Animal Farm By George Orwell

Knowledge is Power

The topic of education for all is of utmost importance in this digital day and age. George Orwell's novel Animal Farm uses animals to illustrate his opinion about the Russian revolution. The farm is organized in classes, the pigs and dogs are the wealthy and the other animals represent the proletariat. To briefly summarize, the novel focuses on the anthropomorphic farm animals who overthrow their masters, only to subsequently be mistreated by their own. The allegorical tale Animal Farm delves into the dangers of a lack of education ,showing a direct correlation between ignorance and oppression.The animals lack of education is the sole reason they were able to be easily oppressed because it contributed towards their gullibility,
rendered them voiceless and reliant on the pigs. The pigs,who represent the ruling class, exploit the other animals innocence and proceed to brainwash them.
Via many propaganda techniques, the farm’s dictator Napoleon and his accomplice Squealer implemented false ideas into the animals minds. After the rebellion the pigs formulated 10 commandments that all citizens must respect. Ensuring that none of the citizens adopt human habits. However, as the story progressed their animalistic (allegory for socialism) ideals began to deteriorate. This is illustrated by the pigs changing the commandments(Orwell 51, 65 , 76 and 91.) Moreover, the farm animals such as Boxer a hard-working cart-horse were bombarded with propaganda. The pigs appealed to their feelings instead of their intellect. Squealer a character the most notorious of this, was caught modifying the rules (Orwell 76) none of the animals understood what he was doing. Squealer utilized their gullibility to his advantage, using convoluted sentences to persuade the animals.`’He repeated a number of times, ‘Tactics, comrades, tactic!’’’( Orwell 45.)This is an example of glittering generalities. Squealer was incredibly manipulative, guilt tripping the animals into accepting unfair treatment. Justifying inequality by stating leadership is unpleasant because it is "deep and heavy responsibility"(Orwell 43) Also, they cannot understand the immense conflict of interest of Napoleon being head of every committee, not having to comply to any regulations, being exempt of laws. A propaganda technique that is very prevalent in the story is card stacking; supplying bias information but making the listener believe that they are making an informed decision. On the farm Napoleon was constantly praised as if he was a deity while any of his opposers are vilified. Some of his tactics mirror those of indoctrination, the person is subjected to unfair treatment and shamed for a lack of appreciation when they begin to protest. The animals becoming very engrossed in the pigs
speeches"The animals listened first to Napoleon, then to Snowball, and could not make up their minds which was right " ( Orwell 41) The animals are easily swayed by the pigs because they lack reason. To conclude, the animals are unable to think critically thus impairing their capacity of making objective choices.
For reason of their illiteracy, the working class animals are unfit of speaking on their own behalf properly. There illiteracy limits their access to realms of learning (they cannot refer to past bodies of work) creating a feeling of alienation shared amongst the majority of them. Any possibility of autonomous learning is squandered, as it was showed by Snowball consulting Mr. Jones’ handyman books to design the windmill(Orwell 39.)Their lack of speaking doesn't equate to a lack of understanding or introspection. In the novel, the author grants us entry into Clover, the cart horse's mind. "Such were her thoughts, though she lacks the words to express them." (Orwell 63.) The quote expresses the inner tumult she felt after Napoleon held a mass execution of traitorous animals. Moreover, the working class animals rarely gave their input (Orwell 14–15) and lacked a spokesperson which made it difficult to defend themselves and control their narrative. However, the simpler animals were unified by dream of a better future and the song ‘’Beast of England’’ that urges them to delay gratification in hopes of being rewarded later. Until Napoleon forbade them of singing it, arguing that the rebellion tune was pointless. Actually, it was an act of censorship, he didn't want them to draw parallels between their expectations and reality. In the event of opposition Napoleon and his cronies silenced is their opponents, by blackmailing; letting the subordinates hens starve to death and threatening to kill anyone who tried to come to their aid. Or by manipulating language, like Squealer he tries to convince boxer of Snowball's treachery (Orwell 59). Or using fear tactics, for example after Napoleon’s coup the smarter animals tried to object but they refrained at the sound of dogs menacing growls(Orwell 43). To conclude, the animal's inability to vocalize their opinion is linked to their ignorance and further eliminates the room for any public discourse. Pigs are a very vital part of the farm's social system, their contribution was making the farm self autonomous, the farm animals have a great dependency on them. The dogs and the pigs are widely perceived as being superior, an idea that has been reinforced when Snowball taught the animals how to read and write(Orwell 28-29.) Certain animals struggled(Boxer), most were literate to some degree and the the pigs and Benjamin the donkey, excelled. Benjamin was an intriguing character being the sole sole animal in the working class who was perfectly literate and one could argue that Benjamin's passivity contributed towards the other animals oppression. However, the animals would in turn be reliant on him, creating an unhealthy power dynamic they should strive to gain more knowledge and be empowered. Also, in an attempt to save Boxer’s life(Orwell 84) he broke his unofficial pact of silence by alerting the other animals, but it was all in vain. This demonstrates, that if they were all literate the situation would have been dealt with swiftly and efficiently.
With the intent of keeping the population submissive , the pigs kept the other animals in the dark. Continuously undermining their thought process and valorizing their own, ensuring that they are the only credible source of information. "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 30) This excerpt shows Squealer explaining why the pigs deserve more rations. Throughout the novel the pigs are granted more privileges than the others (sleeping in real beds, wearing human clothing, doing minimal manual labor etc. ) “ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS”(Orwell 91.)The favoritism of the species created a distinction between them and the others, with the justification that the pigs are inherently better. The other animals are instructed to work and not to think, leaving the task someone with a higher intellect. The perversity of this notion is embodied by Boxer's maxim"Napoleon is always right". Essentially, urging him to put his faith in Napoleon instead of trusting his own judgement. The animals ignorance is the reason why they are dependent on their oppressors.
To resume, the animals ignorance is directly linked to their oppression because they become gullible, voiceless and reliant on their abusers. What can be understood from Animal Farm is that any form of intellectual dependence should be avoided at all cost. The propaganda utilized by the pigs geared toward the animals ignorance, for example : using short maxims " Two legs bad, four legs good" (page) Exposing the manner in which the ruling try to stifle the truth. It is encouraged to examine the media's messages critically. Through analysis it has become evident, that prejudice and unjust ideas can infiltrate the government corrupting the most noble with power. Those who aren’t armed with knowledge don’t stand a chance.