Animal Farm Group

Question:

zacharyyrah
zacharyyrah
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In the book "Animal Farm," why doesn't Old Major take part in the animals' rebellion against Mr. Jones?

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Posted by zacharyyrah on Sunday October 18, 2009 at 12:24 PM and tagged with animal farm, animals' rebellion, characterization, literature, plot, rebellion.

Answers:

  1. ophelious
    ophelious Teacher
    Vocational

    eNotes Editor

    Old Major, the instigator and philosophical heart of the revolution, can't take part in the revolution because he dies before it begins.  That, indeed, is why he calls the meeting of the animals in the first place.  He has had a dream that he considers either prophetic or inspirational and he knows that his time on Earth is coming to an end so he wants to share it.

    In a way, though, he DOES take part in the rebellion.  After all, it is his ideas that are providing the motivation for the other animals.  I guess it depends on how you define the phrase "take part in the animals rebellion."

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    Posted by ophelious on Sunday October 18, 2009 at 1:59 PM

  2. cbots
    cbots Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Old Major dies before the revolution. Major is the pig who inspires the revolution when he tells the other animals about the dream he had about living on a farm and in a world where animals worked for themselves and man had been removed from their lives. But before the animals have their revolution, Major dies.

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    Posted by cbots on Sunday October 18, 2009 at 3:37 PM


  3. timbrady Teacher
    College - Senior

    eNotes Editor

    It would not be appropriate for the Major to live through the actual revolution.  He is the "idea man" --- and part of the books is about how ideas, no matter how clear and well intentioned in the beginning, are/can be corrupted when put in the hands of the "practical man" --- the man who knows what power is and who knows how to use it reach his "ends."  The Old Major would (I hope) be horrified had he lived to see what his "ideas" turned in to.

    It's also something of a warning to us.  No matter how good ideas may sound, we need always be careful about how they are "applied."

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    Posted by timbrady on Sunday October 18, 2009 at 6:14 PM