Animal Farm by George Orwell

Orwell addresses the issue of rhetoric in 'Animal Farm' by illustrating how language can lead to corruption. In his book, 'Animal Farm,' numerous characters employ rhetoric to persuade and manipulate, but the most skilled speaker is Squealer. Squealer's unparalleled ability to use rhetoric is the reason why Napoleon ascends to power. He distorts the truth in his speeches, and when Napoleon needs a problem resolved, he simply asks Squealer to address the animals, who then believe and support whatever he says. Squealer employs various persuasive techniques, including rhetorical questions, inclusive language, and exaggeration, but most importantly, he uses rhetoric. Throughout the book, rhetoric is portrayed as a greater adversary than Napoleon or Mr. Jones could ever be. It demonstrates that lying, confusing, or distorting the truth can never lead to anything good. Orwell effectively illustrates how problematic rhetoric can be. Napoleon’s greatest challenger is Snowball. Napoleon has been evil from the start, but now, with Mr. Jones gone, there is no one strong enough to oppose him. He can finally do as he pleases. He only needs to convince the animals. He has always wanted his way, and it seems he will go as far as it takes, even condemning Snowball’s work on the windmill. He knows very well that with the construction of the windmill under Snowball’s guidance, Snowball will be viewed as ‘better’ and would give him power. Power, that he believes, is rightfully his. He knows the windmill will benefit his welfare, yet he is still willing to oppose this idea to keep Snowball from taking any power. Snowball was a real threat to Napoleon. Unfortunately for him, Snowball was very good at what he did. "When Snowball’s plans were completed…Snowball’s eloquence had carried them away…by the time he had finished speaking, there was no doubt which way the vote would go…" Napoleon had no way of rebutting Snowball’s persuasion and was left with no other option but to use brute force, physical violence, and fear by unleashing the big dogs he had trained upon Snowball....

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...Orwell proves throughout the book that rhetoric is indeed a problem. He demonstrates how easy it is to confuse the animals into believing what they are told when they do not understand the concept. It works effectively to portray the message that "rhetoric is a problem." Squealer uses rhetoric to confuse the animals on the farm into thinking that they remember something that didn’t happen. He also tricks animals into believing what Napoleon says, and he has a perfect audience to listen to him: an uneducated, loyal group of animals. George Orwell manages to articulate the message he wants to convey with the use of language in its most powerful form, ‘rhetoric.’