Old Major
Extended Old Major Character Analysis
Old Major is the oldest pig on the farm. He is also the prize pig of Mr. Jones’s and is greatly respected by the other animals at Manor Farm. In the novel's allegory of the Russian Revolution, Old Major likely represents the political economist Karl Marx, whose Communist Manifesto advocated for a revolution from the working class, and Vladimir Lenin, one of the main revolutionary leaders in the communist uprising.
Old Major has a strange dream and expresses the dream to the farm animals in a large gathering. There he says that the humans, such as Mr. Jones, are evil and gluttonous. He says that humans use the farm animals for their products and return no benefits to them. He claims that "Man is the only creature that consumes without producing." Old Major calls the animals to join together in saying, “All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.” In doing so he asks the animals to rebel against the tyranny of the human race so that the animals may make their labor their own. Old Major’s complaint allegorically points to the faults of Tsarist rule in the Russian Empire and the working classes’ wish for more control. After his speech, he leads the animals in a song called Beasts of England, causing an uproar, which wakes Mr. Jones. After Mr. Jones shoots into the darkness, the animals scatter and go to sleep. However, Old Major has sown the seeds of rebellion in the animals, launchinging the process of revolt.
While Old Major represents Karl Marx and his economic and political ideas—such as the equal sharing of labor and resources—Old Major also represents Vladimir Lenin, a Russian revolutionary leader who led the overthrow of Tsarist rule in Russia. Like Old Major, Lenin incited rebellion but died not long after establishing the Soviet Union and was unable to oversee the process of recreating society under Communist ideals. Before his death, Lenin expressed concern over the two very different men who would assume power: Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin, who are represented by Snowball and Napoleon, respectively.
Old Major places no animal above another. The other pigs take Old Major’s ideology and name it Animalism, which can be compared to socialism and communism. The pigs also write the tenets of Animalism onto the barn wall, putting Old Major’s ideas into writing, essentially codifying them into law. Last, the pigs rename the farm “Animal Farm,” which allegorically points to the renaming of the Russian Empire as the Soviet Union.
Old Major serves as a catalyst and influencer, but his role within the novel is brief. While his death does lead to the animals' revolution, it also creates a power struggle between Napoleon and Snowball. Although Old Major had an ideal dream for the animals, this dream becomes distorted by the struggles for power between the pigs. In the end, his dream is ruined by the farm’s return to the same dictatorial leadership that Mr. Jones held over it. George Orwell eschews a cynical comparison between the political turmoil in Soviet Russia and the failings of Animal Farm, showing that even an ideal dream such as Old Major’s can be destroyed by the corrupting nature of power.
Expert Q&A
What actions of humans are considered evil by Old Major in Animal Farm?
Old Major considers humans evil because they exploit animals without contributing productively. He highlights that humans do not produce milk, lay eggs, or perform labor but still dominate and profit from animals' work. He points out that animals lead miserable lives and are discarded when no longer useful, such as Boxer being sent to the knacker. Old Major asserts that all life's evils stem from human tyranny, urging animals to rebel for their rightful labor fruits.
What ideals does Old Major outline for after the rebellion?
Old Major outlines ideals for a society based on solidarity and equality among animals after the rebellion. He warns against adopting human vices and prohibits living in the farmhouse, drinking alcohol, smoking, touching money, or engaging in trade. He emphasizes that all animals are comrades, and no animal should tyrannize or kill another. These principles are later codified into the Seven Commandments by the pigs.
How is propaganda used in Old Major's speech in Animal Farm?
In Animal Farm, Old Major uses propaganda in his speech to convince the animals to unite and overthrow their human oppressors. He employs rhetorical questions to highlight their misery and slavery, implying these conditions can be changed. He also strategically introduces his dream and the song "Beasts of England" to inspire collective identity and revolutionary zeal among the animals.
What issues with the animals' lives does Old Major identify, and what does he propose for improvement?
Old Major identifies the animals' lives as miserable and laborious, blaming humans for stealing their labor's produce and denying them true happiness. He argues that humans are the only creatures who consume without producing and abuse animals, ultimately leading them to death. To improve their lives, Old Major proposes that the animals rebel against their human masters, remove humans from their lives, and take control of their destinies to experience abundance and happiness.
What differences does Old Major highlight between humans and animals, and farm animals and wild creatures in Animal Farm?
Old Major in Animal Farm emphasizes the stark differences between humans and animals, noting that humans exploit animals, taking their products while offering minimal sustenance. He characterizes humans as the enemies due to their two-legged nature and oppressive behavior. In contrast, animals, especially those with four legs or wings, are friends. Wild creatures like rats and rabbits are allies, as they share the common bond of being exploited by humans.
What is Old Major's vision for life on Manor Farm?
Discuss two reasons why Old Major is important in Animal Farm and his historical parallel?
Old Major is crucial in Animal Farm as he inspires the animals to pursue equality and justice, symbolizing figures like Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. Both Marx and Lenin, like Old Major, advocated for a revolutionary change against oppressive leadership but died before seeing their visions realized. Old Major's dream of animal equality mirrors Marx's and Lenin's ideals, but the subsequent corruption by the pigs parallels the betrayal of these ideals in the Communist Revolution.
Old Major's commandments in Animal Farm and their potential vices
Old Major's commandments in Animal Farm are initially designed to promote equality and prevent exploitation by humans. However, as the story progresses, these commandments are manipulated by the pigs to justify their own vices, such as greed, power, and corruption, ultimately leading to the same oppression they sought to eliminate.
Old Major's Speech Analysis and Significance in Animal Farm
In Animal Farm, Old Major's speech is pivotal as it introduces the revolutionary ideology of Animalism. His main idea is that animals are oppressed by humans and must rebel to achieve freedom and equality. He emphasizes that all animals are comrades, while humans are the enemy, and warns against adopting human vices. The speech, inspired by his dream of a utopian future, sets the stage for the animals' revolt and highlights themes of inequality and exploitation, mirroring Karl Marx's communist philosophy.
Old Major's Persuasive Language and Techniques in Animal Farm
In Animal Farm, Old Major uses persuasive language to inspire rebellion among the animals. He highlights the injustices they suffer under human rule, such as overwork and slaughter, and offers a vision of a fairer, more dignified life without humans. His speech employs vivid, emotional language and simple solutions, emphasizing mankind as the enemy. The most compelling part of his speech is the grim fate awaiting each animal, underscoring their exploitation and motivating them to embrace the idea of rebellion.
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