Animal Farm Rhetorical Analysis

In the allegorical novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, there exists a farm representative of Stalin’s Russia and among the farm is a wise pig on the verge of death by the name of Old Major. Throughout the pathetic lives of all the animals on the farm and the many wrongdoings Old Major has witnessed, he has come to the realization as to why their lives are so miserable: this root of their suffering being Man (the man operating the farm they live on, to be exact). In his remaining moments on the farm, he compels the other animals to revolt against the tyranny of the human race and all oppressors of animals everywhere through a glorious speech, calling them to action. Old Major argued that rebellion was inevitable and equality would soon belong

I have had a long life, I have had much time for thought as I lay alone in my stall.” Prior to giving his speech, Old Major already garnered himself a respectable reputation as the prize Middle White boar. And because the animals were more than willing to defer their sleep for another hour to listen to Old Major’s ramblings, one can assume that he has an exercisable authority over the animals residing on the farm. In addition, throughout the whole first paragraph of Old Major’s speech he is reinforcing the fact that he is a credible source. His old age, and all that he has witnessed, confers a vast wisdom that his juniors don’t have. All of this, of course, is an appeal to ethos. Following that paragraph, Old Major continues with the hypophora, “Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours?” He then answers his own question with a statement saying the lives of animals only know slaughter and slavery; put simply, animals are miserable in every sense of the word. As previously established, Old Major has a credibility that others don't, so when he gives an answer to his question, he leaves no room for an animal to deny his thinking. And if the animals come to the conclusion that their lives are indeed miserable,

You young porkers who are sitting in front of me, every one of you will scream your lives out at the block within a year.” Old Major’s graphic choice of words when speaking to the animals, elucidates a horrific image and the thought of their own deaths in their minds. Creating a vivid mental picture of the “cruel knife” further convinces the animals to revolt if it means they can avoid a violent death at the hands of humans. The imagery in this statement further aids in appealing to the pathos in the following one: “To that horror we all must come– cows, pigs, hens, sheep, everyone.” Igniting fear in those whom one wants to persuade is the most powerful way to capitalize off of pathos. Old Major uses this tactic to frighten the animals into action. Fear pushes aside logical thinking and will incite people –or in this case animals– to try to prevent whatever is making them so afraid from