While both "Animal Farm" and "The
Truman Show" demonstrate how those
in power manipulate facts and employ
deceit to maintain control, there are
significant differences between the
works. "Animal Farm" is a political
allegory that explores the rise and
corruption of a revolution, while "The
Truman Show" is a commentary on the
influence of media and entertainment
on individuals. The settings, characters,
and means of control are vastly
different, with "Animal Farm" taking
place on a farm and "The Truman
Show" within a fabricated reality show.
In 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell,
Orwell effectively portrays Napoleon,
the totalitarian pig leader of the farm,
masterfully manipulating other animals
through continuously altering
established decrees such that the
dictating animals are subtly given more
control over the rest of the animals.
One of the most prominent examples
of this manipulation is the constant
alteration of the Seven
Commandments, originally established
to govern the farm. When the pigs
begin trading with humans, a practice
they initially condemned, they change
the Commandment "No animal shall
drink alcohol" to "No animal shall drink
alcohol to excess." which is a clear
depiction of the extent of corruption
and control that napoleon wields as
the ability to revise the
commandments and to also show that
they have the ability to dictate the
meaning of 'excess’. Another example
is the pigs' deceptive use of
propaganda, with Squealer, Napoleon's
spokesperson, telling the animals, "No
one believes more firmly than
Comrade Napoleon that all animals are
equal." This statement contradicts
Napoleon's actions, as he increasingly
lives a life of luxury by moving into the
farmhouse, enjoying exclusive access
to human goods like alcohol and
human clothing, while the other
animal’s toil. This manipulation of facts
and dissemination of propaganda
serves to solidify Napoleon's authority
by altering perceptions and
maintaining the illusion of equality
among the animals. the comparison to
'the Truman show' lies in how both
Christof and the pigs selectively alter
facts to justify their actions and retain
power. In both cases, the ruling figures
use deceit as a means of control,
whether it's for the sake of maintaining
a TV show in 'the Truman show' or
consolidating power in 'animal farm'.
In ‘The Truman Show,’ Christof
maintains control by isolating Truman
and limiting his access to information
that would reveal the reality of his
fabricated life. This isolation is
achieved by manipulating Truman's
fear of water, which stems from a
traumatic childhood experience.
Christof exploits this fear, controlling
Truman's actions and choices to
ensure he never leaves the artificially
constructed world of Seahaven Island.
The resemblance to ‘Animal Farm’ lies
in the use of fear as a tool for control.
While the contexts of ‘The Truman
Show’; and ‘Animal Farm’ are vastly
different, the manipulation of fear and
information is a common thread that
runs through both narratives. In
‘Animal Farm,’ the pigs use fear as well
as the constant threat of external
enemies to maintain their rule, while in
Christof wields fear to keep Truman in
blissful ignorance, perpetuating the
illusion of a genuine world. In both
cases, the manipulation of facts and
the cultivation of fear are integral
elements in the maintenance of
control.
Deceit is a critical tool employed by the
ruling pigs in animal farm, particularly
Napoleon, to maintain control over the
farm. The pigs manipulate facts, such
as altering the Seven Commandments,
and use propaganda to create a false
reality. They exploit the animals' fears
and suppress dissent to instill
obedience and loyalty. The pigs'
deceitful tactics revolve around the
perversion of their initial ideals of
equality and justice, leading to the
animals' continued subjugation. In
contrast, in "The Truman Show," while
there is an element of deceit in
maintaining Truman's unawareness,
the motivations behind the deception
differ. Christof, the creator of the
show, deceives Truman not to enforce
control or suppress dissent, but for the
sake of entertainment. He orchestrates
events to create drama and keep the
show's audience engaged, prioritizing
entertainment over domination. This
divergence in motivation between the
two contexts underscores the varied
applications of deceit by those in
power, emphasizing that the methods
may remain similar while the
underlying goals differ significantly.
In "The Truman Show," deceit is
instrumental in maintaining control,
but the nature of this deceit differs
markedly from the context of "Animal
Farm." Christof's manipulation of facts
and deceit is chiefly centered around
creating a fictional world to keep
Truman within the constructed reality
of the show. While he orchestrates
elaborate deceptions, including the
use of actors to play roles in Truman's
life, the core motivation is to sustain
the illusion of Truman's world for the
entertainment of the audience. In
"Animal Farm," on the other hand, the
deceit practiced by Napoleon and the
pigs is aimed at political control and
the perpetuation of their authority
over the other animals. It involves a
systematic perversion of the truth,
alteration of rules, and suppression of
dissent to maintain power. The crucial
distinction lies in the motivation
behind the deceit: Christof's is for
entertainment, whereas Napoleon's is
for political dominance, underscoring
the varying objectives that can
underpin deceitful strategies in the
pursuit of power.