In Animal Farm, George Orwell establishes the use of juxtaposition all throughout the novel. One specific example the ideas of “Dictation vs Democracy”, where Napoleon symbolizes dictation, and where Snowball represents democracy. Since Napoleon wants the farm to flourish, (with Napoleon himself, along with the pigs, gaining the most power/rights), he would be a prime example of oppression being used in the novel; while Snowball would represent freedom because he wants the farm to flourish, (with everyone maintaining and gaining the same rights). An example of dictation can be seen on page 54, where the text states, “In future all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over himself.” …show more content…
This quote is important because Napoleon is stating to the animals that the farm will no longer be under democracy, but now dictation, through Napoleon's name. Also this quote supports the contrasting of “Dictation vs Democracy” because Napoleon and the pigs are not the only ones who are allowed to make changes; they do this in their favor (to make the farm flourish under their rule).
The other animals though, don’t have say. However, this is not the only of example of juxtaposition being used. George Orwell also establishes the use of juxtaposition by the comparing “Weak vs Strong”, where the pigs would represent the strong (they were allowed more rights), while the other animals would represent the weak (they held a lack of dictation and did not have as many rights as the pigs). For example, on page 76, the text states, “Squealer announced that the hens, who had just come to lay again, must surrender their eggs. Napoleon has accepted, through Whymper, a contract for four hundred eggs a week.” This quote proves that the pigs (Napoleon mainly) held much power and are taking advantage of the hens “lack of power”, proving that the rest of the animals were no match towards the pigs. And when the hens tried to rebel against Napoleon and the pigs, “Their method was to fly up to the rafters and there lay their eggs.”, as seen on page 76, Napoleon proceeded to starve the hens, killing several of
them. This again proves the other animals lack of say at the Animal Farm and how the pigs are able to take advantage of these animals every day. In Animal Farm, Orwell allows the reader to feel bad for the animals, while portraying the pigs as big, mean, intelligent beasts. There are many reasons why Orwell could have done this, but the main reason he does is because the pigs each represent different dictators/rulers of World War II. For example, when Napoleon says that he wants to “begin work on the windmill”. This is similar to the industrial plan made by the one of the Soviet Union dictators, Joseph Stalin. Also, “The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others”. The pigs dictation is also similar to the Soviet Union’s dictation over the rest of the Moscow, along with Eurasia. They would force the military troops to do work for days upon days, with very little pay and/or food rations; just like Napoleon made the animals work many hours, while barely feeding them. Because of these ferocious acts of the Soviet Union, all the citizens despite these dictators, just like the animals did not like the pigs. These examples symbolize how t
The two novels, Animal Farm, written by George Orwell and The Sky So Heavy, by Claire Zorn explore the theme of oppression through characterisation. Animal Farm is a novella depicting the lead up to the Russian Revolution, with characters from the events taking part in the story as animals. In The Sky so Heavy, Finn and his peers are stranded in a nuclear winter, hopelessly trying to source food for survival. The characterisation of Napoleon in Animal Farm and Finn in The Sky So Heavy both portray similar oppression through their speech. Napoleon portrays oppression when he states, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” (90), similarly to Finn; “our world was made from the dull light filtered through the gauze
In the beginning of the text, “all animals are equal” (Orwell 6) and are united under the common goal of freeing themselves from “the tyranny of human beings” (5). However, life on the farm progresses in a manner contradictory to this initial belief, and ultimately does not benefit the masses. Rather, it is driven exclusively by and for the privileged elite, “the cleverest of animals” (9): the pigs. Napoleon and his supporters are able to impose their authority upon the “lower animals” (92) by using language to create “the seven commandments” (15), and consequently re-creating them when they see fit. For example, it was declared in the Commandments that “no animal shall kill any other animal” (61). Yet, when the very pigs that created the law break it, it is re-written such that “no animal shall kill any other animal without cause” (61). These subtle manipulations take place consistently throughout the story, until all previous laws are eradicated and replaced with one overarching commandment: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” (90). Here Orwell highlights the fact that by re-writing the past, those in power are able to directly control the future. By monopolizing language, they monopolize progress. Without “the words to express” (59) their opposition, the animals lack agency and are effectively silenced, forced to accept what is written “on the
