Squealer

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Squealer is intermediary between Napoleon and the animals, delivering orders and, especially, giving them Napoleon’s propaganda.

He glorifies Napoleon to the rest of the farm and stands as a sufficient vehicle to convey his ideology in a deceiving manner.

Squealer is notably the “farm’s minister of propaganda”, using his platform – an intellectually superior animal – to bestow articulate speeches to confuse and persuade the animals under Napoleon’s reign.

Orwell is demonstrating that true power may not lie in the dictator [Napoleon] himself, but with the mouthpiece who speaks for him.

Question 2

PG 1

Answer 2

Squealer’s propaganda is also a mean of heightening the animal’s spirits to ensure they maintain an adequate work ethic on the farm.

Squealer manipulates and uses Moses to his advantage and gives them a hope of a better life with, ‘Sugar Candy Mountain’ that symbolises heaven where the animals remain adamant that they will end up if they
persevere through their suffering.

Squealer adopts these tactics in hope to ensure the animals continue towards the completion of pig’s enforced demands/ requests.

Question 3

PG 1 Quotes

Answer 3

1. “Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. Milk and apples contain substances absolutely necessary to the wellbeing of a pig.” {The first sign that the pigs are using
   the output of the animals work for their benefit/advantage}
2. “We pigs are brain workers” {Communism is premised on the idea of total equality, this is also one of the first signs of which the pigs are putting themselves on a higher
   hierarchy. - The first commandment which is not followed is “all animals are equal”, yet it is the last commandment to be universally acknowledged to be broken.”

Question 4

PG 2

Answer 4

Napoleon uses squealer as a mean of liaison, bridging the gap between the leadership and followership.

Squealer possesses the innate ability to turn the other animals’ arguments around with wordplay that has them agreeing with issues that just moments later had them
enraged.

Question 5

PG 2 Quotes

Answer 5

“Could turn black into white”

“Napoleon stole the milk and apples and Squealer said it was to supplement the pigs’ mash.”

Question 6

PG 3

Answer 6

Squealer’s tactics and vocabulary choice as well as impenetrable statistics, endears the animal self-doubt and hopelessness.

Squealer justifies the pigs’ monopolisation of resources and spread of false statistics.

He inherently adopts manipulation to suppress the animals and keep them inclined to be subservient and not to question the barbaric imposition of enforced power.

Question 7

PG Quotes

Answer 7

“Napoleon is always right” {The animals engage with blind allegiance and are therefore eternally condemned for their blind loyalty and apathy}

“Besides in those days they had been slaves and now they were free, and that made all the difference as Squealer did not fail to point out”

{Boosts their moral and keeps them obedient to Napoleon – as they ‘physically’ have proof that these times are much better than the previous years under Mr Jones’ reign.}

Question 8

Conclusion

Answer 8

Animal Farm effectively displays the immorality of propaganda and the injustice of communism.

Orwell draws a parallel between Animal Farm’s leader and Stalin who was able to coerce an entire nation into believing what he wanted.

He exploited his position as dictator and used the achievement of the rebellion for personal gain.

Likewise, Squealer was able to enjoy the benefits of communism and the luxuries of leadership, which is contradictory to the idea of a true communist society.

Furthermore, Orwell condemns the entire Russian public for adhering to the leadership without question, as well as the political apathy which further fuelled the