack, he doesn’t use his ability of authority in the best of ways and his power starts to corrupt because he and the other pigs with power start to treat their followers unequally, lie to the other animals, and think of themselves being untouchable and tend to be selfish. Firstly, as
George Orwell’s Animal Farm is reflective of Russia during Joseph Stalin’s tyrannical ruling. The story’s antagonist Napoleon leads the Rebellion with Snowball. Once Napoleon overthrows Snowball, he deceives and manipulates the other animals with promise of a life free of restraint and human influence. After gaining their trust, Napoleon capitalizes on the animals’ vulnerabilities and uses his power to better the circumstances of the pigs rather than all animals. Although he initially presents himself as a democratic head, his leadership tactics are that of a dictator. Through examining the syntax and diction characteristic of Orwell’s writing, one can gain a better understanding of the novel’s sociopolitical theme.
Frederick Douglass once said, “Oppression makes a wise man mad.” Napoleon was a clever boar that oppressed the animals of Animal Farm. In Animal Farm, by George Orwell, Mr. Jones ran the Manor Farm. He was negligent of his animals and let them starve, so the animals rebelled against him. The animals were successful in driving Mr. Jones out and they changed Manor Farm into Animal Farm. The pigs assumed leadership of the farm since they were the brightest of all of the animals. Napoleon and Snowball were two rival pigs that always argued with each other. During a debate over the construction of a windmill, Napoleon managed to kick Snowball out of the farm and therefore established his supremacy. Napoleon used many tactics such as fear, propaganda, and manipulation to successfully seize control of the farm.
George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ is the story of the animals on ‘Manor Farm’ uprising and taking over to create an equal society within the farm. Napoleon, the self appointed leader of the farm uses manipulation and relies on the naivety of the other animals, in order to take full control of the farm. ‘Animal Farm’ is an allegory of the Russian Revolution which George Orwell displays through his novel ‘Animal Farm’. Throughout the novel George Orwell demonstrates the themes hypocrisy, dominance and manipulation.
Napoleon’s disastrous reign only supports Orwell’s idea that revolutions always fail, tyrants are only replaced, and a new government is never established. Napoleon is a cruel ruler who, fearful of Snowball’s return, executes all the animals who “confess” to being in league with Snowball. Napoleon uses Squealer as a propaganda spreader to the other animals of the farm. Squealer tells the animals how wonderful life is on the farm, when in fact they
In Animal Farm by George Orwell the animals in the farm lived peacefully after the rebellion until a pig named Napoleon took over and ruled animal farm. In the beginning of animal farm. Once Napoleon took control all of the rules on the farm and their way of life changed to how napoleon wanted it. The way that Napoleon treated the animals that lived on the farm was cruel and unjust.
Squealer, the king of Propaganda was a very relevant character in George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm. Propaganda is an idea or a statement that is often false, but serves the point of supporting a cause. Mostly know as Napoleon’s Mouthpiece, Squealer defended Napoleon’s decisions and commandement.This worked every time because of the animals lack of intelligence, compared to his skills to persuade his audience. Squealer’s importance in this novel was crucial. He was like Napoleon’s back legs, and fought for everything Napoleon wanted. Squealer’s way to persuade everyone, even when the right decision was clear, proves his title as propaganda king.
Animal Farm Writing Assignment In Animal Farm, Napoleon uses Squealer as propaganda, he scapegoats Snowball, and a strong force of dogs to set himself up as dictator of Animal Farm and remain in power. The first tactic that Napoleon uses is to use Squealer to justify everything. “Afterwards Squealer was sent round the farm to explain the new arrangement to the others.”(55) As shown here and in many other cases, Squealer is sent to smooth everything over.
“Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution. One makes the revolution in order to establish a dictatorship.” George Orwell (Brainyquote.com). Animal Farm is a satire written by George Orwell which uses animals to portray political issues most likely that of Russia under the rule of Joseph Stalin. Mr. Jones is the owner of Manor Farm which is meant to represent Russia and Mr. Jones it’s leaders that were neglectful. He forgets to feed the animals as well as well as beating them and treating them badly. A wise boar “Old Major” gives a speech that pushes the animals to rebel after Mr. Jones goes on a drinking binge and forgets to feed the animals. After Old Major dies, and the animals rebel, three pigs step up to take over. Napoleon, Squealer, and Snowball convince the animals that a strict regime is the only way to prevent to prevent their former life of misery and slavery. The animals fear allowed the pigs the power they were seeking and the more powerful they became the more corruption surfaced. They used manipulation, fear tactics, and propaganda to make the other animals see a false sense of reality. In order to keep the other animals from rebelling Napoleon, a pig and the leader, began to execute any animal that he thought threatened his control. The hens who revolted when required to surrender their eggs were killed along with any pigs that associated with Snowball ( the pig that challenges Napoleon for control). The farm has is now being used for Napoleon’s own agenda which is to make money for him and the other pigs. In turn, this also satisfies his need for power. In the final pages of the book the pigs are walking on two legs and meeting with neighboring farmers to let them tour the farm. In this final scene the it is
Throughout your life, have you ever heard of a leader doing awful things to the people and citizens of his/her country? Animal Farm by George Orwell proves that having absolute power will always corrupt a leader, as shown by the character Napoleon. Napoleon, the main leader and dictator in Animal Farm never really followed the true laws and rules of Animalism. Although in the beginning of the story, he is introduced as a keen boar, with only the interest in following out the last wishes of the wise boar Old Major, we soon see that he believes the pigs are better than all the other animals. An example of this is when the cows are milked for the first time.
Theme Analysis The theme of Animal Farm is not difficult to understand. Orwell intended to criticize the communist regime he saw sweeping through Russia and spreading to Europe and even the United States. Though he agreed with many Marxist principles, Orwell was unable to accept the communist interpretation of socialism because he saw many similarities between the communist governments and the previous czarist regimes in old Russia. Communism, he thought, was inherently hypocritical.In his self-proclaimed “fairy-story,” Orwell uses his allegorical farm to symbolize the communist system. Though the original intention of overthrowing Mr. Jones (who represents the Czars), is not inherently evil in itself, Napoleon’s subsequent adoption of
Squealer defends him, and the animals think “If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right’” (70). Napoleon is clever enough to use Squealer in order to make every animal think he is making the best choices. However, he does not show the huge part of himself that takes is irresponsible and out of control, which makes animals think that everything he does it
“What a pig” attains a new meaning of “tyrant” in Animal Farm by George Orwell. In the novel, the reader is presented with a story following the uprising of the animals on Manor Farm. They are led by the pigs to victories in claiming and protecting Manor Farm as their own, now renamed Animal Farm. As time progresses the true intentions of the pigs become more and more apparent. Eventually, Animal Farm collapses and glory of sole power over the animals and farm is taken advantage of. Through Napoleon, head figure of the pigs, it is visible that when one has unshared authority and power it can often lead to tyranny and manipulation, as seen in multiple events in the once flourishing Animal Farm.
The book Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, is the story of the rise of Napoleon, a pig who becomes the brutal dictator of Animal Farm through manipulation, deceit and violence. In this essay I am going to describe why I agree that the character of Napoleon can be likened to any other dictator in history. Firstly by his violent take over, secondly with his purges against anyone who opposed him and lastly the manipulation of his people.