In Chapter one, Old Major gives a speech about how the animals should rebel against Mr Jones, the human and leader of the farm in order to please all of the animals by having satisfactory amounts of the essentials. This rebellion would lead into Animalism. Animalism represents communism and how all animals should be equal. Old Major symbolizes Lenin. Lenin was a revolutionary thinker who came up with the basic concept of the Russian Revolution.
During Old Major’s speech, a wide variety of persuasive techniques are used and this is very noticeable. He creates a number of ideas that he discusses to the animals to persuade them that the rebellion is right.
The use of emotive language is easily noticed and the most effective persuasion technique used. For example, Old Major says “Before I die I feel it in my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired”. This makes the animals feel sad as he is going to pass away, yet he is very noble and respected character. Also the animals would feel grateful that Old Major is sharing his wisdom among them. Furthermore, the animals would be listening very attentively, as they are aware he won’t be alive for much longer, so they want to preserve all of his actions and words. This would cause the animals to believe almost anything Old Major says because he is old and wise.
Old Major in his speech presents the idea of man as an enemy, a lazy and weak being who ‘consumes without producing’. However, he does not reveal it all in the beginning of his speech. Instead Old Major intrigues the animals by saying “But I will come to the dream later”. This creates suspense and keeps the animals paying full attention to him. Old Major is known to have lived a long life on the farm so he knows a lot about Mr Jones. During his time, Old Major watched Mr Jones, and realised that he is evil. This sets up the central theme of unfair treatment and injustice. This is reinforced when