Propaganda Between the two Parallels
Propaganda is one of the strongest symbols of the novel Animal Farm, in which propaganda maneuvers are chiefly made by the farm’s societal leaders, the swine. Moreover, Propaganda was used throughout the Russian Revolution to spread information to the public.
Bolshevik and Animal Farm Propaganda
During the time of the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks made use of propaganda to convey different messages to the public. They especially deployed visual propaganda, like cartoon posters, as a way to reach out to the predominantly illiterate Russian population. In Animal Farm, such posters were channeled through the ten commandments that the pigs instigated after the revolution, which related to not developing human characteristics (by the end of the novel, however, all original commandments were broken by the pigs and altered). The novel's memorable propaganda slogan: '4 Legs Good, 2 Legs Bad!'
I think that Orwell was successful in portraying propaganda, mainly due to his creativity. He was able to transfer propaganda that existed in the Revolutionary period into the novel in original ways. For example, by representing the propaganda newspaper, Pravda, through Squealer the intuitive pig, Orwell was taking an innovative approach on history and making the novel more interesting.
I think that Orwell was successful in portraying propaganda, mainly due to his creativity. He was able to transfer propaganda that existed in the Revolutionary period into the novel in original ways. For example, by representing the propaganda newspaper, Pravda, through Squealer the intuitive pig, Orwell was taking an innovative approach on history and making the novel more interesting.
Old Major's Speech
From the beginning until the end of the book, propaganda is used by the pigs to persuade and dissuade the animals of certain ideas. Within the first few pages of the novel, Old Major (who represents a combination of Marx and Lenin) enforces propaganda techniques within his speech. For example, he deploys the tactic of name calling, deeming man '..the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished forever.' (4) He specifically pinpoints humans as the oppressors, and promises a bright future if the humans are gone. In addition, the song Old Major teaches the animals entitled 'Beasts of England' can be classified as a form of the Glittering Generalities propaganda technique. By instilling a catchy phrase, or in this case, song, in the animals, they will remember and be inspired to undertake the revolt. Beasts of England becomes an anthem for the animals. This particular context of Animal Farm is slightly exaggerated, and is different to the actual historical events. Of course, Karl Marx did not drill songs into society members' heads, and did not so blatantly impose his ideas on people. However, through his texts, his theories were able to spread, and did eventually circulate to people and inspire individuals such as Stalin and Trotsky, just as Old Major's speech influenced Napoleon and Snowball.
Fear
Fear can be considered a classification of propaganda, and is a measure used a lot by the leaders. For example, when the animals suspect (correctly) changes made to the ten commandments that were written upon the initiation of Animalism, Squealer, the pig considered the voice behind Animalism who represents the Russian propaganda newspaper Pravda, attempts to pacify their suspicions, and does so successfully by means of fear. 'Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?' (46) Upon mentioning ex-leader Jones (Czar Nicholas II), the animals immediately consider their suspicions wrong, because they are frightened of the idea of Jones coming back. In accordance with history, Joseph Stalin was probably best known for his reign of terror. Fear was an approach he took to keep his people from doing what they were, according to him, supposed to do. By being extremely strict with his repercussions towards those who did not obey him, like exiling or even killing them, he was able to purge (such was the case of the Great Purge) the Soviet Union.