Language Is Power In Animal Farm

615 Words2 Pages

When is language more powerful, when it is used to control or inspire? Like Edward Bulwer-Lytton once said “the pen is mightier than the sword”. This means language is more powerful than fighting. Language is a very powerful manipulative technique. There are many ways to persuade with language that make it powerful, such as controlling and uplifting. I find that controlling is a more advantageous way to persuade through manipulation and fear, rather than using uplifting techniques. In Animal Farm, a novel written by George Orwell, the animals of a farm take over the farm, leading to many disputes of if the next leader should be Snowball or Napoleon. Both pigs. Napoleon runs Snowball out of the farm leading to him becoming the one and only ruler. He ruled as a dictator, using many controlling techniques as he did.
One strategy used for controlling with language is manipulation. Manipulation causes others to believe something false. This may be a very effective way to convince people of one story, but it …show more content…

There are many ways to abuse the power of language, and while using fear it is commonly done. Many leaders rule with fear, not understanding the pain it can bring to others. In Animal Farm Napoleon chooses to rule with fear when he slaughters many animals, reasoning that they that they thought about, or communicated with Snowball. This caused other animals on the farm to fear being killed and follow the rules intently. Shortly after changing another commandment to “no animal shall kill any other animal without cause”. Many other writings, books, speeches, or ads use fear as well. A poem, Dreams by Langston Hughes uses the same effects in his writing, leading to the emotion, fear. An example of when he demonstrates this, is when Hughes writes, “if your dreams die life are a broken-winged bird that cannot fly”. Meaning you should not let your dreams die or it will be useless and

Show More
Related

  • Animal Farm Dialectical Journal

    390 Words  | 1 Pages

    In these dark hours, perhaps the worst in the history of the farm, I find that I only see unhappiness amongst each other. The cause of this unhappiness you ask, is the pig who you trusted, Napoleon. If he stays in power than the farm won’t be the only thing we will lose. Just take it from Boxer, He is a trustworthy horse Who never did any of us wrong. And Where is he now?, Oh right Napoleon had him killed just to pay for his whiskey. Now I don’t know about you but I think having ruler who would choose whiskey over an animal isn’t fit to rule.

    Read More

  • The Art of Manipulation in Homer's Odyssey

    942 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...e, the ability to manipulate words for the means of persuasion do not always have positive results. In the hands of the ignorant and irrational, persuasion becomes an evil that plagues all those who come in contact with and conform to it, but when used by the knowledgeable and thoughtful, manipulation can provide for the betterment of a society, such as the peace that ensues Odysseus's vengeance when Athena persuades them to stop the futility. Homer teaches young Athenians to be aware of the dangers of manipulation, rhetoric, and persuasion, but he also shows that a man who can do such effectively is deemed a leader, and that those who cannot are mere followers.

    Read More

  • Power of Adolf Hitler's Words in The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

    642 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first power language possesses is manipulating people. In the book, a character named Max Vandenburg wrote a book called Standover Man, in which the main character symbolizes Hitler, to bravely emphasize his thoughts on Hitler. The first page of the book quotes: “The young man wandered around for quite some time, thinking, planning, and figuring out exactly how to make the world his. Then one day, out of nowhere, it struck him- the perfect plan. (omit) ‘Words!’ He grinned.” (pg. 349) This example clearly suggests that Hitler used words to make the world his. He brainwashed people, and massacred Jews, just by using words. He realized that he wouldn’t have to use guns to lure people to his side. Eventually, Hitler’s conniving plan to use words marked an unforgettable event in the history. This left many grieving and dead, but he succeeded in making a strong impression and making the world his. Although his decisions and actions were manipulated by words, he could control people by his words as well. Thus, when Hitler knew that words would give him power to create ...

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Appeal Usage in Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter, Birmingham City Jail

    654 Words  | 2 Pages

    The mighty river flows through the mountains with liquidity and nurture providing life for all those who wish to take a sip from it. Yet the river is powerful in its own force destroying even the largest rocks, crumbling them into small pieces. People may be able to stop the river for a short time or even dry it up but the water always comes back in one form or another, every dam is bound to fail. Some people have been able to harness the power of the river, redirecting the mighty water making it flow in constructive ways. Similar to the river, language is influential. Its true power is not seen by the naked eye but by those who study it, those who use it as their ally in a war of linguistics. In Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter, Birmingham City Jail he is able to use all three rhetorical appeals to prove that demonstrations lead to negotiations and benefit for both sides of an argument.

    Read More

  • How Does Squealer Use Language In Animal Farm

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    Language is a tool used by all of humanity, with the ability to express the emotions and thoughts of people worldwide. “Animal Farm” by George Orwell focuses on three pigs that go by the names of; Napoleon, Squealer and Snowball. These three take command of the farm they reside on after overthrowing their human master freeing them and the other animals on the farm. After the expulsion of Snowball later on in the story, Napoleon declares himself leader of the farm. In order to secure a life of luxury for Napoleon and his fellow pigs, Napoleon (with Squealer as his spokesman) uses language that distorts the truth, language that intimidates, and language that appeals to the emotions of others to manipulate the gullible animals of Animal Farm.