“When they had finished their confession, the dogs promptly tore their throats out, and in a terrible voice Napoleon demanded whether any other animal had anything to confess. The three hens who had been the ringleaders in the attempted rebellion over the eggs now came forward and stated that snowball had appeared to them in a dream and incited them to disobey Napoleon’s orders. They, too, were slaughtered” (pg 93). Napoleon like other authoritarian dictators throughout history is executing all of his political rivals in order to prevent a revolution or uprising to occur and further cementing his regime in the Animal Farm society. In this passage as he is directly violating one of the laws that Animal Farm created (No animal shall ever kill any other animal). This law was created by the Animal Farm society in order to prevent chaos and corruptness in the Animal Farm government, which in turn means that the abolishment of this law causes corruptness to reach a new height. “the winter was as cold as the last one had been, and food was even shorter. Once again all rations were reduced, except those of the pigs and the dogs. A too rigid equality in rations, Squealer explained, would have been contrary to the principles of Animalism” (115). Napoleon’s regime has reduced rations on all of the citizens of Animal Farm except for the pigs and the dogs thus further amplifying the fact that everyone who isn’t a pig or a dog is a second class citizen who can’t vote, can’t sleep in the barn, and can’t eat as much. As Napoleon reached its most powerful state, it also reached its most corrupt state having inequality as a common recurring theme in the Animal Farm society and enemies of the state being publicly
In Animal Farm, by George Orwell, many satirical devices, such as irony, hyperbole, and juxtaposition, are used throughout the story to criticize the Russian revolution and the adoption of communism. An example of irony is when the pigs begin to sleep in beds, something they vowed they would never do. The pigs defend themselves by saying the rules were that they would not sleep in a bed “with sheets” (70). This represents how everyone was supposed to be equal in Russian communism, but how leaders were developed anyway. Next, an example of hyperbole is that a pig named Squealer is said to be able to “turn black into white” (26). He is very convincing and a good talker. The over-exaggeration of his skills represents Russian propaganda. Finally,
In today’s society, unfair treatment is inevitable, and this is especially true in Animal Farm. George Orwell uses Animal Farm to describe the fascist behavior shown by Joseph Stalin after the Russian Revolution. He also uses the novel to incorporate his own beliefs about human nature, and to imply evidence that Dictatorships can happen in today’s society. Throughout the story, it becomes evident that not all animals are as equal as Napoleon says they are.
This story Animal Farm by George Orwell is a novel about an animal revolution over an oppressive farmer. The irony in the story comes when the pigs turn into the very thing revolted against. They exhibit the same cruelty by treating the other animals the same or even worse than previous owners. This cycle of cruelty is shown in the Russian revolution by Joseph Stalin who is represented by Napoleon in the story. Cruelty in animal farm is shown by the human’s treatment of the animals, and the animal’s eventual treatment of each other and the ironic characteristics of the two.
Throughout the story, the first signal that illustrates the corruption in pigs started right after the animals chased away Mr. Jones. When the animals milked the cows and discussed about what to do with all the milk, Napoleon cried “Never mind the milk, comrades…placing himself in front of the buckets” (p18) and then all buckets of milk disappeared. This is foreshadowing that later Napoleon may become the kind of leader who keeps everything good for himself and does not care about others, and this actually happened later. Several days later, someone found out that all the milk was mixed in pigs’ mash everyday as well as the apples and pointed that pigs broke the rule of “All animals are equal” (p17).
