Answer:
Prompt: In Animal Farm, how does George Orwell use language to control the masses?
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Rough Draft:
In George Orwell's Animal Farm, language is used as a tool of control to manipulate the masses. Throughout the novel, the pigs, who represent the ruling class, use language to justify their actions and suppress dissent among the other animals. Orwell uses a variety of rhetorical devices to illustrate how language can be used to manipulate and control people.
One of the most prominent examples of language as a tool of control is the use of propaganda. The pigs use slogans such as "Four legs good, two legs bad" and "All animals are equal" to simplify complex ideas and manipulate the animals' emotions. These slogans become a form of indoctrination, as the animals repeat them without fully understanding their meaning. The pigs also use fear tactics to control the other animals, such as when Napoleon announces that Snowball is plotting against them, causing the animals to turn on Snowball and support Napoleon's rule.
Another rhetorical device Orwell uses to show the power of language is irony. Throughout the novel, the pigs claim that they are working for the benefit of all animals, but their actions clearly demonstrate otherwise. For example, when the pigs take over the milk and apples for themselves, they justify it by saying that they need to keep their strength up for the benefit of the other animals. This irony is also evident when the pigs change the commandment "All animals are equal" to "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
Finally, Orwell uses repetition to emphasize the power of language. The pigs repeat certain phrases, such as "Napoleon is always right," to the point where they become accepted as truth, despite evidence to the contrary. This repetition reinforces the pigs' control over the other animals and their ability to manipulate them through language.
In conclusion, George Orwell uses language as a tool of control in Animal Farm by showing how propaganda, irony, and repetition are used by the ruling class to manipulate the masses. Through the use of these rhetorical devices, Orwell demonstrates the danger of blindly accepting language without questioning its underlying meaning and intentions.