Unlike “Beasts of England,” which called for an uprising against tyranny and an increased sense of unity among all animals, Minimus’ poem portrays Napoleon as a greater and better animal than all others, deserving their full devotion. On the surface, such a song of praise might seem like innocent flattery — but the reader understands that the poem is another weapon in Napoleon’s propaganda arsenal.
Napoleon’s relationship with Frederick and Pilkington also reveal his disregard for old Major’s principles; indeed, Orwell remarks that relations between Napoleon and Pilkington become “almost friendly.” When the animals are shocked to learn that Napoleon “had really been in secret agreement with Frederick” to sell him the timber, the reader (as with Minimus’ poem) senses the truth and understands that there never was a “secret agreement,” but that Napoleon had been sounding each man to see who would offer him a better price. Again Napoleon is able to manipulate the animals’ perceptions in order to make himself appear in complete control. The pigeons that Napoleon releases with their varying slogans (“Death to Frederick” and “Death to Pilkington”) resemble government-controlled media, spreading the official word on a topic to the world and completely contradicting all previous statements when necessary.
Another way in which Napoleon manipulates public opinion is his naming the windmill “Napoleon Mill.” Building the windmill had been an effort of all the animals, but Napoleon names it after himself to again insinuate that Animal Farm has become what it is because of his actions. Ironically, this is true in both the positive and negative sense: Napoleon’s leadership has freed the animals from human control — but it has also begun to enslave them to another form of tyranny. As Snowball is deemed responsible for everything that goes wrong on the farm, Napoleon is credited with all improvements. The animals praising him for the taste of the water and other things with which Napoleon obviously had nothing to do reveals the depth to which he has pervaded their minds — and terrified them into complete dependence and obedience.
