Satire Comparative Essay: Smart Phone and Animal Farm - Satirical Texts

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for another, much like the case in Russia.

Both texts make it clear that the chief culprit behind the failings of communism is manipulation. In Smart Phone, this is primarily shown by the pun on the phrase “smart phone”, while Animal Farm achieves this through irony, with both techniques being used differently for the same effect. The pun’s first meaning, where “smart” is an adjective, suggests idolising Jong-Un is the indicator of progression, as Siri’s smartness arises from hailing Jong-Un. The pun then ridicules communist development by showing the news to make a large fuss about a trivial “invention”. This contextually represents exaggerated claims regarding nuclear capability of North-Korea by Jong-Un. The pun further addresses manipulation by showing how propaganda machines, represented by the newspaper, of communist systems deliberately twist or exaggerate events. In comparison, Orwell uses dramatic irony to describe the disjunction between the inner and outer personas of the pigs, as when Boxer is sent to be slaughtered, with the characters believing Squealer’s falsified hospital story. Readers also understand the manipulation of events and ideas to put things in favour of the dictator through situational irony, such as the pigs constantly changing the seven unchangeable-by-nature commandments. The cruelty and sadness which Orwell’s use of irony entails is dissimilar to the cartoon’s use of pun in ridiculing, but both serve the purpose of targeting manipulation.

In conclusion, Smart Phone and Animal Farm are satirical texts which highlight the flaws of communism. Flaws such as manipulation are strongly expressed through the use of satirical techniques, including pun and irony, in various ways but ultimately to the same effect.