Animal Farm Rhetorical Analysis
Close Reading: Old Major’s Powerful Use of Pronouns
The first chapter of Animal Farm opens with a gathering at the end of the day. The animals excitedly gather in the barn to hear Old Major, a highly regarded figure on the farm, share a strange dream with them all. However, before he shares his dream of a nation of animals free from the reign of man, he gives an eloquent speech concerning the current situation of the animals’ exploitation by Man.
Old Major starts his speech by addressing the crowd as “comrades” [p. 6] (and refers to everyone as comrades nine times in his speech). The word “comrades” establishes Old Major’s position in relation to the other animals. He places himself level with everyone else establishing a partnership with each …show more content…
He says, “For myself I do not grumble, for I am one of the lucky ones. [p. 8]” It is interesting to note that throughout his speech, Old Major uses the pronouns “we”, “us”, and “our”, which includes himself with the animals in their struggles, but then he excludes himself by considering himself fortunate not to have dealt with such struggles, thus contradicting the way he brought up the issue as being everyone’s, including his, problem. He says he is fortunate but also says “But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end. [p. 9]” He declares that everyone will face the same fate, yet later we see that Old Major dies peacefully and is buried [p. …show more content…
He uses that role and precise choice of pronouns to develop Old Major’s persuasive power in his speech. His precise timing in using different pronouns at different points of his speech allows him to connect with the animals on different levels, whether it being a personal level or a corporate level. This causes each individual to have a burning passion toward the issue and unite against a common enemy. By repetition and the incorporation of real examples, he reinforces his ideology on everyone successfully, and they soon take action following his
The first chapter of Animal Farm opens with a gathering at the end of the day. The animals excitedly gather in the barn to hear Old Major, a highly regarded figure on the farm, share a strange dream with them all. However, before he shares his dream of a nation of animals free from the reign of man, he gives an eloquent speech concerning the current situation of the animals’ exploitation by Man.
Old Major starts his speech by addressing the crowd as “comrades” [p. 6] (and refers to everyone as comrades nine times in his speech). The word “comrades” establishes Old Major’s position in relation to the other animals. He places himself level with everyone else establishing a partnership with each …show more content…
He says, “For myself I do not grumble, for I am one of the lucky ones. [p. 8]” It is interesting to note that throughout his speech, Old Major uses the pronouns “we”, “us”, and “our”, which includes himself with the animals in their struggles, but then he excludes himself by considering himself fortunate not to have dealt with such struggles, thus contradicting the way he brought up the issue as being everyone’s, including his, problem. He says he is fortunate but also says “But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end. [p. 9]” He declares that everyone will face the same fate, yet later we see that Old Major dies peacefully and is buried [p. …show more content…
He uses that role and precise choice of pronouns to develop Old Major’s persuasive power in his speech. His precise timing in using different pronouns at different points of his speech allows him to connect with the animals on different levels, whether it being a personal level or a corporate level. This causes each individual to have a burning passion toward the issue and unite against a common enemy. By repetition and the incorporation of real examples, he reinforces his ideology on everyone successfully, and they soon take action following his