Squealer Flashcards
“Could turn black into white”
Colour symbolism, shows he can argue all day and change the view on something (turn a situation into something it’s not)
“Squealer was sent to make the necessary explanations to the others”
Can put a positive perspective on anything. Napoleon recognises his weaknesses and makes use of Squealer to manipulate animals
“‘Milk and apples (this has been proved by science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary for a pig’”
Squealer uses stats to confuse and manipulate the stupidity of the animals. He is a persuasive, convincing talker
“‘Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed our duty? Jones would come back! Yes, Jones would come back!”
Rhetorical question, repetition, exclamatory tone. Squealer takes advantage of the threat of jones to scare and manipulate animals into following the pigs
“‘Surely you remember that comrades?’”
Rewriting history in favour of the pigs, rhetorical question, exploit stupidity
“‘It was the most affecting sight I have ever seen!’ Said Squealer.”
Squealer is a good actor and can convince anyone his lies are true. Pulls on animals heartstrings/emotions, which they rely on due to their stupidity, so they believe him easier.
“(Squealer always spoke of it as a ‘readjustment’, never as a ‘reduction’)”
His choice to use a less negative word makes the animals accept it as they imagine a tiny change compared to their reality
“Reading out figures in a shrill voice, he proved they had more than they had had in Jones’ day”
Using stats/figures to confuse the animals as they don’t understand them, making life sound like it was improving, rewriting history
“Squealer spoke so persuasively and the three dogs growled so threateningly they accepted his explanation without further questions”
Uses his persuasive speaking skills and the threat of the dogs to convince the animals. Using fear to intimidate them into accepting without challenging him
“The animals seemed to remember that a resolution against this had been passed in the early days, but again Squealer was able to convince them that this wasn’t the case”
Use of verb ‘seemed’ shows the animals don’t rely on their own memories so they easily accept Squealer’s story. He is rewriting history to make the animals rely on him and Napoleon’s leadership
“‘Long live Animal Farm! Long live Comrade Napoleon! Napoleon is always right!’ Those were his very last words, comrades.’”
Squealer’s persuasive talking skills help him in exploiting Boxer’s death to keep the animals loyal to Napoleon - they will feel obliged to continue to worship Napoleon as Boxer had.
Who does Squealer represent?
Propaganda
“It was a pig walking on his hind legs. Yes it was Squealer”
Confirms the dictatorship of the pigs, shows they have won and the animals’ stupidity has led to a corrupted farm. In complete control and demonstrates this through walking like a human (their enemies)
