Persuasive Appeals in Animal Farm

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In the novella, Animal Farm, Squealer persuades the animals to do what Napoleon tells them using pathos in all of his speeches. Squealer being Napoleons assistant in a sense, abuses language to justify Napoleon’s actions and policies to the masses by whatever means seem necessary. But Squealer must manipulate the animal’s emotions to convince them. Throughout the story Squealer uses, fear, guilt, and hatred to persuade the animals.

Throughout the story Squealer uses fear to persuade the animals. In one conversation that he has with the animals he says, “…One false step, and our enemies would be upon us. Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?” By saying this Squealer is using fear to persuade the workers. The animals will do anything that they believe necessary to ensure that Mr. Jones does not come back. So if Squealer has the animals believe that in order to prevent the return of Mr. Jones they must not question Napoleon then the animals will therefore not question Napoleon if they believe it is for the greater good of Animal Farm.

Squealer also uses guilt to persuade the proletariats into doing whatever Napoleon tells them. After Napoleon had sent the dogs to expel Snowball from his regime over Animal Farm Squealer makes his rounds to the animals by saying, “I trust that every animal here appreciates the sacrifice that Comrade Napoleon has made in taking this extra labour upon himself. Do not imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure!” By saying this Squealer is making his fellow animals feel guilty about having any sort of disdain for Napoleon overthrowing Snowball. Squealer is playing on the animal’s emotions by making them feel guilty if they do not appreciate all that Napoleon is doing by taking the power to govern upon himself.

Finally, Squealer uses hatred to persuade the animals. Squealer changes the animal’s impartial feelings towards Snowball to hatred by implying that Snowball had an agreement with Mr. Jones. “Jones’s shot only...
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