How Does Old Major Use Propaganda In Animal Farm

768 Words2 Pages

Propaganda Used In Old Major’s Speech in Animal Farm
In a dimly-lit barn, a respected boar sat atop a soapbox, trying to convince his followers to join him in his cause. His followers were farm animals, who had been abused by their captor, Mr. Jones. They huddled around the boar, who was called Old Major, and listened to his speech. Old Major used propaganda and the rhetorical triangle to persuade the animals to rebel against humanity. In the beginning of his speech, Old Major preached to his future warriors, “No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. No animal in England is free” (Orwell 1). Old Major made the animals believe that all animals were suffering and no animal was free. The generalization …show more content…

This exemplified card stacking. In his speech, he said, “Only get rid of man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. Almost overnight we could become rich and free” (Orwell 9). Old Major explained to the animals how enjoyable and fruitful a humanless life would be if they rid themselves of Man. However, he said nothing about the horrors they would have to go through to finally live as free animals. Shortly thereafter, he proclaimed loudly, “That is my message to you, comrades: Rebellion! I do not know when the Rebellion will come, it might come in a week or a hundred years, but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet, that sooner or later justice will be done. Feast your eyes on that, comrades…” (Orwell 9). Old Major told the animals that the Rebellion would someday come. He didn’t know when, how, or what could happen between then and later. While, for a moment, he did mention how long it may take for the Rebellion to come, he made it seem glamorous and heroic. This inspired the animals to believe that Rebellion was going to come soon, and when it did, it was going to be glorious. Through his speech, Old Major used many examples of card stacking, but he also related to the animals on a passionate

More about How Does Old Major Use Propaganda In Animal Farm

Open Document