Editor's Choice
What are the five main points of Major's speech in Animal Farm?
Quick answer:
Major's speech in Animal Farm highlights five main points: First, he identifies humans as the enemy, urging animals to revolt against them. Second, he establishes his credibility by emphasizing his age and wisdom. Third, he stresses the animals' current suffering under human exploitation. Fourth, he argues that man's rule must end as humans consume without producing. Finally, he proposes "animalism," a new life where animals control production, inspiring them to seek change.
In Orwell’s allegorical novel Animal Farm, Old Major, an aging pig at the end of his life, presents an emotional call to action to his fellow farm animals. In his speech, Major presents a clear enemy—man—and explains that to overcome this enemy, the animals must be prepared to revolt. Major’s speech is effective because he uses many of the rhetorical devices and structures observed in political speeches.
Major realizes he is suggesting the unthinkable to his animal colleagues, so he spends time throughout his speech developing his credibility. It is important that those listening believe that he has the background to bring forth these suggestions. The fact that the animals stop to listen to him speak allows us insight into the credibility that already exists. Major develops this by explaining to the crowd of listeners that he “has had a long life . . . had much...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
time for thought” and “understand[s] the nature of life on this earth as well as any animal now living.” Because of his age and the wisdom he has gained because of it, he points out to the audience that he is someone to be listened to and his proposal is one to be taken seriously.
Pointing out that he “has had a long life” also suggests that he feels that he is at the end of his life and therefore needs to pass on his knowledge to the next generation. This leads to Major’s claim that all the animals are forced to have torturous lives full of labor and pain. He asks the farm animals to reflect on their lives:
You cows that I see before me, how many thousands of gallons of milk have you given during this last year? And what has happened to that milk . . . ? And you hens, how many eggs have you laid in this last year, and how many of those eggs ever hatched into chickens? . . . And you, Clover, where are those four foals you bore . . .?
Each question leads the animals to his next point, that their lives are all so bad because of one undeniable reason: man.
Major’s main claim throughout the speech is that man's rule must end. Because man “consumes without producing,” he must be overthrown, leaving the animals to live their own lives. Major paints man as evil and tyrannical leader who only cares about what the animals produce for him and not about the animals themselves. He cares about the milk from the cows and the eggs from the chickens but not the cows and chickens that work to produce these goods for him.
Major’s claims about man lead the farm animals to realize the unfairness of their lives on the farm; thus, helping sway them to his argument and helping to convince them a change must occur.
Finally, Major’s speech presents a new type of life for the animals on the farm: animalism. Major suggests that if the animals can take over control of “the means of production,” they won’t need a man and so they will be able to have the power and control over their world. He wants them to imagine a better life—a life under animal control instead of the current way of life under human control. He believes animalism is the answer to all their problems and uses his speech to inspire them to stand up and revolt against the current system.