Animal Farm Essay Research Paper SETTING The — страница 3

also begins to establish the personalities of the animals, who act like animals and think and talk like human beings. True to animal behavior, Boxer and Clover trot like horses, and the cat selfishly looks after its own needs in a typically feline way. In contrast, Old Major, talking like a man, appears to be a polished statesman, more human than boar. He convinces the animals that they are poorly treated and deserve better. He describes instance of man’s repeated cruelty to them. He then paints a picture of a happy future, when humans have been removed and the animals rule themselves. The groundwork for an animal farm and its rules of behavior are established in Old Major’s speech. He specifically points out which human vices must be avoided by the animals when they rule the

farm. Old Major’s philosophy is overly simplistic. He is convinced that humans are bad and animals are good. He also believes the good life is one ruled by animals in an easy-going, pastoral setting, as described in the song ‘Beasts of England.’ The fact that the other animals accept his philosophy is seen when they join in the singing and repeat the song five times, waking Farmer Jones from his drunken sleep in the process. Old Major’s speech also sets the slowly rising action of the plot in motion. It suggests the idea of animal freedom and hints that a leader is needed for the animal rebellion. Unfortunately for the animals, the leader who emerges is a tyrant and the animal’s plight goes from bad to worse by the end of the novel. It is important to notice how Orwell

positively describes the animals in the chapter. The fat Old Major is “still a majestic looking pig, with a wise and benevolent appearance.” The stout Clover is described as a “motherly mare that had never got her figure back after her fourth foal.” It is also important to notice that politically, Old Major represents a blend of Marx and Lenin, the leaders of Communism in Russia. It was Marx, like Old Major, who had a ’strange dream’ about the “proletariats’ overthrowing of the bourgeoisie” to end capitalistic tyranny. ‘Beasts of England’, the animal anthem of the revolution, reflects Lenin’s idea of unity among workers. Through Old Major, Orwell has developed the first stage of revolution, which is an intense fight for an ideal. CHAPTER 2 The second

chapter commences with the peaceful death of Old Major. Although he is no longer physically present, Major’s inspiring speech has brought about a changed outlook on life among the animals. They are convinced that an animal rebellion will take place in the unknown future and prepare for it psychologically. The work of organizing and teaching naturally falls upon the most intelligent of the animals, the Pigs. Pre-eminent among them are two young boars called Snowball and Napoleon. Napoleon, a fierce looking Berkshire, is not much of a talker but has a reputation for getting his own way. Snowball, a young boar, is high-spirited, quick in speech, very intelligent, and inventive. Squealer, a nimble, quick thinking pig, is also introduced as a brilliant, persuasive talker who can

turn black into white. These three pigs advocate, expound, and propagate Major’s teachings, which are called ‘Animalism’. The rebellion is achieved much earlier, more accidentally, and more easily than any of the animals expected. When Jones fails to feed them for a day, the animals break into the storage shed and eat heartily. The farmer and his men try to beat the animals away with whips, but they grow angry over this mistreatment and fight back. Jones is quickly expelled, and the gate is locked against him. Manor Farm now belongs to the animals. They caper in joy and burn everything that reminds them of Farmer Jones and his cruelty. They sing ‘Beasts of England’ seven times and then sleep better than they ever have before. The next day the animals can hardly believe

they really control the farm. The pigs begin to teach themselves to read and write. Snowball, the best at writing, paints over the name Manor Farm and clearly writes Animal Farm in its place, while the animals cheer him on. Snowball and Napoleon then reduce the principles of Animalism to ‘Seven Commandments,’ which are inscribed on the barn wall. They are the unalterable laws by which all animals of Animal Farm must live forever. Snowball then asks the animals to gather the harvest more quickly than Jones demanded. Although the cows are uneasy over the request, the animals march to the hay field to gather the important harvest. When they return, they are surprised to find that the milk has disappeared. Notes The second chapter further develops the farm animals as individuals.