动物农庄就像一个极权主义国家，至高无上的统治者——猪以及他的宣传者操纵语言（文字）来维护专制统治，同时作为劳动阶层的普通动物却遭受着极大的压迫。这个寓言表明了语言的滥用是极权国家的象征并成为其政治过程不可或缺的一部分。猪们为了统治动物百姓，操纵语言无所不用其极，将黑变白将白化黑。这也同样影射了人性的弱点。
Animal Farm, the famous political fable of animal, is considered as a great work in western country. The fable tells a story happens in Animal Farm, England. One day, animals manage to defeat the farmer Mr. Jones by the leading of three pigs----Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer. At first, Animal farm runs well, but soon Napoleon and Snowball begins to struggler for power. Finally Napoleon chases Snowball from the farm and becomes an authoritarian----making all decisions, manipulating language to expand his power, even acting more and more like a human being. Meanwhile the common animals live harder and harder----cold, hungry and overworked. The Animal farm becomes a totalitarian state.
George Orwell, a British political novelist and essayist, wrote the novel in WWⅡ. He was born in Indian in 1903 and grew up in England. His painful experiences with snobbishness and social elitism at Eton, as well as his intimate familiarity with the reality of British imperialism in India, made him deeply suspicious of the entrenched class system in English society. Orwell became a socialist and fight for the socialist cause during the Spanish Civil War. He felt that the Soviet Union realized these ideals in a terribly perverse form, so he became a sharp critic of both capitalism and communism and is remembered as an advocate of freedom and a opponent of totalitarianism. Animal Farm is one of his two greatest anti-totalitarian novels; another is 1984 which written in 1949, one year before he died.
To Pro. Xiang Zhiqing , from the time of Aesop’s fable, there has been many fables about animals in Western literature, but for readers living in late 21 century, no other works show the situation of human more clear than Animal Farm. ⑴ In the views of most western scholars, Animal Farm is a sting critique of the history and rhetoric of the Russian Revolution，and retelling the story of the emergence and development of Soviet communism in the form of an animal fable. Napoleon is modeled on the dictator Stalin, and Snowball is parallel for Leon Trotsky. But in a more general sense, Animal Farm stands for all the political tyrants that have emerged throughout human history. Common to all definitions given by influential scholars, totalitarian regimes or movements maintain themselves in political power by means of secret police, propaganda disseminated through the state-controlled mass media, personality cult, regulation and restriction of free discussion and criticism, single-party state, the use of mass surveillance, and widespread use of terror tactics. ⑵ This paper will point that Orwell’s brilliant idea is not only innuendo to someone or something, but also a exposure to corruption of language. In the farm, the ruler manipulates language as an instrument of control. The pigs gradually twist and distort rhetoric of socialist revolution to justify their behavior and to keep the other animals in the dark.
Ⅰ. Bases of abuse of language
⒈1-2
The bases of abuse of language is also are the necessary procession of founding a totalitarian state. The first step is to acquiring the political power. In the farm, the Old Major tells the animals that they must work toward a paradise with no human beings to oppress or control them. He also emphasizes that no animal must ever tyrannize over his own kind, no animal must ever kill any other animal, all animals are equal. Pigs are considered as being the cleverest of the animals. So Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer take the duty of organizing in the Rebellion. When their enemy----human is driven away, the fight between Napoleon and Snowball begins. Napoleon gets the leadership by his cun and hypocrity, and soon gives himself all the power and living in luxury while the common peasant suffered. At this time, he begins to manipulate the language to control.
⒉1-2
At the same time, Napoleon formulate a hierarchy in Animal Farm,. He is the supreme leader, Squealer and other pigs are his propagandists. Squealer's lack of conscience and unwavering loyalty to his leader, alongside his rhetorical skills, make him the perfect propagandist for any tyranny. His general persuasiveness of his character are crucial to Napoleon’s success. In a general sense, the sheep are also some kind of propagandist. Whenever there are animals want to express their doubt, the group of sheep will bleat “four legs good, tow legs bad” repeatly, which is teached by Napoleon to limits the terms of debate, and when Napoleon betrays the Animalism, their slogan changes to “four legs good, tow legs better”. The second class is Napoleon’s private army----nine huge dogs, which had been taken away from their mothers and reared privately. The dogs are the arch-defenders of Napoleon and the pigs, and a force the other animal have to contend to.