Like a snake, Napoleon cheated his way through words and overthrew Snowball, only to find out he would steal his justifying ideas after he attained enough authority. Consequently, Napoleon’s corrupt power is evident when the author asserts, “Throughout the spring and summer they worked a sixty-hour week, and in August Napoleon announced that there would be work on Sunday afternoon as well. This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half” (Orwell 29). This is captivating for it exemplifies Napoleon’s tarnished power for he was voluntarily forcing his comrades to work for food on their plate. By withholding food rations, Napoleon has control over all of the animals as food is crucial resource to survival. He promises more food, yet he abused the animals’ inability to remember as a mean of regulating distribution. Subsequently, Napoleon wasn’t barring there, “In April, Animal Farm was proclaimed a Republic, and it became necessary to elect a President. There was only one candidate, Napoleon, who was elected unanimously” (Orwell 54). How fortunate must’ve Napoleon been to inherit full authorization on Animal Farm. Once Napoleon orders the execution of the pigs and the hens, there is an immediate descent into supplementary betrayal, which leads to Boxer’s passing and
From the very beginning, Napoleon started breaking the commandment that stated all animals are equal. He had all the milk and apples set aside for the pigs. He put forth the idea that the pigs depended on these things for survival, and that it was in the interest of the entire farm that they be set aside for them. The others were convinced by Squealer’s arguments that
Pigs walking on two feet, horses and sheep talking. This is how George Orwell satirizes human nature in his classic novel Animal Farm. Animal Farm is an allegory of the Russian Revolution of 1917. The title of the book is also the setting for the action in the novel. The animals in the story decide to have a revolution and take control of the farm from the humans. Soon the story shows us how certain groups move from the original ideals of the revolution to a situation where there is domination by one group and submission by all the others. The major idea in this story is the political corruption of what was once a pure political ideal. Orwell uses satire to ridicule human traits in his characters such as Napoleon and Squealer. There are several different characters in the novel utilizing animals as symbols of people in real life during the Russian Revolution. Napoleon is the leader of the pigs that ultimately come to dominate the farm. The characteristics that we associate with pigs , lazy, greedy, and pushy are meant to symbolize the characteristics that the leaders of the Russian Revolution exhibited. Napoleon is admired by all of the animals because he is their leader. All of the animals believe that their leader wants to fulfill all of their needs. They also are convinced that Napoleon’s decisions are made the best interest of the animals. Napoleon’s piglike qualities are shown throughout the story. He exhibited greediness when he sold the dying horse, Boxer to a slaughterhouse for money so that he and the other pigs could purchase whiskey. Orwell ridicules human nature through Napoleon in the sense that he is trying to show how the greedy and power hungry eventually end in corruption.
Snowball and Napoleon are battling for control of the farm, they both want to be the leader because they know that the leader has the most privileges. The animals that are in charge, the pigs, do less work than the other animals. "All that year the animals worked like slaves." The title of leader is highly sought after, because the leader tells everyone what to do without actually having to work. The pigs not only do less work but they receive more food. "Once again all the rations were reduced, except those of the pigs and the dogs." The fact that the pigs receive more food than the other harder working animals, shows that the farm is full of inequality. This type of governing is wrong, and Orwell wants it to stop. Less power should be given to the leader, so that the leader and his followers can be more equal. Once a group or an individual obtains power, it is impossible to manage it correctly.
Orwell’s use of purposeful syntax shows the pig’s subliminal control over the unassuming animals and the original purpose of the rebellion. Old Major warns the animals in the beginning of the novel that they must “remember also that in fighting against Man, [the animals] must not come to resemble him” (Orwell 21). The objectification of
At the beginning on the text, after the rebellion, the animals are all seen as equal, with a high quality of life. Napoleon and Squealer often mentioned how important it was for all animals to do their equal share of work; however they often did little to no work. They were able to do this by Squealer acting as the media and reminding the animals that the hard work that the pigs did deserved a larger break then everyone else. As the text progressed, Napoleon and his small group of pigs slowly changed the commandments to suit themselves. Many animals didn’t question the change in commandments; and when they did they were either proven wrong or made an example of via public executions. During chapter 6, the pigs are questioned after allegedly breaking the 4th commandment “no animals shall sleep in a bed”. Squealer was quick to react, by stating that the pigs required extra rest due to how smart they were. When Muriel goes to read the commandments to prove that what the pigs are doing is wrong, she finds that the board now states “no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets”. Through this, the pigs where able to gain control at a rapid pace and adjust the rules to have the most benefits in their
The Use of Language in Animal Farm Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory in which animals are personified to represent the struggles and conflicts of the Russian Revolution. The main point emphasizes in the novel is that language is a powerful tool, which can be used to manipulate and control people in order to bring about change, whether big or small. In the story the pigs govern everything that happens, whether it is something as miner as eating a meal, or something as major and important as fighting a strategic battle. Napoleon, the foreman, or leader of the pigs is the most powerful of them all. Napoleon and his “side kick”, Squealer, abused the powers of language to manipulate the animals of the farm into thinking that the farm was a beautiful society flourishing with life and freedom, when in fact, it was quite the opposite.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm, is a satirical novel that follows the causes, effects, and outcomes of a revolution. The Manor Farm is overtaken by the fatigued and dissatisfied animals that work tirelessly for Mr. Jones, the owner of the farm. The revolution is inspired by Major, the prize boar on the farm, but is attained by Snoball and Napoleon, two other boars. Squealer, a younger pig, acts as a persuasive communicator between the pigs and the other animals. The revolution is sparked by the desire to live on equal and just terms. The animals on the farm receive little to no education which affects their position in the revolution. The animals’ ignorance plays a major role in both political and social oppression because of their inability to