Language in Animal Farm :: Animal Farm Essays

Language is a very powerful tool. It is a means of basic communication, and has been around for centuries. Just like any other tool, language can be powerful in a positive or negative way, and can either work to one's advantage or can result in negative effects. Certain words can touch a certain chord inside someone, so they can be easily influenced by the language. A good example of this is George Orwell's Animal Farm, a fable in which a multitude of gullible animals are exploited by a group of power mongering pigs. Words can appeal to a persons basic needs and desires and conjure up hope or even fear in his or her mind. These emotions can be manipulated by others to their own advantage, and clever use of language can be used to cheat, deceive, spread rumors. In Animal Farm, Orwell shows how the pig's use of influential language manipulates and enslaves the animals. Through use of language, the pigs appeal to the animals basic hopes and desires of a better life and a better future. They make others work extremely hard, while they themselves rest and unfairly reap most of the benefits of the work. For example, â€Å"Now comrades,... to the hayfield! Let us make it a point of honor get in the harvest more quickly than Jones and his men do.† Later in chapter three, Squealer is sent to justify the pigs selfishness and to convince the animals that the pigs are working in their favor. He said, â€Å"You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples...Milk and apples contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig...the whole management and organization of this farm depend on us.† This how the animals are persuaded to believe almost anything without question. Words that appeal to our fears make us feel vulnerable, and when we feel vulnerable, we are ready to do just about anything to make us feel invulnerable again. In Animal Farm, the animals feel very insecure deep down, but they also are gullible and they do not wish to go against the pigs. For example, Squealer tells them â€Å"Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty?