The phrasing of the Seven Commandments is often changed by Squealer to suit the pigs’ actions, a
case where this happens is when the pigs started sleeping in the beds of their previous owners. The
commandment changed from: ‘No animal shall sleep in a bed’ to ‘No animal shall sleep in a bed with
sheets’. Manipulations like these were used to justify the pigs’ behavior and to persuade the others
that the pigs’ actions are true to the Animalism principles.
Slogans:
Squealer says slogans such as: ‘Napoleon is always right’ and ‘All animals are equal, but some
animals are more equal than others’, these slogans defend the pigs' increasingly dictatorial control.
Squealer uses these slogans to confuse the other farm animals from the pigs' real intentions of making
a totalitarian state. However, another advantage of this method is that it also makes the other animals
feel involved and making them think that they have an important role in the movement. Consequently,
this tactic has multiple advantages, helping the pigs to cover their real intentions.
Manipulating events:
Squealer shapes events in favor of the pigs, such as when the ill Boxer was sent to the knacker's yard.
He tells the animals that Boxer was taken to the hospital, despite the fact that all the animals
witnessed him being loaded onto a van which had ‘horse slaughterer’ written on the side. This was
done to keep the other animals from questioning the pigs’ authority and to keep the animals’ trust.
Fear tactics:
Squealer uses fear strategies to control the animals. He frequently warns them of Mr. Jones's return or
the threat of Snowball's return. This fear keeps the animals from misbehaving and questioning the
pigs’ behavior.
Loaded language:
Squealer manipulates the emotions of the other animals when using loaded language, making the
animals feel bad when questioning the pigs' charge. He calls the pigs “comrades” and “brothers”,
while calling the animals who are challenging the pigs’ system “traitors” and “enemies”. This makes
the animals not want to be called a traitor or enemy, so they obey.
Redefining words:
Squealer changes the meaning of words like: ‘freedom’ and ‘equality’, making them signify
something else from what they originally meant. He claims that equality means that all creatures are
equal, although some animals are more equal than others. Eventhough, it originally meant that all
animals are equal, no matter what. He also claimed that freedom had the meaning of being free from
the tyranny of humans, not from the tyranny of pigs, which was also different before. This is done to
perplex the other animals and to give them the feeling that the pigs' leadership is in accordance with
the revolution's original goals.
(452 words)
A3. NAPOLEON’S DIARY ENTRY - 1 POINT
Sunday
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