Squealer's Role in Animal Farm
Uploaded by Admin on Nov 28, 2000
The novel Animal Farm, by George Orwell, is an allegory portraying the evils and pitfalls of a totalitarian government. It attempts to illustrate a society where all live as equals has not existed, and cannot be obtained. Orwell, through the use of the character Squealer, demonstrates how propaganda can influence members of a communist community in a negative way. By drawing parallels to events in communist Russia, Orwell's Animal Farm shows how propaganda was used to dominate the Soviet people. By deceiving, threatening and order was maintained and the populace remained ignorant.. The story uses clear and easily understood language to explain and expose the downfall of communist Russia.
During the story, Orwell utilizes Squealer to portray how propaganda convinced, swindled and duped Russian citizens. Squealer being a sly, clever pig has the ability to manipulate information in his speeches. His cunning is substantially significant to the deception of the other animals. Beginning in chapter three, Squealer first deceives the animals. The animals are aware that the entire stock of milk and apples are reserved exclusively to the pigs, and Squealer is dictated to clarify the uneven dispersing of farm resources. "'Comrades' he cried. 'You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege?'" (Orwell 42) He continues his speech, " 'Milk and apples (this has been proved by science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. We pigs are brainworkers (42). At this point, Squealer attempts to reason to the animals that it is only on account of health concerns that the pigs acquire the apples and milk, but he seeks to brainwash them in different manners also. Squealer proceeds, " 'The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us.... It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples'"(42). Ultimately, he sways the additional farm animals with fear. "'Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes, Jones would come back!'" (42) Squealer affrights and alarms the animals into obedience with the ominous warning of the reinstatement of Mr. Jones, the abusive farmer that was forced out of the farm by the animals. Squealer is frantic to attain the apples and milk and will not cease to manipulate and exploit the other animals into accepting and embracing that the pigs should...