Monday, July 28, 2014

How does the manner in which each of the pigs speak connect to Orwell's observations described in the essay, "Politics and the English Language?"

I certainly think that much of what Orwell contends in his
essay is drawn from the Pigs' leadership, specifically Squealer and Napoleon.  In
articulating a condition of "uselessness," Squealer's articulation of the food supply as
"readjustments" as opposed to deficits would be one such arena where I think Orwell's
construct of language is meant to reflect the desire to conceal the horrific condition
of how individuals live with a sense of imprecision and lack of detail.  The blurring of
language is also evident in how the commandments of Animalism are altered to enhance and
substantiate the rule of the pigs and not to improve the lives of the animals on the
farm.  The imprecision of language is present again in ideas such as "some are more
equal than others."  The inability to specifically use language to express human pain in
the event that it could destabilize the Status Quo becomes one of the critical elements
that Squealer seeks to embody.  It is through the his use of "spin" and propaganda that
"turns black into white" where Orwell's contention that language can be used by those in
the position of power to ensure that social change and remedy in the hopes of making the
world as it should be as opposed to what is becomes a critical element in the
construction of language.

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