The Use Of Propaganda In George Orwell's Animal Farm

Propaganda is used every single day to influence or persuade people. Every single person on this planet has fallen victim to propaganda. Schools, Commercials, Tv shows and books use it to change one’s opinion or way of thinking. In George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”, the use of propaganda techniques such as fear appeal, glittering generalities and card stacking were effective and necessary in the persuasion of the animals . They were useful to gain the animals’ trust, loyalty,and to take advantage of them.

A notable technique used by the leadership of Animal Farm to gain the trust of the animals was Card stacking. They would constantly blame Snowball for anything wrong in the farm. When the windmill was ruined, Napoleon blamed Snowball. He says, “ In sheer malignity, thinking to set back our plans and avenge
No one dared to do anything that went against Napoleon wishes in the fear of being ripped apart by his dogs. This is seen in the following passage: “ When they were all gathered together, Napoleon emerged from the farmhouse, wearing both his medals, with his nine huge dogs frisking round him and uttering growls that sent shivers down all the animals’ spines.” (55). The animals were afraid of Napoleon’s huge threatening dogs, which is why they were loyal to him and listened to whatever he had to say. Alongside the commonly used fear technique, glittering generalitties was also present in the book by the pigs.

Ever since the beginning of animal farm, the animals used short slogans to promote ideas. With the seven commandments, the pigs used short sayings to take advantage of the animals. The most rememberable generality was “ Four legs good, two legs bad”(22). The slogan is easy to remember and repeat. Due to the simplicity of this phrase, the pigs later on easily twisted and added to their words to get what they wanted from the poorly educated