Totalitarianism In George Orwell's Animal Farm
Animal Farm, published in 1946 by George Orwell, shows how one cruel and power hungry pig, named Napoleon, can dictate the other animals and turn the farm into a totalitarian government. The animals chase their owner, Mr. Jones, from his own property, and two pigs rise up into leadership positions. The first pig, Snowball, is comparative to Karl Marx in how he wants to turn the farm into a Utopia with many rules or laws to prevent the animals from becoming like the humans. The second pig, Napoleon, is comparative to Stalin, who wants to manipulate and brainwash the animals while gaining power and turning into a spitting image of the previous owner. After the dogs chase Snowball from the farm by Napoleon’s order, Napoleon steps into full power
…show more content…
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, Manipulation means to “control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously especially to one's own advantage.” Napoleon shows his manipulative nature through Squealer, "a brilliant talker, [who is able to] argu[e] difficult point[s] [and is] somehow persuasive [...] The other [animals] sa[y] Squealer [can] turn black into white" (2.2). Throughout the book, Napoleon manipulates the animals through Squealer who periodically changes the seven commandments on the side of the barn wall. For example, before, one of the commandments read “No animal shall sleep in a bed,” (2.33) but was eventually changed to "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets"(6.69). Another read, “No animal shall drink alcohol”(2.33) but is changed to "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess"(9.103). The changes made to the seven commandments only helps the pigs, and not the other animals, because Napoleon is able to bend the rules and do what he pleases. Napoleon also manipulates the new born puppies by taking them, “as soon as they [are] weaned[...] and makes himself responsible for their education”(3.41). By doing this, Napoleon is able to brainwash the puppies to obey his commands. Napoleon later uses the puppies, now dogs, to attack the animals at the confession
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, Manipulation means to “control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously especially to one's own advantage.” Napoleon shows his manipulative nature through Squealer, "a brilliant talker, [who is able to] argu[e] difficult point[s] [and is] somehow persuasive [...] The other [animals] sa[y] Squealer [can] turn black into white" (2.2). Throughout the book, Napoleon manipulates the animals through Squealer who periodically changes the seven commandments on the side of the barn wall. For example, before, one of the commandments read “No animal shall sleep in a bed,” (2.33) but was eventually changed to "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets"(6.69). Another read, “No animal shall drink alcohol”(2.33) but is changed to "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess"(9.103). The changes made to the seven commandments only helps the pigs, and not the other animals, because Napoleon is able to bend the rules and do what he pleases. Napoleon also manipulates the new born puppies by taking them, “as soon as they [are] weaned[...] and makes himself responsible for their education”(3.41). By doing this, Napoleon is able to brainwash the puppies to obey his commands. Napoleon later uses the puppies, now dogs, to attack the animals at the confession