Muy Keang Tang 1

Muy Keang Tang

Andrea Bernoth

10 English Language and Literature 3

20th October 2021

Boxer and Squealer’s Contribution to the Pig’s Take Over

Animal Farm was written by George Orwell during the Russian Revolution where the

animals strive to be free and live peacefully on a basis of equality in a farm. The story includes

concerns in totalitarianism, corruption and inequality for the farm animals. There will be social

inequalities which will collapse into tyrannical rule as a result of the leader's corruption and the

lack of true empowerment and education of the lower class. Napoleon’s highest position was

achieved through Boxer’s physical strength in building the farm and Squealer’s use of persuasive

language on the farm animals.

There are two main methods to how Squealer takes part in the pig’s takeover. He used a

range of persuasive language to manipulate the animals. When Squealer stated, “‘Milk and

apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to

the well−being of a pig … Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones

would come back!’” (Orwell 11), he is persuading the animals that milk and apples "should be

reserved for the pigs alone." He addressed all the animals as "comrades" which makes them feel

valued. If they refuse to allow the pig’s plans to execute, Mr. Jones will return and surely, no

animal wants him back, leading them to an agreement. Squealer applies a variety of propaganda
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methods to gain the animal’s loyalty and alter their points of view. The other methodology

Squealer used was gaining and maintaining power through deception. Although “Squealer…was

sprawl[ed] beside [the ladder], and near [his] hand there lay a lantern, a paint−brush, and an

overturned pot of white paint” (Orwell 33), the other animals still appear to be clueless that the

pigs are misleading them even though they had caught him in the act. Squealer falls off a ladder

while he was changing the fifth commandments and the animals seem to be unaware of the

seriousness of the situation since they are merely too trusting. Squealer’s main role is

communicating with the other animals, and his speeches are intended to benefit the pigs by

persuading the other animals.

Boxer brought many advantages to the farm from his great strength, heroism during the

Battle of the Windmill, his soft personality and loyalty. When Boxer said, “I will work harder”

(Orwell 35) towards the end of chapter nine, “Clover and Benjamin warned him to take care of

his health, but [he] paid no attention” (Orwell 35). This demonstrates Boxer's expression of

absolute faith until the end and his determination to assist Napoleon in carrying out his plans,

even when he is dying. Because of Boxer’s naivety and soft personality, it is very easy for him to

fall into the pig’s manipulation. Boxer’s masculinity is put into use with his hard-work. Napoleon

announced that the ideas for the windmill’s construction were his own and that they would begin

building it. The windmill, on the other hand, posed a variety of challenges because the animals

had to transfer massive stones from the quarry's bottom to the top. During this occasion,

“Nothing could have been achieved without Boxer, whose strength seemed equal to that of all

the rest of the animals put together” (Orwell 19) meant that Boxer would use every ounce of his

energy to prevent it from rolling back into the quarry. His overload of dedication led to the pigs

using him to benefit themselves then killing Boxer off at the end of chapter 9 when he is no
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longer useful.

Squealer and Boxer are two of the main characters that brought in significant advantages

to the pig’s domination in their own different ways. Boxer contributed by helping around in the

farm to build the windmill and it is stated that, “From morning to night he was pushing and

pulling, always at the spot where the work was hardest” (Orwell 9). This means that he is using

his physical abilities to bring in the most benefits to the farm. In contrast, Squealer helped

Napoleon by giving out speeches. It is given that, “‘he could turn black into white'” (Orwell 5),

meaning he is able to manipulate the other animals verbally through his persuasive language.

While on one hand, they have their own differences, on the other hand, there is also a similarity

between them. It is observed that they both played active roles in their contribution as they did

not ignore and waited for Napoleon’s dominance to pass by. Instead, they helped by taking part

from building the windmill to fighting in battles and giving out speeches to the others.

This comparison analysis results in Squealer bringing the most vital help in the farm

instead of Boxer because Napoleon is someone who wants everything to go his way so having

Squealer to manipulate the other animals is significant to Napoleon. In conclusion, Squealer is

the most helpful contribution under Napoleon’s reign. [833 Words]

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Works Cited:

“Animal Farm - Characters - Boxer .” Sparknotes, SparkNotes,

www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/character/boxer/.

“Animal Farm - Characters - Squealer .” Sparknotes, SparkNotes,

www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/character/squealer/.

“Animal Farm - Questions & Answers.” Sparknotes, SparkNotes,

www.sparknotes.com/lit/animalfarm/key-questions-and-answers/#how-does-squealer-mani

pulate-the-animals-so-the-pigs-can-better-control-them.

“Animal Farm.” CliffsNotes,

www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/a/animal-farm/character-analysis/boxer.

“Animal Farm.” CliffsNotes,

www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/a/animal-farm/character-analysis/squealer.

“Boxer in Animal Farm - Characters - GCSE English Literature Revision - BBC Bitesize.”

BBC News, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zqxhn39/revision/5.

Lea, Lea. “The Importance of Squealer in Animal Farm.” Medium, Medium, 8 May 2019,

medium.com/@lea.sucikova/the-importance-of-squealer-in-animal-farm-aa0a002af8a2.

Somers, Jeffrey. “Animal Farm: Themes, Symbols, Allegory.” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 12

Mar. 2019, www.thoughtco.com/animal-farm-themes-symbols-4587867.

“Squealer in Animal Farm - Characters - GCSE English Literature Revision - BBC

Bitesize.” BBC News, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zqxhn39/revision/7.

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Orwell, George. Animal Farm. Signet Classics, 1946