Animail Farm

Revisionist Tactics in Animal Farm

The revisionist history casts a false light on actual events and misrepresents reality. The book Animal Farm is a vicious assessment of the history and rhetoric of the Russian Revolution. Retelling the story of the emergence and development of Soviet communism in the form of an animal fable, Animal Farm allegorizes the rise to power of the dictator Joseph Stalin. In the novella, the overthrow of the human oppressor Mr. Jones by a democratic coalition of animals quickly gives way to the consolidation of power among the pigs. In the fable the pigs use revisionist tactics to maintain control over the other animals and to maintain secrecy and sovereignty. The revisionist tactics are displayed in many ways throughout the book, more particularly with the Seven Commandments, Snowball’s role in the Battle of Cowshed, Napoleon’s role in the Battle of Cowshed, and Boxer’s death.

In chapter two, they have just overthrown Mr. Jones and the pigs reveal to the other animals that they have taught themselves how to read, and Snowball replaces the words on the sign “Manor Farm” on the front gate with the words “Animal Farm.” Snowball and Napoleon, having reduced the principles of Animalism to seven key commandments, paint these commandments on the side of the big barn. When it becomes apparent that many of the animals are unable to memorize the Seven Commandments, Snowball reduces the principles to one essential maxim, which he says contains the heart of Animalism: “Four legs good, two legs bad.” The animals accept the maxim without argument, and the sheep begin to chant it at random times, mindlessly, as if it were a song. A few days after the bloody executions, the animals discover that the commandment reading “No animal shall kill any other animal” now reads: “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.” As with the previous revisions of commandments, the animals blame the apparent change on their faulty memoriesвЂ"they must have forgotten the final two words. Then in chapter 10, Benjamin began to read the writing on the barn wall where the Seven Commandments were originally inscribed. Only the last commandment remains: “all animals are equal.” However, it now carries an addition: “but some animals are more equal than others.” This is a true display of a system designed to enslave the other animals. Squealer was used as the main vehicle for shaping the minds of the other animals. The revisionist view of the Seven Commandments changed with it deem necessary to their own needs. At first the pigs used the painting of the name and Seven Commandments as symbolism of their freedom from oppression. Then over time the commandments are shortened so that the rules can be less specific therefore the animals will concern themselves with working and not learning the all rules. The rules were also adjusted when the pigs found the whisky and began to drink alcohol. The other animals were given many reasons by Squealer to explain the changes and they were made to feel that it was for the good of the farm. The pigs also used the sheep to reinforce these notions with often recitation.

In chapter seven, Squealer announces that Snowball has sold himself to Mr. Frederick’s farm, Pinchfield, and that the treacherous pig has been in league with Mr. Jones from the start. He recalls Snowball’s attempts at the Battle of the Cowshed to have the animals defeated. The animals hear these words in stupefied astonishment. They remember Snowball’s heroism and recall that he received a medal. Boxer, in particular, is completely baffled. But Napoleon and Squealer convince the others that Snowball’s apparent bravery simply constituted part of his treacherous plot. They also work to convince the animals of Napoleon’s superior bravery during that battle. So vividly does Squealer