In Animal Farm, Squealer is a gifted speaker who often takes on the task of convincing the farm to go along with Napoleon's (often unpopular) ideas. He uses language to create a sense of urgency and a sense of camaraderie among the animals. He does this most notably through his use of pathos, ethos, and logos to convince the other farm animals to go along with Napoleon.
Squealer, like many politicians, appeals to his audience's emotions (pathos) to sway them. First, by using the term comrades, he connects with the animals by placing all of them at the same level. By repeating the term, he strengthens the bond between the animals, unifying their connection. We see this when he calms the upset animals after Snowball is expelled.
"Comrades," he said, "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!"
Here we see that he begins by connecting with the crowd and then continues to use pathos to convince the crowd that they are lucky to have someone like Napoleon willing to take on extra work to protect them.
Squealer employs ethos by adding credibility to his argument. He explains that Snowball should have been expelled because he was working with the enemy. "Snowball was in league with Jones from the very start! He was Jones's secret agent all the time." This not only adds credibility, it also adds fear to his argument. Of course, the animals will agree with him—who wants a spy with them?
In chapter 6, Squealer utilizes logos (logic or reasoning) to convince the animals that trading is a good thing for the farm. He tells them that previous resolutions "against engaging in trade and using money" never actually became law, and therefore, the new plan to engage in trade will be beneficial to the farm.
Squealer asked them shrewdly, "Are you certain that this is not something that you have dreamed, comrades? Have you any record of such a resolution? Is it written down anywhere?" And since it was certainly true that nothing of the kind existed in writing, the animals were satisfied that they had been mistaken.
Squealer is able to produce arguments that appeal to logos even when they are not logically sound. He convinces the farm that those in power, who are not working as hard as the others, deserve more food because they are doing all of the thinking for the entire farm. When analyzed, the argument is flawed, but because he is such an eloquent speaker, his logos is able to convince his audience.
Squealer's skillful use of language, along with his use of the rhetorical appeals, allows him to manipulate his audience and convince them to agree with his message even when it is not in their best interest.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
How does Squealer persuade the other animals using logos, ethos, and pathos?
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