⒉3
The lowest class is common animal. They standard for the physical labor, a important part of the totalitarian state. Most of them are ignorance and gullibility, such as the sheep, cow, cock and duck, even have no ability to remember the Seven Commandments of Animalism. What the dictator says, what they will believe. Some animals are a little more intelligent, but they are too naivety and loyalty to the pigs. Like the most faithful disciples, the two cart-horses, Boxer and Clover. They have an inability to recognize even the most blatant forms of political corruption. They really show much devotion to Animal Farm, whereas don not know that they are exploited by the pigs as much or more than he had been by Mr. Jones.
Ⅱ.Means of abuse of language in totalitarian state
⒈1
When all the preparation has been done, all kinds of abuse of language begin to be used for the pigs’ political aim.
Pigs begin to set terror upon common animal, this is called terror tactics. How to make animals be contented with their condition at present? One way is to ask such questions as “Surely, Comrades, you don’t want Jones back? ” and confirm that “one false step, and our enemies would be upon us” ⑶ and “yes! Jones will come back!” Squealer ask question that does not require an answer but is used to try and emphasize a particular point. If there is one thing that the animals are completely certain of, it is that they don not want Jones back. So when they hearing this, they fell fear and keep silent and accept all the decisions pigs made. This reminds us of the Bush Administration. After the 9.11, whenever they need something to divert people’s focus away from their mistake, they will announce: “let us unite together to fight with the terrorism!” Tough America is not a totalitarian state, but the mean to set a terror upon the common people is the same with the pigs in Animal Farm.
⒈2
A more cruel way is to threaten .After suspecting some animals in his empire; Napoleon gathers animals together to question that who want to confess their crimes, with a litter dog police beside him. Some animal confesses they have been secretly in touch with Snowball ever since his expulsion, that they collaborate with him to destroy the Animal Farm. They were killed by dogs at once. In fact, these crimes are not real, just because Napoleon compelled them to confess so. In this way, the remaining animals will have no reason to critic his slaughter. They can do is to crept away, shaken and miserable. Soon, Squealer says tat a gander who committed suicide by swallowing deadly berries. And in the hens ration of refusing to hand eggs, nine hens die. But it is given out that they had died of coccidiosis. The animals are thoroughly frightened. From then on, they never dare to express disagreement. Just like in totalitarian state, people have no right of speaking free. In Orwell’s another novel 1984, there is a totalitarian state----Oceania, where everyone is been watched and have no freedom of speaking and thinking. “Old Brother is watching you” is a famous threat sentence used by language in the Oceania.
⒉1 To build a personality cult is also one of the pig’s measure to control through manipulation of language. After Napoleon announcing that the Sunday Meeting is canceled (a traditional meeting that everyone can express their own opinions), Squealer cries again, “Don’t imagine, comrades, that leadership is a pleasure! On the contrary, it is a deep and heavy responsibility. No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal.”⑷ Next ,after condemning the betray of Snowball, Squealer cries again that in the battle of defeating human, when panic was spreading and all seemed lost, that Comrade Napoleon sprang forward with a cry of “Death to Humanity!” and sank is teeth in Jones’s leg. So the animals think that Napoleon is really care of them and a brave leader.
⒉2
But the real personality cult just begins. Napoleon is referred to in “our leader, Comrade Napoleon” in form style, and pigs likes to invent for him such titles as Father of All Animals, Terror of Mankind, Protector of the Sleep-fold, Ducklings’ friend, and the like.⑸ You would hear one hen remark to another “Under the guidance of our leader, Comrade Napoleon, have laid five eggs in six days.” This is ridiculous, however, animal have been brainwashed. Comrade Napoleon commands once a week there should be held a Spontaneous Demonstration. All animals stop working and marching, shouting “long live, Comrade Napoleon!” reading the poems composed in Comrade Napoleon’s honor and singing the song called Comrade Napoleon. In the history of human country, the same thing also happened a lot. For example, The Culture Revolution in China, millions of people worshipped Chairman Mao as the God. Their brains were full of all kinds of slogans and admiration to such an extent as to stop the development of self and country. And this personality cult is mainly created by manipulating language (culture and language has a close relationship).
