The Power of Words: Influence and Propaganda in 'Animal Farm'

We give words a lot less credibility than they deserve, for they have a lot more power than one might think. Words are made of vibrations and sound. It's these sounds formed by the movements of our mouth that create the reality around us, without words our thoughts would never become reality and it is something that impacts us in every minute of every day. People throughout history and literature have used words to shape the reality of their own life and others around them through the means of propaganda.

In the book Animal Farm Squealer who represents propaganda or, information, used to promote a particular political cause or point of view, uses the power of words to promote Napoleon as a more selfless person then he is and that Snowball was the true enemy.

In chapter seven Squealer is trying to convince the animals that Snowball was in fact working with Jones, 'That was part of the arrangement!' cried Squealer.

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'Jones's shot only grazed him. I could show you this in his own writing, if you were able to read it. The plot was for Snowball, at the critical moment, to give the signal for flight and leave the field to the enemy. And he very nearly succeeded– I will even say, comrades, he would have succeeded if it had not been for our heroic Leader, Comrade Napoleon”(Orwell 90). Is it true that Snowball was working with Jones, no, but the animals believe and him and that means that to them that this is true.

We can see the effect words have on us everywhere today. Media is a perfect example. Most people, and I am at fault of this too, do not check multiple news sources to get a balanced view of world events resulting in people seeing these events through a filter created by the single news outlet we are exposed to.

Media through the power of words has the ability to change and influence our thoughts and if the company decides to bring bias into it listeners will only view that particular subject through the lens of a biased broadcaster until exposed to another point of view. This can directly relate to the animals of Animal Farm only getting their information from Squealer who was biased toward Napoleon. It is a human tendency to organise into hierarchies. Ever since our tribal days it has been human instinct to organise ourselves into groups of leaders and followers. Hierarchies can be seen anywhere you go, In your place of work you have a boss and even your boss has a boss, Political systems are hierarchies.

In our country, the hierarchy starts at the top with the president, and then the vice president, then the Senate, followed by the secretary of state, and so on and so forth. Even the human body is a hierarchy. We are made up of systems of organs which are made from tissues which are made from individual and specialized cells whose purpose it is to help the individual organ function. George Orwell illustrates this throughout Animal Farm by creating a hierarchy of animals starting with Napoleon at the top then the pigs,dogs and other animals below. After the overthrow of Manor Farm the animals automatically arrange themselves in this fashion , “The work of teaching and organising of others fell naturally on the pigs, who were recognised as being the cleverest of the animals”(Orwell 35).

This is how it stays throughout the story. The animals below the pigs do not have the strive for power or will to speke up against the pigs and the are the ones who want control. Some people are naturally more outspoken than others and are willing to be the boss, and others simple just want to do what they are told. It's just our human nature. Squealer plays an immensely important role in furthering the plot of animal farm. Squealer uses his thoughts to persuade the animals into believing that the pigs selfish actions were justifiable. 'Comrades!' he cried. 'You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples.

I dislike them myself. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health. 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. The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples.' (Orwell 52). Without Squealer the animals probably would have objected to Napoleon quicker. Squealers propaganda convinces the animals that Napoleon only wants the best for the animals, otherwise they might have revolted. Squealer helps create fear and loyalty towards their new leader.