Themes
Exam responses that are led by ideas are more likely to reach the highest levels of the mark scheme. Exploring the ideas of the text, specifically in relation to the question being asked, will help to increase your fluency and assurance in writing about the novella.
Below are some ideas which could be explored in Animal Farm. This list is not exhaustive and you are encouraged to identify other ideas within the novella.
Propaganda
Throughout the novella, many characters use propaganda to control the other animals on the farm. The characters use propaganda in different forms such as speeches, songs and poems.
Knowledge and evidence:
- Propaganda is used by Old Major to inspire the revolution and through him, Orwell demonstrates how propaganda can be used to create division and inspire rebellion
- In Chapter I, Old Major’s commanding use of rhetoric persuades the animals to rebel:
- He adeptly reduces complex philosophy to simple maxims so that all of the animals can understand: for example, “four legs good, two legs bad”
- He teaches them the song “Beasts of England” which inspires, unifies and motivates the animals
- Old Major’s use of absolutist language could be viewed as serving to drive one group against another and his use of propaganda could be viewed as preparing the way for Napoleon, by instilling authoritarian attitudes in the animals
- Orwell demonstrates the willingness of populations to believe propaganda without question and this is exemplifiedin, for example, the character of Boxer:
- Boxer is committed, generous and self-sacrificing though his lack of intelligence means he is inevitably exploited by the totalitarian regime in which he exists
- He becomes one of Napoleon’s and Snowball’s most devoted followers and his blind allegiance to Napoleon means that he fails to understand that the ideals of the revolution are being corrupted
- This is evident through his repeated phrase, “Napoleon is always right”
- While Orwell uses Boxer as representative of the decent, ordinary, working-class worker majority, he also uses his character to demonstrate the flaw of the working-class in their inability to comprehend obvious forms of corruption
- Orwell also uses the character of Napoleon to explore ideas about propaganda as he uses it to reassure the animals but also to threaten them:
- His slogan “Vote for Napoleon and the full manger” is used to instil fear, as they may starve without his leadership
- It is evident that Orwell is fiercely critical of the use of fear to manipulate the masses as he believes it could cause collective paranoia and suffering
- Squealer acts as Napoleon's spokesperson and his Minister of Propaganda throughout the narrative:
- Squealer’s function in the narrative is to spread misinformation and propaganda
- He deceptively limits the animals’ understanding of events on the farm and tries to mitigate any potential challenges to the elite’s authority
- As a character, Squealer is presented as one with a lack of a conscience and he manipulates information for his own selfish purposes:
- His speeches are full of persuasive language techniques such as repetition, rhetorical questions, emotive language and direct address
- Orwell also demonstrates the power of propaganda to show how it can unite populations:
- Old Major’s “Beasts of England” song and Snowball’s single maxim of "four legs good, two legs bad" helps to unite the animals on the farm, if only for a brief period
- Orwell also contends that propaganda can be an important instrument for preserving leadership:
- The animals are fearful of the consequences of defying authority and thus want to have faith in their leaders
- Although Jones used to keep the animals in chains, nose-rings, etc., the propaganda that is used by many characters could be viewed as psychological chains that are used to control the animals
What is Orwell’s intention?
- Orwell explores ideas about the use of propaganda in numerous ways and demonstrates how propaganda can be used to create division and inspire rebellion but that it can also unite populations
- While propaganda can also be an important instrument for preserving leadership, Orwell also demonstrates his concern at the willingness of populations to believe propaganda without questioning it