Animal Farm Power Of Language Essay

Orwell shows the power of language as a form of social control. To what extent do you agree?
Throughout history, propaganda has played an integral part in political regimes. The dictatorship under Napoleon is no different. Napoleon uses the power of language (essentially a type of propaganda) very effectively to pacify, and later silence the greater population of animals. Later on, however, we see that physical violence is just as, if not more effective as a means of social control.
At the very start of the novel, Old Major delivers a speech. He incites the animals to rebel against the humans, speaking passionately about a ‘golden future”. He says “remove man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever” and talks about how “you young porkers will scream your lives out at the block within a year”. ‘Beasts of England’ paints the very image of utopia. The animals are unable to resist being drawn in and stirred by Major’s emotional speech, and so it can be said that Major managed to control, or at least direct the animals (to rebel) with just a speech.
He is a small fat porker, with round cheeks, twinkling eyes, nimble movements and a shrill voice, which is the very image of a corrupted politician. “The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white”, which implies that not only is he a brilliant talker, but also a fantastic liar. Squealer is Napoleon’s right hand man, later on, when Napoleon rarely appeared in public, Squealer is sent out to order around and persuade the animals, and he is exceptionally good at what he does. Squealer uses several persuasive techniques in all the speeches that he delivers and also lies without any qualms as long as it gets him to his