Animal Farm 2

The stage has been set for a rivalry between Snowball and Napoleon. On Animal Farm, the pigs have clearly established themselves as the ruling class. They are the smartest; they can read, debate, propose laws and have the ability to learn new skills. Since the idealistic views of Major, the pigs have been well respected by the other animals for their minds and opinions. Snowball and Napoleon have become the most outspoken and driven pigs on the farm. They can never seem to agree on anything at all. It does not seem that Animal Farm will be long for having two in charge. Soon enough, there will be one who rises up and takes control. Too much power to one person or one party is dangerous, humans and in this case pigs can get power hungry and greedy.

            I found it interesting that Snowbell wanted all of the animals to educated and have the ability to read. Even the Animals know the power of literacy. As it turns out you learn which animals are capable of reading and which were not. You also find out some key personality traits of some of the main characters. For instance on page 32, Orwell describes the dogs as “learned to read fairly well, but were not interested in reading any thing except the seven commandments.” This shows the dogs to be one track minded. They were intelligent enough to learn yet they did not have the sense to question they only wanted to follow the rules. This can represent the mindset of a soldier who internalizes the country or unit before self motto. A soldier who is taught not to question orders, only carry them out.

            Only a few animals of the farm were able to learn to read, the rest remained illiterate. Some of the stupidest animals were not able to learn the Seven Commandments by heart and they were condensed to one phrase that was at the heart of everything the Animalists stood for “four legs good, two legs bad.” Much like when they were in the barn watching Major give his rebellion speech and some of the less smart animals were only able to hum the tune of the Beasts of England. Although they were not fully aware of what was going on, they grasped enough to feel like they belonged to something so they stood behind it not totally blindly, but somewhat under informed. Condensing the Seven Commandments to only one line makes it lose a lot in the translation. A big part of the population of animals was only able to remember this line. When so many people/animals are so under informed it can lead following the wrong leader. When only few can read, question and be truly informed, it opens the door for others to take advantage of their blindness.

Animal Farm 1

            As this is an election year, I have been more aware of political speeches and campaigns. Last time this country had an election year I was a 4^th grader and had little understanding of the political system around us. Of course I was aware of the importance of Obama and Hillary and even Sarah Palin but since my knowledge and understanding of American history has grown so much since that time, I now see political speeches with a different set of eyes. Learning about how our government was formed and the great lengths gone through by our political grandfathers to ensure freedom and democracy for future generations, has made me understand why elections are so important. Speeches go a long way for candidates and they sway people’s opinions. To be a great speaker is a very powerful thing, it has the power to start a rebellion, to change a country or possibly even a farm.

            In Chapter one of Animal Farm by George Orwell, Major, the prize winning Middle White pig, from the Manor Farm in England, was a persuasive and passionate speaker. Under cover of night he delivers a speech of rebellion to the animals in the farm. He speaks of the evil Man who enslaves animals and gives only the bear essentials of life, only enough food to survive, only a life of work. He speaks of all the cruel deaths the animals will face when they are no longer useful. He appeals to everyone’s concern and everyone’s fears. He singles people out and predicts their doom. He sings a rally song that supposedly came to him in a dream and everyone joins in. They begin to feel like they are part of something, part of a change. Even the simplest animals in the farm were able to catch the tune, if no more, and hum along. They were all sold on the dream of Animalism.

            Major might have had the best intentions for the way life would be under a new rule but unfortunately, he did not see his dream become a reality. Three days after he delivered this speech, he died and his vision will soon become a warped image of itself. Speeches have the power to move you. Marti Luther King helped gain equality for all through his words. Adolph Hitler rallied an entire nation to a killing frenzy with his words. As I watch some of the newest political figures deliver speeches about how things should be done, I wonder, how much are people swayed by not what is being said, but by how it is being delivered?