Animal Farm - Old Major Character Analysis

Courtney Swearingen        

Ms. Carlson

English II Pre-AP Per 7

11 October 2015

Old Major Character Analysis

In Animal Farm, Orwell uses indirect characterization through appearance to show Old Major as docile. In the novel, Old Major was a magnificent-looking pig “…in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut… (Orwell 4).” Pigs have their tushes cut because they are then less of a threat to their owner; because Majors’ tushes haven’t been cut it indicates that Major isn’t seen as a threat because he is obedient and compliant. Old Major is a clear allegorical connection to Karl Marx because he was submissive to his owner the same way Karl was submissive to his government.

In Animal Farm, Orwell uses indirect characterization through dialogue to show Old Major as modest and a leader. In the novel, Old Major says to the other animals, “And now, comrades, I will tell you about my dream of last night (Orwell 11).”Old Major addresses the other animals as “comrades” because he doesn’t think he is a more superior animal, he thinks that all of the animals he is talking to are equal and likes to think of them as his friends. Old Major then continues to tell the other animals about his dream he had which conveys that the other animals see Major as a friend and they admire and respect him enough to listen to his dream. Old Major is a clear allegorical connection to Karl Marx because he was important enough to get the animals to hear the message of his dream the same way Karl was able to have people around him understand the message of his book.