Sunday, July 31, 2011

In "Animal Farm," what is ironic about the "Spontaneous Demonstrations"?

The spontaneous demonstrations are staged by Napoleon, therefore, the irony is that they are not spontaneous, or voluntarily.  There is nothing natural about the demonstrations, they are organized to send a specific message. 

The spontaneous demonstrations are a propaganda tool, used by Napoleon to convince the animals that their lives are better than they seem.  The animals are miserable, there isn't enough food, they have no rights and they make sacrifice after sacrifice.  So when Napoleon wants to build a school for his new piglets education, he needs to distract the other animals from the fact that they are struggling and enduring hardship.

The parades, songs and banners are designed to send a message that life on Animal Farm is great.  And, some animals, especially the sheep, buy into this false message. 

 "There are a few diversions to keep the animals’ minds off their troubles. The pigs stage “Spontaneous Demonstrations” filled with parades and songs and poems to commemorate Napoleon’s glories."

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