Themes of Education and Ignorance in Animal Farm

Animal Farm Essay Outline

Introduction

• Introduction to the theme of education and ignorance in "Animal Farm"
• Thesis statement

The Pigs' Recognition of the Power of Education

• The pigs' revelation of their ability to read and write
• The pigs' manipulation of knowledge for power

The Pigs' Manipulation and Silencing of the Animals

• Napoleon's consolidation of power
• Removal of debates and silencing of dissent
• Exploitation of the animals' ignorance

The Animals' Struggle to Advocate for Themselves

• Inability to find the right arguments
• Manipulation of the animals' lack of knowledge
• Subjugation of dissenting opinions

The Pigs' Use of Ignorance as a Means to an End

• The deceptive treatment of Boxer's retirement
• Exploitation of the animals' illiteracy
• Transformation of the pigs into human-like beings

The Transformation of Animal Farm and Its Downfall

• Abandonment of initial principles
• Abuse of education leading to societal failure
• Society becoming stratified and oppressive

Conclusion

• Recap of the central themes and messages in "Animal Farm"
• The consequences of abusing education for power
• The portrayal of human flaws in a society of animals

Animal Farm Essay Example

In a society where an elite class has access to tools that the masses do not, this elite group of people often use these tools to dominate and oppress society. In George Orwell’s story, Animal Farm, there is an important theme of education and ignorance. Among other themes, Orwell shows that education is a powerful is a tool that can be used to have the upper hand. living in a place where power is effortless to gain, the pigs quickly use education to manipulate the rest of the animals on the farm to work for them. This story ultimately unveiled the hidden message that first, education is important to all stages of society, next, for when it is not, society is stratified, resulting in the large groups suffering.

The pigs are the first to realize the value of knowledge and use their vast knowledge to take advantage of the other animals in order to gain power over the farm. The morning of the hay harvest, the pigs make an announcement that sets their leadership in stone. Shocking the other animals, the pigs “revealed that during the past three months they had taught themselves to read and write”. Through writing that the pigs have learned to read and write “during the past three months,” Orwell shows that the pigs recognize the power of education and keep it hidden for that reason. Through this education, the pigs meant to gain control and as a result they don’t plan on teaching the other animals so they can keep power for themselves. they then use the power to begin manipulation. After Animal Farm has been established, “The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership”. By describing that “The pigs did not actually work,” Orwell shows that the pigs are able to use their knowledge to stay away from work by just thinking. Instead of the pigs using their education to work to improve the farm, they simply claim that due to “superior knowledge” it is natural that they “lead.” If education was given to all, the leadership would be based on who could actually do best for the farm, but that is obviously not the situation . He is able to show that when education is not granted to everyone , it is very easy for those with it to use it for power. Now that the pigs have the initial advantage over the other animals.

After the pigs have fully educated themselves, they continue to keep education from the others and alter rules to push their power. After Napoleon has gotten rid of Snowball to have all power to himself, he removes all power from the other animals as well. Napoleon announces to all the animals:

From now on the Sunday­morning Meetings would come to an end... also all questions relating to the working of the farm would be settled by a special committee of pigs, presided over by himself. These would meet in private and afterwards communicate their decisions to the others...additionally there would be no more debates.”

Through having Napoleon state that “there would be no more debates,” Orwell is able to show that the pigs are quieting their workers in order to maintain power for themselves. Napoleon’s education makes it possible for him to assume all power through manipulation. Napoleon’s complete control and silencing of the animals foreshadows that he may resort to more oppression and take more advantage of the pigs. Through this quote, Orwell reveals the underlying message that in societies where leaders abuse education for power, they will silence their subjects to keep that power. Some animals notice that they are being abused and want to have more say, but because of their lack of education; they struggle to advocate of themselves. Orwell explains the unfortunate truth in that, “Some of the animals would have protested if they could have found the right arguments. Even Boxer was vaguely troubled... but in the end could think of nothing to say” Orwell shows that because the animals “could think of nothing to say,” the pigs are using their education and the lack of the others to oppress the animals to silence them. The pigs take advantage of the other animals because the other animals know that they lack knowledge, and are gullible. Even if the other animals do have different opinions, they go with what Napoleon is saying because they cannot compare to him. This example further demonstrates the idea that abuse of education, driven by the temptation of power, creates oppression. Ultimately corruption ends with a downfall of that society, but before that devastation is in store for many of the animals.

After having power, the pigs oppress the animals even more by using their education and the ignorance of the animals, to use them as means to an end. Boxer, a horse who works the most out of any animal, gets weak and looks forward to retirement, as promised by Animalism; however, he must go to the hospital first. As the animals are crowding around the “hospital” van to say goodbye to Boxer, Benjamin reads the van and shouts:

'Fools! Do you not see what is written on the side of that van?'... ‘Alfred Simmonds, Horse Slaughterer and Glue Boiler, Willingdon. Dealer in Hides and Bone­Meal. Kennels Supplied. Do you not understand what that means? They are taking Boxer to the knacker's!'

By showing that the animal do not “understand what [it] means,” it becomes clear that the pigs have and use the ability to take advantage of the ignorance of the other animals. It is clear that the pigs do not want to have to pay for Boxer’s retirement. The pigs use the lack of literacy from the other animals to convince them the van just had not been re­painted yet, but in reality Boxer was going to his death. This stunt could not have been pulled off if all the animals had equal education. Orwell shows how those who are denied education can be oppressed without even knowing it The pigs have changed to do anything to be like humans, including having a need for whiskey. It then becomes clear to the reader that the pigs have gone to far in order to get what they want. The day after the death of boxer (and his trip to the “hospital,”) “the word went round that from somewhere or other the pigs had acquired the money to buy themselves another case of whisky.” Orwell is suggesting that the pigs are transforming into humans through drinking by using “money” and “whiskey.” Money, drinking, and killing are among the main things in which the pigs originally swore to never use; however, the abuse of education for power has caused this society to fail because the pigs are now drinking, killing and using money. Education gave the pigs power, an elite class, and now a society where they can use their subject as means to an end.

In a society where education is not provided equally, the class that receives the most will get power, keep power, and abuse power; ultimately creating a failed society. The whole idea of Animal Farm is to stay away from human values and actions, as it results in selfishness. However, the abuse of education for power got in the way and gave the pigs other ideas. It results in the exact opposite of what the initial idea was. Orwell is portraying the many flaws in humans by showing how easy it is for a society of animals to become so human like in the way the act, obtain power, and treat their citizens. This story ultimately reveals the underlying message that education is important to all levels of society, for when it is not, society is stratified and the majority of classes suffer.