Animal_Farm

Propaganda is a very effective way of gaining the trust of somebody. Propaganda is shown in many ways in the novel ANIMAL FARM. Firstly, it is shown when Napoleon, and Snowball use birds to spread the word of the rebellion to the other animals on surrounding farms, as well to teach the other animals the song “The Beasts of England” in hope that the other animals would have a rebellion against their “Master”. Secondly, Squealer convinces the other animals that snowball was against the animals and with the humans in the battle of the cowshed. Lastly, Propaganda is shown by the pigs slowly giving less and less food to the animals in order to save food but to keep the animals from realizing they give the animals more courage. Propaganda is a dirty trick that is used in this novel plenty of times. Propaganda is a very useful thing for the people that are using it against other people or in this books case, animals. In the book, Napoleon, and Squealer have the idea that they should send birds to other farms to spread the word about the rebellion. “ Everyday Snowball and Napoleon sent out flights of pigeons whose instructions were to mingle with the animals on neighbouring farms, tell them the story of the Rebellion, and teach them the tune of Beasts of England.” This is an effective way of spreading the word to the other animals on the other farms, and letting them know that they hope they would join them in rebelling against their farm owners and have a animal ran farm, then they could join together and (in their own minds) take over the world. This is similar to how propaganda was spread back during the war, the only difference being that back in the war, they used planes and dropped leaflets on the ground. In battles, propaganda can make you debate weather you have or had a traitor on your side. Since propaganda can make you believe anything, that is probably why Squealer used it to his advantage when he was blaming Snowball for everything bad that happened to animal farm. Squealer tells all the animals that Snowball was really on the peoples side during the battle of the cowshed and that everything that he had done was fake. “ Did we not see for ourselves how he attempted-fortunately without success-to get us defeated and destroyed at the battle of the cowshed.” Boxer tries to defend Snowball against this allegation but is told that Napoleon had said this, and Boxer did not say anything because his saying was “Napoleon is always right”. It is shown and proved in this novel that encouragement can be a type of propaganda. What is happening at this point in the story is that the food supply is getting shorter and shorter, and the animals need to save some of it. Napoleons plan was to “Prove”to the animals that they were doing better then when Jones had been around. “Squealer would always speak of it as a readjustment and never a reduction”. The giving of less and less food was covered up as a reduction so that the animals would not think that they will soon have no food but instead for them to think that just for now, they have to sacrifice a little to get plenty later. The animals would be dangerously tricked into thinking that they would just have a little now when in reality they would have little forever. In conclusion, Propaganda is a very effective weapon against anybody. It is shown in the novel when Napoleon sends birds to other farms to spread the word about the rebellion that had occurred at ANIMAL FARM. It also works when Squealer convinces the other animals that Snowball was a secret spy for Jones and was against the animals in “the battle of the Cowshed”. Lastly, it works when the pigs use encouragement for the other animals that they are producing more food then when they were with Jones when really they were running very low on food and cut back on the rations. Propaganda is a trick and a weapon unlike any other, that does not need a sharp blade, or a bullet to kill you. ANIMAL FARM Written by: George Orwell