How does fear influence the animals' behavior?

Fear significantly influences the animals’ behavior in "Animal Farm" by leading them to accept tyranny and oppression under the rule of the pigs. Throughout the story, the pigs use fear as a tool to maintain control and suppress dissent among the other animals. For instance, the threat of Mr. Jones returning and the constant reminders of the dangers outside encourage the animals to accept the pigs' authority without question.

When the animals witness brutal actions, such as the executions of dissenters, they become more fearful and thereby more compliant. This fear prevents them from questioning the pigs’ decisions and allows the pigs to manipulate them into blindly following orders. The fear instilled by propaganda and intimidation thus creates an atmosphere where the animals feel powerless, which solidifies the pigs’ power and maintains their oppressive regime.

As a result, rather than motivating rebellion or inspiring unity against a common enemy, fear becomes a mechanism for the animals to accept their subjugation, illustrating how oppressive regimes can exploit fear to consolidate control.