Squealer changes the category he classes himself as from “us” being a commoner to “we”, joining the pigs in receiving the luxuries. The use of the statement “it is for your sake” portrays Napoleon as somewhat heroic, the animals are led to believe they are having the up-most care from the pigs. They are compelled to agree that the are the leaders and are doing all that is in their power to help the other animals suffering when in actual fact they are taking the products for personal gain. Squealer completely has the animals in his grasp and will stop at nothing to make the farm only his showing him as a powerful leader.
By indoctrinating the young and keeping the adults ignorant Napoleon built an army of followers with his beliefs and did anything whilst under his rule. Napoleon takes advantage of an opportunity to “educate” newborn puppies, as he teaches them his ways they will learn to disrespect their parent’s views but Napoleon will still have complete respect from the adults as he knows him to minipualte the animals, always telling them he is doing the best he can for them and their family:
“Napoleon took them away from their mothers, saying that he would make himself responsible for their education.”
The only intention of “education” Napoleon has is ensuring the youngsters knew their superior is Napoleon: this is continually embedded into their thoughts. This is reflected in the repetition of the pronouns “he” and “himself”. As he “raises” the puppies he can represent a father like figure to them and they will always have an affection for him. By seizing them at such a young age it shows how effective a leader Napoleon is as he builds his army of devotees that will clash with anyone who has a vengance against Napoleon. These young animals on the farm are educated with what their seems vital, classes on the views of Napoleons utopia:
“They accepted everything they were told about
The Rebellion and the principles of Animalism.”
What they are told is twisted information from the actual Rebellion, as they are only infants they are easily lured to obey the new principles given. The lexical choice of “everything” suggests they are educated with mass amount knowledge. Most of it nonfactual information for the earlier times on the farm. With numerous number of youngsters sharing Napoleon’s vision proves his use of authority is influential on their state of mind, doing this so to a great extent that he is an effective but uncaring leader. He wants the best outcome for the farm and the only way to have this is by brainwashing the minors and ignoring anything from the older farm members as they are likely to be gone and he has a powerful army which will stand by him.
Snowball and the humans are vulnerable targets for Napoleon to create his common and absent enemy, any minor accidents that occurred will be attributed to these scapegoats creating hatred for them be the common animals. To take all bad views off Napoleon, Squealer the main source of propaganda used Jones as a diversion so the dystopia can continue:
“… ‘Surely comrades’ cried Squealer, almost pleadingly, ‘surely there is no one amongst you who wants to see Jones come back?’”
The repetition of “surely” implies the information is untrue and has to be convincingly put across to prove its existence also the fact Squealer is “pleading” suggests panic. He too must be afraid under Napoleon’s rule and only wants to do the tasks he has been set so he has an easier life. Through the mention of Jones Squealer conjures many vivid and painful memories within the animals from the time when they lived in hardship. They are lead to believe they live a better lifestyle under Napoleons rule when in actual fact it is just as bad. He may have created an absent enemy but he control of the animals as he effectively made them believe the present situation they are in was not as bad as farmer Jones rule. Perhaps this was because Napoleon made sure he convivced the commoners he will always be watching them. This was done by Squealer painting a portrait of him looking down on the animals:
“It was surrounded by a portrait of Napoleon
in profile executed by Squealer in paint.”
The lexical choice of “surrounded” portrays Napoleon encompassing on the animals lives and work. The portrait is a symbol of what is to come: Napoleon having authority over everything. By using “executed” it conveys Squealer playing a part in the infliction of the farm. Napoleon will always observe the farm in the form of the portrait, he is painted in profile like a member of royalty or someone famous to show the farm the divide between them. He is their superiour and by looking down on themin the form of a painting shows this. In excuting this it proves Napoleon has no fear and will go to extremes in order to be an effective leader. Napoleon has his formal title but to ensure he has the up most respect from certain groups of animals he also has others:
“The pigs liked to invent for him such titles as ‘Father of all Animals’, ‘Terror of Mankind’, ‘Protector of the Sheepfold’, ‘Duckling’s Friend’ and the like.”
The pigs are Napoleon’s accomplices to his reign, the lexical choice of “invent” implies he does not deserve these titles, they are only devised to assist Napoleon seem like a fair leader. His titles do not reflect his true plans for the farm: he is not a positive role model for the animals instead of oppressing mankind he gives it justice. This is what the farm wants to be protected from but instead he is using mankind for harm In the eyes of the animals he should be seen as an enemy but still he is worshipped as they afraid of the consequences of betraying him. He may the animals living in fear but he has them obeying his orders and they are creating the farm which proves he is cruel but an effective leader.
Propaganda is used effectively to turn Napoleon’s malicious plans into acceptable events, history is changed on the farm and the animals are brainwashed by the twisting of factual events. Any of Napoleon’s wrongful events can be turned into positive memories:
“Squealer could turn black into white.”
The quotation in reality is an impossible physical change but Squealer someway can convert Napoleon’s “black”, evil and disturbed plans into “white”, positive and constructive attributes for the farm. The turnaround in connotations meant Napoleon gained respect mainly thanks to his main source of propaganda, Squealer. He could easily minipulate the animals, taking them aside, away from Napoleon to “explain privately” the purpose behind his rules. As he is doing it in secret the animals feel Napoleon has had no influence on Squealer words, when the truth is he set it all up. By promoting his cause through Squealer and not in public is another one of his propaganda tactics that showed his effectiveness of being a leader and show how determined he was to keep the dystopia running.
Throughout George Orwell’s classic allegory Napoleon used effective methods to run the farm. They consisted of scapegoats and accomplices so his plans are properly executed. By the end of the novel he has abolished the concept of “Animalism” and invited mankind into the dystopia he created: “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it is impossible to say which was which.”
