"I have a dream ..." Comparative Response

In Chapter 1 of Animal Farm, Old Major shares his dream about the animal community on Manor Farm. Comparably, On March, 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. shared his dream. Both speeches were meant to create equality. However Old Major’s speech was meant to inspire the oppressed to rebel, whereas Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech was meant to persuade the oppressors to treat everyone as equals.

Firstly, both speeches share a common goal, equality. Both speakers unified the audience through either a common enemy or admirations. Old Major identified a common enemy, “There, comrades is a single answer to all our problems [...] Man.” (Orwell 4). Martin Luther King Jr. referenced a man and a momentous event which the audience respects and hold dear, “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” (YouTube). Secondly, both speakers described cruelty. Old Major describes the harsh work they must endure throughout their lives, and how they are mercilessly slaughtered once they are no longer useful, “We [...] are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty.” (Orwell 3). Martin Luther King Jr. speaks of the racial division and discrimination and how his people suffers from poverty in a place of prosperity, “One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination […] on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.” (YouTube). Thirdly, both speakers told their people to turn away from vices. Old Major warns the animals not to adopt the vices of man, “Even when you...

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...y on Manor Farm, is comparable to Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream for equality among humanity. Both speeches were meant to create equality amongst peoples. However Old Major’s speech was meant to inspire the oppressed to rebel, and turn the table. Whereas Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech was meant to persuade the oppressors to treat everyone as equals, and create equality.

Works Cited

1. Orwell, George. Animal Farm. London: Penguin Books, 2008.

2. "Martin Luther King - I Have A Dream Speech” - August 28, 1963."YouTube. Jan 20, 2011. 17 Feb. 2014.

3. "Martin Luther King I Have a Dream Speech - American Rhetoric." American Rhetoric: The Power of Oratory in the United States. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.

4. "MLK vs Old Major | Academic About animal farm, orwell and martin luther king." Teen Ink | A teen literary magazine and website. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.