How Orwell Present Squealer

In ‘Animal Farm: A Fairytale’ by George Orwell, Squealers is the general allegorical figure for propaganda, something that played a large part during the Cold War in communist Russia. The use of symbolism, persuasive techniques and tactics was very important in the maintenance of control, order and power for political figures such as Stalin. From the evidence of types of propaganda techniques in Russia (such as fear tactics and scapegoating) it seems that Squealer is almost the go between the higher power (Napoleon in Animal Farm, representing Joseph Stalin in communist Russia) and the civilians as well as a mediator between both parties, however there is definitely a hidden depths and meanings to his words.

During his speech, explaining why the pigs need the milk and apples he makes uses of several propaganda techniques to persuade the other animals to accept this new idea. He uses leading a rhetorical questions, such as ‘You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege?’ to make the other animals doubt their own convictions. Under this new strict regime the animals do not want to question or seems that they are questioning this new way of ruling as it would be made out that they are still loyal to Mr Jones or even still working with him, potentially to bring down this now corrupted version of Animalism. The animals are then separated by the fear of being the only individual to question the authority who had rid them of Mr Jones, who is seen as the ultimate threat and inspiration of fear. Furthermore Squealer also takes advantage o the animals’ ignorance on human learning by stating that it is ‘scientifically proven’ that milk and apples ‘contain substances absolutely necessary to the well being of a pig’. None of the animals are able to challenge this, not only because they are not learned in science and have to take Squealers word for it, there is no real way of proving Squealer wrong in any capacity as the words are deliberately vague. Additionally by saying that it is ‘scientifically proven’ shows it to be a hard fact that cannot be contested with. Squealer uses the animals’ naive faith and lack of education against them as they have to trust the pigs to be the intelligence behind the operation of running the farm.

Squealer creates a sense of unity amongst the animals against a common enemy (Mr Jones, representing Tsar Nicholas II). Throughout this novella Squealer uses the address ‘comrade’ ( term often associated with communist Russia), which means ‘friend’ or ‘ally’ so bringing attention to the fact that they are supposed to be united as ‘four legs’ against the common enemy ‘two legs’. The technique of referring to them as a part of the same group brings the other animals a sense of importance because of the obvious hierarchy