Power & Language

Power and Language

Language is used to manipulate characters. Uneducated characters are at a disadvantage because of their poor grasp of language.

Squealer's language

Through Squealer’s character in particular, Orwell shows how powerful language is.
It can be manipulated to conceal things, promote, persuade and control. It can make corrupt and awful things appear acceptable: “Squealer could turn black into white”.

Boxer's language

Boxer’s character also shows the power of language. When Snowball is chased off the farm he can’t “think of anything to say”.
The rest of the animals lack power and are unable to stand up for themselves because they don’t have the language they need to do so.

Seizing control of language

You can see the control of language being seized throughout the novel:
- Snowball wants to teach the animals reading and writing.
- As soon as Snowball is exiled, Napoleon bans debate, voting and free speech.
- The 7 commandments are altered (the principles of Animalism are corrupted).
- Anyone who speaks out against Napoleon is attacked by the dogs.

Seizing control of language (continued)

There comes a time when “no one dared speak their mind”.
Squealer uses language so cunningly that he changes the animals' memories of past events (political language is used to con the animals – they are unable to see the reality).
When the animals are starving, Squealer says that they have more of everything than they had when Jones was in charge and the animals “believed every word of it”.

Propaganda

Propaganda is the use of language in a bias way to promote a political cause or viewpoint. The pigs (particularly Squealer) use propaganda very effectively in order to manipulate the other animals:

Quotes

“He could turn black into white”.
“Squealer was sent to make the necessary explanations to the others”.
“Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig”.

Quotes

“It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples”.
“Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back!”
"Surely there is no one among you who would want to see Jones come back?”

Context

Stalin used propaganda to show that he was close with Lenin after he died (Lenin, in reality, had not trusted Stalin).
Lenin thought that Trotsky would make a much better leader.
Stalin used propaganda to make him look strong and kind. In posters he is often looking after children. He also altered history books to show that he played an important part in the Revolution; much of this propaganda gave him a mythical appearance of greatness and benevolence.
All artwork, literature and music about Stalin were complimentary.

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

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