    Read More

  • Animal Farm Rhetorical Analysis

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    Manipulation of language can be a weapon of mind control and abuse of power. The story Animal Farm by George Orwell is all about manipulation, and the major way manipulation is used in this novel is by the use of words. The character in this book named Squealer employs ethos, pathos, and logos in order to manipulate the other animals and maintain control.

    Read More

  • Animal Farm: A Comparison of the Book and Movie

    567 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was was a dark night, all the animals huddled around Old Major to hear what he had to say about his dream. It turns out Old Major talks about rebelling against man so that all animals can have a better life. Ironically, after Rebellion, no one except Napoleon has a better life and he makes their lives even harsher. This is a story of communism, this is the story of Animal Farm.

    Read More

  • Animal Farm Essay

    1704 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although George Orwell’s Animal Farm was created in order to mimic individuals as well as occurrences that took place during the Russian Revolution period, it is still possible to gain a comprehensive understanding of the text without a past knowledge of history through the exploitation of human nature’s imperfections. Following the publishment of his novel, Orwell confirmed that his goal in writing this fable was to expose the wrongdoing of the Soviet Union as well as the treachery of the true ideas of the Revolution. Nonetheless, there have been several other examples of events such as the French Revolution that can effortlessly be contrasted against components of the allegory. However, we need not to dig no deeper than to the fundamental faults in human nature to witness the catastrophic consequences that attributes such as hierarchy, propaganda and betrayal have on today’s society.

    Read More

  • Animal Farm Rhetorical Analysis

    1351 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The pen is mightier than the sword.” This is a popular saying that explains that, sometimes, in order to persuade or convince people, one should not use force but words. In Animal Farm, by George Orwell, animals overthrow the human leader and start a new life, but some animals want to become the new leaders. To make the other animals obey the pigs, they first have to persuade the farm’s population. Squealer is the best pig for this job because he effectively convinces the animals to follow Napoleon by using different rhetorical devices and methods of persuasion.

    Read More

  • The Power of Fear in The Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

    590 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Power of Fear Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. The power of fear can lead to one’s destruction. In Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, he uses fear to demonstrate the evolution of the protagonist Okonkwo. Achebe uses conflict, irony to demonstrate the influential aspect of fear in his well-known novel, which is examined by Robert Bennett in a literary criticism. Achebe uses internal conflict within his protagonist to demonstrate the power of fear.

    Read More

  • Human Nature in Animal Farm

    565 Words  | 2 Pages

    Animal Farm by George Orwell is a novel based on the lives of a society of animals living on the Manor Farm. Although the title of the book suggests the book is merely about animals, the story is a much more in depth analysis of the workings of society in Communist Russia. The animals are used as puppets to illustrate how the communist class system operated and how Russian citizens responded to this. And also how propaganda was used by early Russian leaders such as Stalin, and the effort this type of leadership had on the behavior of the people of Russia.

    Read More

  • Use Of Fear In The Yellow Wallpaper, Hills Like White Elephants

    632 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fear is the emotional state that someone goes into when they feel threatened or endangered. The fact that we do not know everything makes us think that everything we do not know is feared. There are many stories that include the fear of the unknown. Each poem, story, and drama include some type of fear. In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, “Hills Like White Elephants”, and “Poof” there is an extensive amount of fear for the unknown. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Ernest Hemingway, and Lynn Nottage all used the fear to their advantage while writing and making an entertainment for the readers.

    Read More

  • Politics in Animal Farm

    803 Words  | 2 Pages

    In George Orwell’s Animal Farm we get a glimpse of a strange switch in totalitarian rule.  From Mr. Jones a cruel farmer who feeds his animals to little and works them to hard, to Napolean a pig that will have you killed for a bottle of liquor.  Through stupidity, narrow mindedness and pure cowardice of some animals we view the inevitable as the farm animals become ruled by pigs.  Old Major probably not the first animal to think of as an animal to ruin a utopia for the farm, is in most cases not a favored example to contribute to the pigs takeover.  This pig finally near the end of his better than average life chose to create a rebellion against the then in power Mr. Jones.  A truly justifiable act executed in a time to late, for Major died to soon to lead the farm.  If Old Major had summed up an ounce of courage in his closer to piglet years further and earlier then his dying days the animals might have had a chance of a better life.  Old Major can be seen as him being a late coward having what is thought on the farm to be a good life trying to end it a false legend or maybe Old Major was a slow hero wanting to leave a better life for his friends.  Still though we should agree that for Old Major’s failing action or neglect was the time he chose to start a rebellion, in the few days before he died.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Language

    1286 Words  | 3 Pages

    language can allow us to communicate an exact idea or to persuade others to one

    Read More

  • Literary Devices in Animal Farm

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    What is the definition of a good novel? Opinions on this question may differ, but there are many things that good novels have in common. Most importantly, the reader must enjoy the novel. When I use the word enjoy, I don’t necessarily mean that it should make the reader ‘happy’ or ‘joyful’. The novel should give the reader a valuable or worthwhile experience. Many good novels often address topics that relate to our own reality. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, one of the main focuses is on power and corruption.

    Read More

More about Language Is Power In Animal Farm

Open Document