⒊1
Sometime, consolement is a necessary artifice for dealing with common people. In Animal Farm, lead pigs have learned to promise a bright future to other animals to make them satisfy with the present condition. Napoleon asks animal to build the windmill for a second time (the first one has been failed), promising that the enormous difference will be made when the sails are turning and the dyne was running. They won’t need to work so hard anymore. A liberal old-age pension also has been agreed upon when animals get the retiring age. It is said that a big old people’ home will be built. Animals believe these words and hold a little hope even in the worst difficulty. But in the end, the windmill is not used to generate electricity to make animals’ life more comfort and never as been an animal is admitted to retire. From these, we can find the promises of totalitarian leader are lies.
⒊2
Moses is a former pet of Mr. Jones. At first, pigs dislike him for is tales of Sugarcandy Mountain (like the heaven). Yet soon they allow Moses to remain on the farm. The reason lies in the effect on the animal that they continue working, laboring under the hope that, one day, Moses’ stories will come true. Moses, also become a accomplice in cheating animals by abusing of language. When the tyranny gets to some degree, dictator can utilize all things that good for himself.
⒋1
Since the pigs have done so many improper things, they need to whitewash their action by creating problems of interpretation and misapplication in a context.
One is using pleasant words. This process is illustrated in Squealer’s announcements to the animals about their shortages of food: “For the time being,” he explains, “it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations.”⑹ His use of “readjustment” instead of “reduction” is a subtle attempt to quell the animals’ complaints. This manipulation of language is again found when Animal Farm is proclaimed a Republic, with Napoleon its “elected” President. The word “Republic” connotes a land of self-government whose citizens participate in the political process, as the word “President” connotes one who is of the citizenry but who has been appointed by them to preside over(not control) their government. In this case, animals again and again swallow the pigs’ twisted language to make themselves feel better. In our real world, it can be reflected in some politicians speech “the need to increase funding of government programs” instead of “tax hikes” or the invasion of another country as a “police action” instead of a “war”.
⒋2
The ignorant of animals is taken use by dictator again. Squealer’s explanation is always something too difficult to animals to understand. He confuses and intimidates the uneducated, as when he explains that "a bird's wing … is an organ of propulsion and not of manipulation."⑺ In this latter strategy, he also employs jargon ("tactics, tactics") and impenetrable statistics----reading out a list of foodstuff hand increased by two hundred percent, three hundred percent … It engender in the other animals both self-doubt and a sense of hopelessness about ever accessing the truth without the pigs' mediation.
⒌1
As to any totalitarian regime, it is ordinary to history as the changes of their political demands.
On the one hand, a new power needs a “public sewer”, which all the hatred and complaint can be poured into. Snowball, the failure in the struggle becomes target. Napoleon identifies him an enemy, even saying he is a accomplice of Mr. Jones, erasing his contributions the battle for freedom. Then try to make the animals believe that Snowball is the enemy so that they can turn to Napoleon and consider him the most suitable. An example is that they blame Snowball for everything including the destruction of the windmill and even the loss of the keys to the shed. The most important is that this supposed enemy could never retort. As we know, Stalin and Trotsky are the example of Napoleon and Snowball, now we can realize the merits and demerits of seasonally in the perspective of by standers. When the dictator and the totalitarian state become the history, they will be not able to change the history any more.
