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George orwell's animal farm explained
Characterization of animal farm by George Orwell
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In the novel, Animal Farm by George Orwell, there is a speech given to the animals in the farm by the highly regarded Old Major. The subject of Old Major’s speech is how humans are the problem and there needs to be a rebellion. The purpose of Old Major’s speech is to pass on his beliefs in order to get justice for the farm animals’. Old Major wishes to encourage these animals so that the cruelty they go through does not happen ever again. He adopts a provocative tone in order to provoke animals into rebelling. Old Major begins his speech by describing the nature of farm animals’ lives. During Old Major’s speech he says, “Let us face it: our lives are miserable, laborious, and short” (5). Old Major says this in order to explain the truth about
Animal Farm is made up of different animals that are lead by Mr. Jones, who ends up being drunk all the time when going to bed and forgets to close up some of the cages. While Mr. Jones was going to sleep in the bed, the animals on the farm was having their own meeting led by, Major, the pig. In the meeting, they talked about who are their enemies and who are their friends, and who are the comrades. While having all ears on Major, he started to say how “Man” was the cause of their problem because with Man, all animals would be free without having to be slaves for anyone. With this being said, Major and all the other animals were singing a song with excitement when it quickly ended by Mr. Jones, who proceeded to
He uses heavily connotated dictions to strike terror in the hearts of all the animals, making statements such as, “but no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me, every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year. To that horror we all must come--cows, pigs, hens, sheep, everyone. Even the horses and dogs have no better fate” (9). In this section of his speech, Old Major subtly uses graphic words such as cruel and horror further generate more hate towards the farmer, Mr. Jones, as well as Man as a whole. Old Major goes on to expound of the bountiful grievances the animals have suffered, and lists the gruesome fates that await singular animals, as well as more vices of Man. His use of vivid imagery creates dread among the animals, definitively convincing the animals that Man is their only
In the beginning, just as Czar Nicholas II exploits his subjects, Farmer Jones treats his animals likewise. He gives them “so much food as will keep the breath in their bodies” (28). Jones feeds his animals minimally whilst he eats abundantly. He forces the animals “to work to the last atom of their strength” (28). Czar Nicholas rules with an iron fist and does not tolerate even minor transgressions to his authority. Similarly, Farmer Jones rules his farm and tyrannizes his animals with whippings and backbreaking work. As soon as their “usefulness comes to an end they are slaughtered with hideous cruelty” (28). When Jones overworks and starves his animals to the point where they can go no further, he sends them to the slaughterer. Farmer Jones enslaves his animals, and is the sole benefactor of the animals’ produce and labor. He does not have any interest in providing better living conditions for the animals. Just like Czar Nicholas’ subjects, the animals on the farm are clearly weak, so Farmer Jones thoroughly dominates them.
Great speakers have always been able to move their audiences with their speeches. In Animal Farm, Old Major gave an empowering speech to the animals of Manor Farm. Martin Luther King Jr also gave a very convincing speech about his dream for equality. Old Major in Animal Farm and Martin Luther King Jr both gave successful speeches that used repetition, emotion and rhetorical questions.
Old Major, a eminent pig on the Jones farm, is regarded as the wise superior by the other animals. He has had a strange dream and calls the other animals together to talk about their disastrous situation. Old major declares: ';Let us face it, our lives are miserable, laborious and short';. He declares in Marxist terms that Man is the problem: ';Only get rid of the Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we could be rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you, comrades. Rebellion!';
Orwell’s use of purposeful syntax shows the pig’s subliminal control over the unassuming animals and the original purpose of the rebellion. Old Major warns the animals in the beginning of the novel that they must “remember also that in fighting against Man, [the animals] must not come to resemble him” (Orwell 21). The objectification of
Language is a very powerful tool. It is a means of basic communication, and has been around for centuries. Just like any other tool, language can be powerful in a positive or negative way, and can either work to one's advantage or can result in negative effects. Certain words can touch a certain chord inside someone, so they can be easily influenced by the language. A good example of this is George Orwell's Animal Farm, a fable in which a multitude of gullible animals are exploited by a group of power mongering pigs. Words can appeal to a persons basic needs and desires and conjure up hope or even fear in his or her mind. These emotions can be manipulated by others to their own advantage, and clever use of language can be used to cheat, deceive, spread rumors. In Animal Farm, Orwell shows how the pig's use of influential language manipulates and enslaves the animals.
In George Orwell’s Animal Farm we get a glimpse of a strange switch in totalitarian rule. From Mr. Jones a cruel farmer who feeds his animals to little and works them to hard, to Napolean a pig that will have you killed for a bottle of liquor. Through stupidity, narrow mindedness and pure cowardice of some animals we view the inevitable as the farm animals become ruled by pigs. Old Major probably not the first animal to think of as an animal to ruin a utopia for the farm, is in most cases not a favored example to contribute to the pigs takeover. This pig finally near the end of his better than average life chose to create a rebellion against the then in power Mr. Jones. A truly justifiable act executed in a time to late, for Major died to soon to lead the farm. If Old Major had summed up an ounce of courage in his closer to piglet years further and earlier then his dying days the animals might have had a chance of a better life. Old Major can be seen as him being a late coward having what is thought on the farm to be a good life trying to end it a false legend or maybe Old Major was a slow hero wanting to leave a better life for his friends. Still though we should agree that for Old Major’s failing action or neglect was the time he chose to start a rebellion, in the few days before he died.
The Use of Language in Animal Farm Animal Farm by George Orwell is an allegory in which animals are personified to represent the struggles and conflicts of the Russian Revolution. The main point emphasizes in the novel is that language is a powerful tool, which can be used to manipulate and control people in order to bring about change, whether big or small. In the story the pigs govern everything that happens, whether it is something as miner as eating a meal, or something as major and important as fighting a strategic battle. Napoleon, the foreman, or leader of the pigs is the most powerful of them all. Napoleon and his “side kick”, Squealer, abused the powers of language to manipulate the animals of the farm into thinking that the farm was a beautiful society flourishing with life and freedom, when in fact, it was quite the opposite.
One of the main themes in the novella, is how easily pure ideals can become corrupted, as they did in the Soviet Union. The novel opens with Old Major, a character who represents Karl Marx, telling the animals on the farm of his Orwell highlights how powerful the use of language and propaganda can be when used to control society. One of the first times propaganda is used by the pigs can be seen when the animals find out that the milk from the cows was being mixed into the pigs mash, and that the apples that fell in the orchard were to be collected and given to the pigs.
Old Major, who is a respected animal on the farm, had given a speech to stir the animals emotion into rebellion. He used his power of respect and trust to persuade the others to pursue the vision in his dream. “Old Major was so highly regarded on the farm that everyone was quite ready to lose an hour’s sleep in order to hear what he had to say” (Orwell 15). Old Major’s dream was for the earth to be ruled by animals. Old Major strongly believed that animals have only one adversary. “Man is the only real enemy we have” (19). His oration inspired and energized the listeners. “At this moment there was a tremendous uproar” (21). Old Major had all the power and history has proven that dictatorship does not work, due to the fact that, power leads to corruption in a communism style government. The power Old Major held led his friends into taking action in what he desired to do, which led to rebellion and future tragedies. Power corrupted society and absolute power that is eventually obtained becomes corrupt within. (Lord Acton).
Language plays a very important role in the pig’s power. Due to the pigs being the smartest, language can be used to keep their power over the other animals. The pigs use their intelligence and language to manipulate the other animals on the farm. They would say “All animals are equal.”(11) but they know that they are superior due to their ability to manipulate the others through language. Squealer for example would use words that many animals would not understand to make the animals think being ruled by the pigs is a good thing. Through language the pigs are able to secure their position as leaders on the farm as well as get the animals working for less.
What is the definition of a good novel? Opinions on this question may differ, but there are many things that good novels have in common. Most importantly, the reader must enjoy the novel. When I use the word enjoy, I don’t necessarily mean that it should make the reader ‘happy’ or ‘joyful’. The novel should give the reader a valuable or worthwhile experience. Many good novels often address topics that relate to our own reality. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, one of the main focuses is on power and corruption.
It was the glorious speech from Old Major that made the animals want to rebel so badly. Animal Farm, written by George Orwell is an excellent novel that portrays the need for power. It shows how power can be used for either good or evil. The story begins on Manor Farm, owned by a farmer named Mr. Jones. One of the pigs, named Old Major, gives a speech that motivates the animals to rebel.
“….No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery: that is the plain truth.” (Orwell,18). Through these words of the Old Major, the dream of the animals is carried out straight forwardly. They just dream of a world with happiness and freedom by changing the above stated ‘plain truth’. Though they succeed at the beginning, the totalitarianism throws the whole crowd of animals, except pigs, into a nightmare. It becomes a tragedy as this downfall of the animal’s dream befalls due to their own kind.