Discussion Topic

Persuasion in Animal Farm

Summary:

In Animal Farm, persuasion is a central theme used by the pigs, especially Squealer, to maintain control over the other animals. Squealer employs rhetorical techniques, such as false facts and fear, to justify the pigs' privileges, like taking milk and apples for themselves. The novel serves as an allegory, with characters symbolizing political roles, reflecting author George Orwell's insights on political manipulation, as detailed in his essay "Politics and the English Language." Persuasion is key at pivotal moments, like Old Major's initial rebellion speech and Moses' visions.

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Who uses persuasion in the novel Animal Farm and how?

In Animal Farm, persuasion is used primarily by the pigs, most notably Squealer, for the purpose of maintaining total control over the other animals.

As a skilled public speaker, Squealer routinely uses his speeches to persuade the animals that the pigs are only acting in the best interests of everybody. This is shown clearly in chapter three when it is discovered that the pigs have taken the milk and apples for themselves instead of sharing them out equally. To justify this action, Squealer first claims that pigs need milk and applies because they are "brainworkers" and these foods have been scientifically proven to aid the brain. Secondly, he uses fear to stop the animals from voicing any complaints:

"Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back! Yes, Jones would come back!"

Through a combination of false facts and fear,...

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Squealer, speaking on behalf ofNapoleon, successfully persuades the other animals to accept this unfair situation. 

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How does persuasion connect to Animal Farm?

The main literary device used is allegory and characterization. In other words, Orwell uses, in this case, characters and setting to represent something other than their literal meaning. Think of which animals play which political roles; it's all intentional. Then, think of the characteristcs that most people associate with each animal. Try writing down "pig" and then underneath it, write down everything that comes to mind with the animal. Do the same thing for each animal involved in the story.

As for persuasion, Orwell was something of an authority on how politicians or other people in positions of power use language to manipulate/persuade others. Specifically, he wrote "Politics and the English Language" in 1946. The essay analyzed the English language and revealed a plethora of tricks used by politicans. A lot of what Orwell wrote in the essay is also reflected in the book. See the link below to see what I'm talking about.

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In many ways, "Animal Farm" is all about persuasion, at least at key pivotal moments in the plot. At the very start of the novel, for example, the animals don't spontaneously move in rebellion. They must be persuaded that they are a collective whole. Old Major does this through articulating his philosophy of Animalism. In Chapter 1 he says,  " “All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.”

Moses counters with another persuasive vision; look at Chapter 2, and how he paints a verbal picture of what awaits the animals. In Chapter 3, you can see several approaches to persuasion: education, simplification of ideals to the level of propaganda (for the sheep), and clever arguments about the threat of Jones' return.

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