⒌2
On the one hand, Napoleon changes the Seven Commandments of Animalism and other principles, aims at erasing the survival’s memory and making them be accustomed to the tyranny, injustice, and farce. On the wall, the Fourth Commandment changes from “No animal shall sleep in a bed” to “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets”, the Sixth Commandment “No animal shall drink alcohol” added “without cause” at the end. As these changes, Napoleon begins to sleep in bed, drink alcohol, kill common animals, and even walk uprights. The pigs led by Napoleon become more and more like Jones, their former oppressor. At last, after Squealer’s repeated reconfigurations of the Seven Commandments in order to decriminalize the pigs’ treacheries, the main principle of the farm can be openly stated as “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Napoleon as totally betrays the dream of Old Major. He invites human farmers to dinner, and what about other animals? “ The creature outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again, but already, it was impossible to say which was which.”⑻
Ⅲ.Result and profound reason of abusing language
⒈1-2
The whole story ends with the sentence above. The result of all the abuse of language is obvious to understand. Te common animals, in another word, labor class, suffer the full extent of the ruling class’s oppression. For instance, Boxer’s death in this chapter marks him as the most pathetic of Orwell’s creation. Though is two mottoes are “I will work harder” and “Napoleon is always right”, after his death, Napoleon sells his most loyal and long-suffering worker to a glue maker in order to get money for whisky. And to the whole Animal Farm (in the end, Napoleon changes it back to Manor Farm), is also a tragedy, a terrible country with strict hierarchy. It is not the great farm any more and no different with other farm controlled by human. Will human beings cooperate with pigs sincerely? Perhaps no, perhaps Napoleon has become the target of psychological manipulation from other farmers.
⒉1
Why the manipulation of language in the totalitarian country can be implemented? There are two main profound reasons. First, it is decided by characteristic of language. In Oxford dictionary, one of its definitions is “a system of sounds, words, and grammar used by the people of a particular area, country to express them in speech or writing.” Language is changeable. In totalitarian state, when the dictator takes charge of the records of language, it is for them to control people’s thoughts. In 1984, a Party slogan in the novel reads, “Who controls the past, controls the future: who controls the present controls the past”. As Orwell remarks, language” becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish,” but also argues that “the slovenliness of our language makes it easier to have foolish thoughts.”⑼
⒉2
Secondly, this corruption of language is also due to the frailty of human nature. For example, although Napoleon seems as first to be a good leader, he is eventually overcome by greed and soon becomes power-hungry. It shows that the self-seeking of humanity. Dictator never shows interest in the strength of the country itself, only in the strength of his power over it. What’s more, the weakness of common animals is “glad-to-believing” The reason is that they are afraid to do so—afraid of Napoleon and his dogs, of course, but also afraid of probing too deeply into the story and thus upsetting their own consciences. Believing Squealer is easier politically and morally. They can excuse their lack of action by willingly believing Squealer’s lies about the owner of the van.⑽
The last principle “all animals are equal, but some animals are equal than others” tells the essence of totalitarianism. This outrageous abuse of the word “equal” and of the ideal of equality in general typifies the pigs’ method, which becomes increasingly audacious as the novel progresses. Orwell sophisticated expose this abuse of language remains one of the most compelling and enduring features of Animal Farm.⑽ For another word, the abuse of language is the symbol of totalitarian state, and a essential part of its political process. A totalitarian state actually is a kind of dictatorship theory. The ruler class must be described as perfectly right. In this case, manipulation of language gradually develops to the extreme. This is worthy of thinking, why fascist spreads to the whole word? Will the emancipation of capacity bring the emancipation of human’s rights? What is going on with people’s character in today’s world? From the fable, we discover the weakness of human selves. But the power of thought is unlimited. To eliminate the corruption of language, avoiding the totalitarianism, we can only through the everlasting pondering.
Notes:
⑴ 余杰，《魑魅人间——读奥威尔的<动物庄园>与<1984>》
⑵ 《后极权主义：“恐惧”支撑整个社会体制的外壳》http://www.singtaonet.com/weekly/weekly0617/weekly0617_13/t20061025_372393
⑶ George Orwell, Animal Farm, 2003@Beijing.P173
⑷ Ibid. P172
⑸ Ibid. P198
⑹ Ibid. P212
⑺ Ibid. P158
⑻ Ibid. P232
⑼ George Orwell, Politics and the English Language, May 1945
⑽ Jem Berkes, Language as the “Ultimate Weapon” in Nineteen Eighty-Four, February 2000
