Animal Farm: Symbols, Propaganda, and the Power to Control the Story
Animal Farm is one of the most powerful examples of how literature can explore the relationship between symbols, power, language, and human behavior.
Published in 1945, George Orwell's short novel tells the story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner in the hope of creating a society where all animals are equal.
At first, the revolution represents freedom.
But over time, the new leadership begins to recreate the very systems of control that the animals hoped to escape.
The story raises a timeless question:
How can a movement created for freedom become a system of control?
The Power of Symbols
Symbols have always played an important role in human societies.
A symbol can represent:
A belief
A movement
A nation
A memory
A shared identity
People have always gathered around symbols because symbols communicate ideas quickly.
A flag can represent a country.
A monument can represent history.
A logo can represent a company.
A simple image can carry generations of meaning.
But Orwell also shows another side of symbols:
Symbols can inspire people—but they can also be manipulated.
The Seven Commandments: When Words Become Tools of Power
After the animals overthrow the farmer, they create a set of principles called the Seven Commandments.
The most important commandment is:
"All animals are equal."
This simple statement represents the dream of a fair society.
However, as the pigs gain more power, the commandments are slowly changed.
The final version becomes:
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."
The meaning has been completely transformed.
The words remain.
The truth has disappeared.
THINK: The Importance of Questioning Language
This connects directly to the Designed by Concordia theme:
THINK
A society's understanding of reality depends heavily on language.
If people stop questioning words, those words can be used to manipulate them.
Propaganda often works by:
Repeating simple messages
Creating emotional responses
Controlling information
Simplifying complex issues
The question is:
Are we thinking about what words mean, or simply accepting the meaning given to us?
OBEY: Why Do People Follow?
One of the central themes of Animal Farm is obedience.
The animals want freedom from human control.
But eventually, they find themselves serving a new leadership structure.
Why?
Because power does not only come from force.
It can come from:
Fear
Confusion
Trust
Lack of information
The desire for stability
This connects to the Designed by Concordia theme:
OBEY
The important question is not:
"Should people ever obey?"
Every society requires cooperation.
The deeper question is:
Who deserves our obedience, and what happens when we stop questioning authority?
Propaganda: Controlling Reality
One of Orwell's greatest insights is that controlling information is a form of power.
The character Squealer uses persuasive language to convince the animals that everything happening is necessary.
He does not always rely on obvious lies.
Instead, he uses:
Fear
Confusion
Selective information
Emotional arguments
This reflects a broader lesson from history:
The group that controls the story often influences how people understand reality.
The Eye: Seeing Beyond the Message
The symbol of the eye appears throughout human history as a representation of:
Awareness
Knowledge
Understanding
Perception
Animal Farm asks:
Can people see beyond the story they are being told?
The challenge is not only having information.
The challenge is knowing how to interpret it.
The ability to recognize manipulation requires awareness.
CONSUME: Passive Acceptance vs. Active Participation
The theme of CONSUME also connects to Orwell's message.
A society can consume:
Products
Entertainment
News
Ideas
Narratives
The danger is not consumption itself.
The danger is passive consumption without reflection.
A person who only receives information without questioning becomes easier to influence.
The question:
Are we choosing what we believe, or are we simply accepting what is presented to us?
History Repeats Itself
One of the strongest themes in Animal Farm is that human patterns repeat.
Revolutions.
Empires.
Governments.
Organizations.
Communities.
All can begin with good intentions.
But power can change people.
The story reminds us that freedom requires constant attention.
A society cannot protect itself by simply creating new rules.
It must also protect the values behind those rules.
Memento Mori: Remember the Lessons of History
The philosophy of Memento Mori is often translated as:
Remember that you will die.
But it also carries another idea:
Remember what has happened before.
History is a reminder of human successes and failures.
Remembering history helps societies recognize patterns.
Without memory, each generation risks repeating the same mistakes.
Animal Farm and Designed by Concordia
The themes of Animal Farm connect deeply with Designed by Concordia:
OBEY
Question authority and understand why people follow.
THINK
Examine information instead of accepting everything presented.
CONSUME
Be aware of the ideas and messages we consume.
The Eye
Seek awareness beyond appearances.
Memento Mori
Remember history and the lessons it provides.
The story reminds us that symbols and words are powerful.
They can inspire people.
They can unite people.
They can also be used to control people.
Explore Designed by Concordia
Symbols have shaped human history for thousands of years.
Explore designs inspired by philosophy, culture, history, and the ideas that continue to influence society:
https://www.concordia.style/shop
References
Animal Farm — George Orwell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm
George Orwell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell
Propaganda
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda
Symbol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol
Political Allegory
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory
Memento Mori
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori
