George Orwell's Animal Farm

George Orwell's Animal Farm

George Orwell has used many techniques of writing such as irony and

humour to portray significant events throughout Animal Farm. This

extract, just after the slaughter of the 'disloyal' animals (one of

the most emotive of the events in the book), is no exception and so I

will be analysing and interpreting the response of readers as well as

making links to other parts in the book.

'Loud singing' could be heard from the farmhouse, this is just after

the pigs have come across a 'case of whiskey'. It is not the singing

itself, which is the 'surprise' to the animals but the song that is

being sung, Beasts of England. Beasts of England, the song of

rebellion and hope, has just been banned. The banishment of the song

stood for the destruction of old Major's vision of a 'perfect unity'

between animals. Also the song signifies rebellion and so Napoleon has

forbidden it to extinguish any fighting spirit against his

dictator-led regime. The pigs, after being intoxicated, lose all their

inhibitions; it seems ironic how they are now relying on their natural

instincts rather than their brains. Them singing Beasts of England is

hypocritical of the banishment, and supports the readers dislike of

the pigs.

Napoleon is seen wearing a 'Bowler hat' and 'gallop rapidly round the

yard', this is the only time where Napoleon loses control. In my

opinion, which may be disputed, this is a sign of Napoleon evolving in

to the 'pig to man' he becomes in the end. His wearing of the bowler

hat, an item of clothing, reveals his human behaviour in contrast to

him galloping, which exposes his animal instincts. To us this image of

a boar in a bowler hat is amusing although the animals must have been

confused.

The following morning Squealer appears, 'walking slowly and

dejectedly', already the readers are able to make the link that the

pigs must be hung over hence no 'pig appeared to be stirring'.

Squealer announces to the animals that Napoleon 'is dying!' As a

reader I have no sympathy towards the announcement but only humour

since I know he is not going to die, he is only hung over. On the

other hand the reaction from the animals is tremendous; 'a cry of

lamentation went up' and they had 'tears in their eyes' while asking

each other 'what they should do if their leader were taken away from

them'. As readers it is very frustrating to see the animals act so

pathetically, that they are so dependant upon 'comrade Napoleon' their

'leader'. Later on Squealer declared 'the drinking of alcohol was to