Animal Farm: Ignorance leads to Oppression
...eping the pigs in good health was all too obvious” (52). It is during this event that the pigs are seen as dominant, and due to the animals allowing the pigs their dominance, it contributes to their future oppression. The totalitarian pigs make many decisions regarding the operation of the farm, but the ignorance of the animals prevents them from stating otherwise. “ It was always the pigs who put forward the resolutions. The other animals understood how to vote, but could never think of any resolutions of their own” (48). Through out the book, many decisions are made regarding issues such as: work, food, etc. These issues are never really ratified by the animals, but rather are just approved by the pigs. The animals ignorance and lack of education prevents them from having a voice in their own society, and denies them the privilege of voting. Another example is that the animals at time are so ignorant, that they do not understand what is being argued, thus preventing them to voice their own opinions. “ The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively…that they accepted his explanation without further questions” (72). Due to the animals not voting and questioning topics because of their ignorance, they allow the pigs to gain more control and also make more decisions, thus further contributing to their oppression. The animals make a greater effort during their labor as opposed to the pigs, but due to their lack of education, they allow the pigs to get away with not working, because their ignorance leads them to believe it is in their best interest. The pigs act as leaders, while the other animals are the followers. “ The pigs did not actually work, but directed and supervised others. With their superior knowledge, it was natural that they should assume the leadership” (45). The pigs simply act as overseers, and, in effect, slave drivers of the working animals, blatantly avoiding anything physically taxing. Once again, the animals ignorance leads them to think that this is in their best interest, since the pigs possess more knowledge than the animals. This is also another factor that adds to their oppression, because by giving the pigs the privilege of not working, they force more work onto themselves, and give the pigs more power and control over them. The animal’s ignorance “blinds” them, and prevents them from seeing how constantly the pigs modify the laws to fit their own needs, so the animals end up not questioning these actions. A very strong example of this is when Napoleon decides upon retribution amongst the animals. “…there was a pile of corpses lying before Napoleon’s feet and the air was heavy with the smell of blood, which had been unknown since the expulsion of Jones” (93). The animals at this point are very shocked and shaken, and do not know what to do. They later think they remember that there is a commandment against the slaying of other animals. “ It ran: ‘No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.’ Somehow or the other, the last two words had slipped out of the animals memory. But they saw now that the commandment had ...