Leadership is a role that many desire. Some abuse the power while others use it to help those in need. In George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm, he creates a few characters that are displayed as leaders. Even though the leaders are pigs, they show different aspects of politics. Each of the pigs are different in the way they show leadership but there are some ways in which they are similar.
A boar named Major was the leader of the animals in the farm before the rebellion happened. He was old and he passed away rather early in the book after his great speech. In his speech, he discusses about how animals must get rid of man and that all animals will be friends. He states, “And remember comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tell you that man and the animals have a common interest… It is all lies. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades” (Orwell 30-31). In Major’s speech, he includes all animals. He believes that all animals should be equal and that to rid of man should be the main goal of animals. He tends to use the word “comrades” in his speech when talking about animals; meaning that all animals should be friends. In his speech, he chooses words that creates a powerful tone that influences his audience. He uses words such as falter, astray, interest, unity, and struggle to create this tone. His language is effective when communicating with the “lower” animals because he includes them all in his speech.
Another pig named Snowball was a co-leader in a beginning section of the book after Major had died. He created the seven commandments that he believe to be what major would have wanted. In one of the commandments, it states that all those that goes on two legs is an enemy. The birds didn’t want to believe in the commandments because of that rule. Nevertheless, he had a different meaning for that rule. He says, “A bird’s wing, comrades… is an organ of propulsion and not of manipulation. It should therefore be regarded as a leg. The distinguishing mark of man is the hand, the instrument with which he does all his mischief” (Orwell 50-51). Like Major, Snowball tries to include the animals even though they are different. The tone of Snowball’s words seem pleasant because he is explaining thoroughly to the birds why the birds are not enemies. Snowball is talking to the birds as comrades not as an enemy. The birds are influenced to pay attention to him because he seems to be a leader that cares for them. His speech is effective in a way that brought the birds to acknowledge that they are comrades with Snowball. On the other hand, his speech is not that effective because the pig tend to use big words that the birds do not understand.
Both of the pigs spoke greatly. They both include all the animals and consider them to that they are equal. Nevertheless, Major spoke in a language that animals are able to understand and to be able to convince them to abolish man to make the world become a better place. Snowball used longer words so that he would seem smarter and that everyone would then trust him as a result. Snowball does include as many animals as possible and tries to continue Major’s goal where all animals would be equal.
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