This is what interests me as reader and human being. In plain language, what the hell is wrong with people, the people, the masses, the working class, and the marginalized the walking dead?
Orwell, having thrown his lot in with the people, the enslaved, the colonized, the fodder, the floor mat for the tyrants to use and abuse, to tramp over, disappear, and eliminate, is committed to presenting a narrative that stirs this population out of it's weary state of submissiveness into action on behalf of their own interests.
Most people know what's happening to them, but what to do when the gaslighting begins, when the Squealer comes with a narrative that is contrary to reality, contrary to the crisis of a for-profit medical system and a pandemic, contrary to the crisis of an environment that responds to human indifference with yet another reveal about the inhumanity of world leadership, not to mention that Napoleon in the Big House.
What was it that, as part of our heritage of rebellion, we have lost?
**
I don't want to linger on the likes of Napoleon. We should know him long before he is given our trust and power. We should recognize the way he sets out with determination to re-write the narrative of animal bondage to his advantage. For in removing the tyranny of human rule, under Mr. Jones, from Manor Farm, Napoleon doesn't so much as misguide the animals on the farm as recognizes himself as different, superior, and, as such, entitled to the benefits of the farm's production. He is Napoleon! He's entitled to remove rivals such as Snowball and dampen the spirits of Boxer, a potential threat to his authority over the narrative.
When he rids Manor Farm of the peoples' leader, Napoleon demands the loyalty of all the others, and, by force, he insist on their dedication to work. Not the collective co-op kind, not the creative kind of work that is tantamount to colonial plantation slavery in Africa, Europe, and the New World.
And then he, Napoleon, retreats.
To the luxury of Mr. Jones' house and all of Mr. Jones' former possessions, Napoleon becomes acquainted. All the stuff that legitimizes his superior position as the dear leader belongs to him just as the fruit of the animals' labor will belong to him and the pigs on the farm. The do-nothing managerial rule of the pigs took up residents, too, in the Big House.
Napoleon surrounds himself with guards, vicious dogs. Raising the pigs to a ladder on the rung just below him but above all others, he issues edicts through his faithful, no-thinking spinner of lies and deception, Squealer. And, Squealer is good at what he does. And, that's important. So what does it matter if the pigs are incompetent and never work or think about anything but consuming as much as can be produced on the farm. What does it matter if initially they steal milk. Demand more eggs from the hens. As Squealer explains it, the poor pigs do work. They work on "files" and "reports." It's strenuous work. (Spying). Squealer is good at explaining everything so it sounds sane and reasonable. Fair is not an issue here.
The pigs' isolation from the others, in turn, resembles the former occupants, who didn't have the pecking order of life right in the first place. In fact, no pecking order should have been evident then or now. But who's thinking of what could be possible for all?
So from the Big House, Napoleon issues his edicts is the Big House to Squealer. The seat of governance isn't the seat of "the animals." The edicts aren't pronouncements about democracy; they are not even democratic in and of themselves.
Don't you agree? "It's for your sake."
The animals nod. You know, maybe it's for the best, they think and they think without so much as requesting evidence or demanding an open debate. So when Boxer has time to think, he thinks: "If Comrade Napoleon says it, it must be right." That's critical thinking on the plantation, prison, farm.
Squealer's words is absorbed in their DNA, and back to work they go. Not even happily but miserably, more hungry and overworked than before the "revolution." But they had to make what Squealer termed "'readjustments.'" So, you know, readjustments.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
