Rhetoric In George Orwell's Animal Farm
Rhetoric is used throughout Napoleon's rise to power. It is used to keep the animals (excluding pigs, of course) from realizing the chasm between what really is happening and what they want to happen. They are therefore rather obsequious toward Napoleon.
Napoleon uses Squealer to spread his propaganda. Squealer, being very mellifluous and silver-tongued, can easily get the animals to believe and follow Napoleon's unorthodox laws and wishes. They don't realize how unfortunate their fate becomes by doing this.
Squealer is not the only rhetorical tool used in Napoleons rise to power. "Beasts of England" is also at fault. Unfortunately, the very anthem from which Animalism began is laced with rhetorical, obviously unrealistic undertones.
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
Of the *golden future time*.
Soon or late the day is coming,
Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown,
And the fruitful fields of England
Shall be trod by beasts alone.
Rings shall vanish from our noses,
And the harness from our back,
Bit and spur shall rust *forever*,
Cruel whips no more shall crack.
*Riches more than mind can picture*,
Wheat and barley, oats and hay,
Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels
Shall be ours upon that day.
*Bright will shine the fields of England*,
Purer shall its waters be,
Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes
On the day that sets us free.
For that day we all must labour,
*Though we die before it break*;
Cows and horses, geese and turkeys,
*All must toil for freedom's sake*.
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken well and spread my tidings
Of the *golden future time*.
By looking at the underlined portions(marked by asterisks *), one can clearly see that, even in the beginning, the animals of Manor Farm were doomed. Ah, yes, doomed.
And then comes the "Seven Commandments."
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or
Napoleon uses Squealer to spread his propaganda. Squealer, being very mellifluous and silver-tongued, can easily get the animals to believe and follow Napoleon's unorthodox laws and wishes. They don't realize how unfortunate their fate becomes by doing this.
Squealer is not the only rhetorical tool used in Napoleons rise to power. "Beasts of England" is also at fault. Unfortunately, the very anthem from which Animalism began is laced with rhetorical, obviously unrealistic undertones.
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken to my joyful tidings
Of the *golden future time*.
Soon or late the day is coming,
Tyrant Man shall be o'erthrown,
And the fruitful fields of England
Shall be trod by beasts alone.
Rings shall vanish from our noses,
And the harness from our back,
Bit and spur shall rust *forever*,
Cruel whips no more shall crack.
*Riches more than mind can picture*,
Wheat and barley, oats and hay,
Clover, beans, and mangel-wurzels
Shall be ours upon that day.
*Bright will shine the fields of England*,
Purer shall its waters be,
Sweeter yet shall blow its breezes
On the day that sets us free.
For that day we all must labour,
*Though we die before it break*;
Cows and horses, geese and turkeys,
*All must toil for freedom's sake*.
Beasts of England, beasts of Ireland,
Beasts of every land and clime,
Hearken well and spread my tidings
Of the *golden future time*.
By looking at the underlined portions(marked by asterisks *), one can clearly see that, even in the beginning, the animals of Manor Farm were doomed. Ah, yes, doomed.
And then comes the "Seven Commandments."
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or