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Role of propaganda essay
How language influences society
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Lauren Seidewand
ENG 1D1
Mr. Andreacchi
February 8th, 2016 Animal Farm Essay
Language use is an effective tool that is able to alter the way one thinks, if used right. Consequently, if one can control the way someone else thinks, one is able to obtain power over that person in many different ways. Most people will come across a situation like this at some point in their life. In the novel “Animal Farm”, Squealer is able to control the animal’s thoughts as a result of him using his language skills to his advantage in order to create deception, manipulation and fear amongst the farm, which ultimately results in him obtaining complete power over the animals.
Firstly, Squealer uses his language skills to create deception, which is the act of lying and leading someone to believe something that is not true. Squealer uses deception many times throughout the novel. An example of deception is when Squealer tells the animals “Milk and apples (this has been proven by science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig” (Orwell, 23). This is an example of deception because this statement has not in fact been proven by science, and Squealer is using this as a selfish excuse to have all the delicious milk
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Firstly, he uses language to create deception and has the animals trusting everything he says to be true. Secondly, he uses language to manipulate the animals into believing false statements and uses their limited intelligence to his advantage. Finally, he uses language to enforce fear and keep the animals in check. Through these events, the reader is able to understand the power of language and the effects it has on others. Therefore, it is proven through these works that the effective use of propaganda can change the way one thinks and ultimately result in the obtainment of power and
Some reasons why are the following: "He was a brilliant talker, and when he was arguing some difficult point he had a way of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail which was somehow very persuasive. The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white." Squealer was a manipulator and nearly everything that came out of his mouth was manipulative. Another piece of evidence is when the birds objected to 'four legs good, two legs bad' and Snowball manipulated them and said that a birds wing can be regarded as a hand. The pigs were amazing at manipulating almost like it was breathing. For instance all they ever did was manipulate, like when the pigs took the milk and apples and then lied and said they had to have it for their health and that they don't like apples or milk, but if they don't have it they won't be healthy and Farmer Jones will come back. And that is what we call manipulation but manipulation isn't just shown in Animal Farm, it's shown in everyday life, in society and was really shown throughout the Russian Revolution. Realistically, nothing can be obtained without manipulation, intimidation, lying and deceiving, and Orwell's novel displays
“I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.” (Zusak 528) Words and the power they possess is a common theme that is heavily mentioned throughout the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Throughout this book, rhetoric affects multiple characters in both positive and negative ways. There are instances in this book in which one can see how words have the ability to tear people down, educate and inform, and to inspire individuals to follow their dreams.
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.
Propaganda is used by people to falsify or distort the truth. In the book Animal
..., power, and manipulation are the aspects of language substantiated in Animal Farm. By fabricating with a precise and sensible illustration, language can be deceptive. Words can carry power or influence with the use of terse and persuasive dictions and repetition. Finally, Orwell describes how manipulative the language can be using the examples of mottoes controlling the animals and being the foundation of their personal conducts. The reason for Orwell presenting such abilities of words this book is to highlight the importance of one’s education and mastery of language. The author writes this fable in order to deliver the message that those who do not do so will be susceptible to such deception or manipulation. The proficiency in speech, writing, reading and listening comprehension and the flexibility in lexica determine one’s capability of living in this society.
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 ...
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.
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.
Lord Acton, the British historian once said, “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, the author gives many examples of how power is used to manipulate and produce fear. In this book the main character, Napoleon, became a master of using various tactics to gain and maintain power over the rest of the animals. Napoleon used propaganda, manipulation and fear to gain more loyalty and power throughout the farm.
This power of sound has aided in the successful controlling of many peoples throughout history, however, the communist takeover in Russia revolutionized it. Propaganda became increasingly important as Stalin’s regime did not become what the public had expected and people grew frustrated. One such person who did not approve of the new Soviet Union and its new brand of socialism was George Orwell. As a socialist himself, the perverted image of socialism that the Soviets projected and the reluctance of other countries to criticize it disgusted him. Soon, Orwell decided to criticize it himself, including the propaganda. In Animal Farm, Orwell uses Squealer’s quick mouth to show how powerful an effect propaganda can have on an unthinking society.
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.
Squealer uses rhetorical devices in order to effectively persuade the other animals on the farm. To ensure that the other animals are not under the impression that the pigs are abusing their power, Squealer persuades them that the milk and apples they are taking are necessary for them to run the farm: “We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organisation of this farm depends on us. It is for your sake that we drink milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happen if we failed in our duty? Yes, Jones would come back!” (Orwell 36). Squealer uses the rhetorical device, hypophora. He asks a question then quickly answers it so his audience believes his answer instead
Because the animals are uneducated and do not think for themselves, they allow the pigs to manipulate them through propaganda, which eventually leads to the downfall of the farm. Had the animals not been so ignorant and more aware of what was taking place, they could have stopped the pigs from having paramount power. The animals could have used their own judgement to not trust the pigs and not be tricked into believing certain facts. Instead, though, the foolish animals did not recognize what was going on, nor did they think independently. In conclusion, one can see that not thinking for oneself can be an invitation for manipulation and a hinderance to the amount of power one has available.
To take control, leaders use false information to persuade the others into doing what they want. This is called using propaganda. Propaganda was used to effectively rule the other animals in Animal Farm. The Pigs manipulated the uneducated. As did Napoleon used this to his advantage. There was use of fear by violence. They inflicted fear by using hypothetical situations to get the other animals to do as told. The leaders in Animal Farm show numerous types of propaganda to effectively take control of all the other animals.
Language plays a very important role in the pig’s power. Due to the pigs being the smartest, language can be used to keep their power over the other animals. The pigs use their intelligence and language to manipulate the other animals on the farm. They would say “All animals are equal.”(11) but they know that they are superior due to their ability to manipulate the others through language. Squealer for example would use words that many animals would not understand to make the animals think being ruled by the pigs is a good thing. Through language the pigs are able to secure their position as leaders on the farm as well as get the animals working for less.