Question

Read the passage from Animal Farm.

A cry of lamentation went up. Straw was laid down outside the doors of the farmhouse, and the animals walked on tiptoe. With tears in their eyes they asked one another what they should do if their Leader were taken away from them. A rumour went round that Snowball had after all contrived to introduce poison into Napoleon’s food. At eleven o’clock Squealer came out to make another announcement. As his last act upon earth, Comrade Napoleon had pronounced a solemn decree: the drinking of alcohol was to be punished by death.

How does the use of scapegoating support the theme in this passage?

Even dictators will be mourned by those they oppressed for years.
It is common for dictators to fear attacks by enemies both real and invented.
Dictators will blame an invisible foe for problems in order to explain events.
Most problems are caused by those who have been cast away for causing harm

Answer 1

The use of scapegoating in 'Animal Farm' reflects tactics used by dictators to maintain power by creating an 'us vs them' mentality and unifying the populace against a common enemy, as historically seen in Stalin's regime.

Step-by-step explanation:

The use of scapegoating in the passage from Animal Farm supports the theme of how dictators manipulate reality to maintain power and control over the people. In the instance of Napoleon being poisoned, Snowball is blamed, creating an invisible enemy to explain the event, which is a tactic often utilized by authoritarian leaders. This scapegoating serves to keep the population united in fear and hatred of a common enemy, thus reinforcing the dictator's power. The historical context of Soviet propaganda and the demonization of enemies further illustrate the use of scapegoating as a political tool to create a 'them' versus 'us' mentality, portrayed in the narrative of Stalin's regime.

Scapegoating in totalitarian systems is particularly effective because it not only provides a convenient explanation for problems but also deflects blame from the leaders. It instills in the populace the false belief that the removal or suppression of the scapegoat, which can be a person, group, or concept, will resolve their issues. This process serves to enhance the leader's perceived indispensability, as seen with the theme that Stalin was the savior who could identify external threats.

Ultimately, scapegoating in Animal Farm echoes historical uses of such tactics to create a cult of personality around a leader and to justify actions and policies that may otherwise seem egregious. By fostering fear and unity against a supposed enemy, dictators like Stalin and the fictional Napoleon can consolidate power and deter opposition.