Squealer

He represents the propaganda wing of the Communist Party, almost like Goebbels in Nazi Germany.

From the start, Orwell derides Squealer and describes him in negative terms stating he is a ‘small, fat pig with very round cheeks, twinkling eyes, nimble movements and a shrill voice’ making him appear ridiculous and not one to be respected.

Even his name ‘Squealer’ gives the reader a clue to his character, as ‘Squealer’ not only describes his shrill voice but can be interpreted as ‘one who squeals’ or informs on people.

Squealer is Napoleon’s propaganda machine, twisting the truth so eloquently that it is said he ‘could turn black into white’.

He does this from the start when the pigs commandeer the apples for their own use, he is on hand to explain telling the other animals that ‘our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health’. He goes on to justify this by telling them that it is for their sake that the pigs drink milk and eat the apples, arguing that ‘if the pigs failed in our duty, Jones would come back’ ending with the twisted logical conclusion of ‘surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?’

Later in the book he goes further in his twisting of the truth when some of the animals remember a resolution against trading with other animals, he goes as far as to suggest that the animals must have dreamt it: ‘Are you certain that this is not something you have dreamed, comrades?’

Squealer is the one who physically amends the commandments written on the wall of the barn; he falls from the ladder and is found on the ground by the other animals with an upturned pot of white paint beside him.

Orwell uses Squealer to represent Molotov, a loyal companion, spokesman and protégé of Stalin who supported him in his early struggles for power. Stalin rewarded him by making him chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars. Molotov oversaw some of Stalin’s most draconian and damaging policies.

Squealer also represents the Soviet newspaper, Pravda, which was the main body for announcing change of government policies.