Squealer

Test yourself

Squealer

Animal Farm is an allegory; all of the events and characters symbolise 20th century historical and political events.

5 key words

Manipulative.
Hypocrite.
Propaganda for Napoleon.
Corrupt.
Threatening.

Manipulative

The first thing that we are told about Squealer is that he is manipulative; he makes corruption look innocent and pure.
Squealer poses his lies as facts and figures in order to confuse and convince the uneducated animals.
Squealer lies in order to control and manipulate the animals. He doesn’t appear to mind that his lies lead to their suffering. He is “skipping” while he tells the animals that Boxer is being taken to the vets, when he is actually being taken to his death. This makes Squealer’s character appear to be totally remorseless and unfeeling, selfish and repulsive.

Manipulates language

Squealer’s ability to manipulate language and control others demonstrates how powerful this skill is and how dangerous this type of control can be.
Squealer changes all of the commandments so that they suit the pigs and give them even more power and control. His language threatens the animals and gradually, over the novel, reminds the animals that they are being watched.
However, he manages to twist even this to make it look like it is for the animals' own wellbeing.

Napoleon's spokesman

Squealer becomes Napoleon’s spokesperson.
He justifies Napoleon’s behaviour and twists language so that it appears that the animals have choices, when in fact they are powerless. He makes it seem like they are cared for, when in fact they are being controlled.
The dogs begin to follow Squealer around and it becomes clear that Squealer’s role is to eliminate any opposition to Napoleon – either through manipulation or threatening terror.

Threatening and hypocritical

He repeatedly threatens the animals from Chapter 3 onwards so that the pigs can have whatever they want.
Orwell shows Squealer to be a repulsive hypocrite. He is selfish and power-hungry; he twists reality to suit his own purpose. This is reflected by the fact that, while reducing the animals’ rations to the point where they are starving, Squealer is getting fatter and fatter.

Context

Squealer is an allegorical figure for propaganda.
Stalin's propaganda team manipulated language and images to manipulate the public and retain complete control.

Squealer - Key Quotes

Here are a few key quotes concerning Squealer's character:

Manipulative

“Squealer could turn black into white”.

Threatening

“Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back!”

Mouthpiece for Napoleon

Squealer says that Snowball was “in league with Jones from the very start”.

Corrupt/manipulates language

“No animal shall drink alcohol, to excess” .

Hypocrite

"Squealer was so fat that he could with difficulty see out of his eyes“.

1Important Plot Features

1.1Plot Summaries

1.1.1Chapters 1-2

1.1.2Chapters 3-4

1.1.3Chapters 5-6

1.1.4Chapters 7-8

1.1.5Chapters 9-10

1.1.6Keywords

1.1.7End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-5

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Chapters 6-10

2Characters & Their Links to History

2.1Key Characters

2.1.1Old Major

2.1.2Snowball

2.1.3Napoleon

2.1.4Squealer

2.1.5Boxer

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Characters

2.1.7AO2/3 - Key Characters

2.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Boxer

2.2Other Characters

2.2.1Mr Jones

2.2.2Clover

2.2.3Hens

2.2.4Sheep

2.2.5Mollie

2.2.6Benjamin

2.2.7Moses & Mr Frederick

2.2.8Pilkington & Mr Whymper

2.2.9End of Topic Test - Other Characters

2.2.10End of Topic Test - Other Characters 2

3Key Themes & Orwell's Purpose

3.1Key Themes

3.1.1Education

3.1.2Power & Control

3.1.3Power & Language

3.1.4Equality

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes

4Language, Form & Structure

4.1Language, Form & Structure

4.1.1Form & Structure

4.1.2Language

4.1.3Symbols

4.1.4Narrator & Allegory

Jump to other topics