Answer:
What is a theme and why is it important? Well, a theme is the message that the author is trying to convey throughout the story. It is important because the theme is one of the reasons why the author wrote it in the first place. "Animal Farm", a novella written by George Orwell, tells a story of a group of animals from Manor farm who rebel against their human farm owner. There are several characters in which their actions developed themes throughout the novel such as Squealer and Napoleon. Both characters' actions developed the themes of "using language as an instrument to abuse power" and "corruption".
First, both Napoleon and Squealer demonstrates the theme of "using language as an instrument to abuse power". One of the author's focal concerns in the novel is the way language can be used as an instrument of control. In the novella, Squealer is known to be manipulative for he is a vastly persuasive speaker. He uses language to make the animals doubt what they have witnessed firsthand and to accept and believe the falsehoods that Squealer tells them. According to the text, ""You do not imagine, I hope, that we pigs are doing this in a spirit of selfishness and privilege? Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. Milk and apples (this has been proved by Science, comrades) contain substances absolutely necessary to the well-being of a pig. We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organization of this farm depend on us. Day and night we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples."" This tells the readers that Squealer is quite good at making others agree on his beliefs. Napoleon is also one of the characters that demonstrates this theme. Although he is not a gifted speaker, he is still known for getting his ways. In the novella, Napoleon seemed to possess the trust of the animals. According to the text, it states, ""Comrades, do you know who is responsible for this? Do you know the enemy who has come in the night and overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!"" This tells the readers that Napoleon was blaming Snowball which then led to the animals believing what Napoleon said for one of the characters, Boxer, claimed that "Napoleon is always right."
Second, both Napoleon and Squealer demonstrates the theme of "corruption". The novella consists a lot of foreshadowing in which it creates the sense that the events of the story are unavoidable. the novella also unequivocally recommend that some other conceivable ruler would have been as terrible as Napoleon. According to the text, ""Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer—except, of course, for the pigs and the dogs."" This tells the readers that this is a form of corruption for it says that the farm had gotten richer while the animals, except for the pigs and the dogs, were left with nothing. In addition, Squealer demonstrates this theme for he represents the propaganda arm of the controlling class, which are the pigs. He usually takes the truth and spin it to create false accusations on Snowball or the others, to show that Napoleon has no flaws. According to the text, "the others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white." This tells the readers that Squealer is quite capable in manipulating anyone of anything. Napoleon uses this skill for his own benefits.
In conclusion, both Napoleon and Squealer's actions developed the themes of "using language as an instrument to abuse power" and "corruption". This is because both characters work together to be able to manipulate the other animals. They also take advantage of the other animals which then makes them corrupt and evil. In the novella, Squealer is talented in persuading and manipulating others. Napoleon on the other hand is not very gifted in speaking but is quite intimidating. Both in which are a result of them demonstrating the two themes.
