Animal Farm Essay

Chase Olson

Mr. Farinha  

English 6th period

12 March 2016

Animal Farm essay

In the book, "Animal Farm," having power on the farm is a very important. Napoleon is a "fierce-looking" boar "with a reputation for getting his own way." Throughout the novel, Napoleon's tactics for "getting his own way" involved a combination of intimidation, propaganda and manipulation.

         One tactic that Napoleon uses to maintain power was with intimidation.  He used the dogs that he raised as his sort of army. When the dogs were born, Napoleon took them away from their mothers and claimed that he was "responsible for their education." Napoleon was actually raising them to become guard dogs and use them to later intimidate the other animals. These dogs were trained to become ˜fierce-looking' and ˜like wolves'. These dogs were used to scare other animals like when they chased Snowball off the farm and were used to execute the animals that protested Napoleon's decisions or confessed to crimes in front of all of the animals. The dogs were significant to maintain Napoleon's power by scaring and terrorizing the animals into following his plans. After the animals witnessed the executions of other animals on the farm, they were too scared to voice their opinions or oppose Napoleon. Napoleon used intimidation and fear to take control and become the leader of Animal Farm.

Another way that Napoleon maintained power in "Animal Farm" was with propaganda. Squealer was portrayed as an ˜intelligent pig', a ˜brilliant talker' and Napoleon's best advocate. The other animals said that “he could turn black into white” so he waseasily trusted by them. Throughout the story, he served as Napoleon's speaker and Minister of Propaganda to all of the farm animals. Squealer helped convince the other animals that Napoleon and the pigs were leading them to a better life. Squealer also made the other animals feel guilty by telling them to “appreciate the sacrifice Comrade Napoleon has made”'. Squealer is able to convince the animals that everything Napoleon did was only in their best interests. An example of Squealer’s excellent propaganda was after he was questioned about Napoleon stealing the milk and apples. He explained that Napoleon and the rest of the pigs had to take the milk and apples because they "contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig." He further explains that many pigs "actually dislike milk and apples" and justifies that it is all in their best interest. He says, "It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples." This made the other farm animals feel guilty and try to help Napoleon by working “extra hours” even though Napoleon did not work hard or put in any effort. Squealer was able to make the other animals do more labor on the farm just with his words and the way it made the other animals feel. He used the art of propaganda to allow himself and the other pigs to have less work or no work and let Napoleon maintain power.