George Orwells Animal Farm :: George Orwell Animal Farm Essays

George Orwell's Animal Farm George Orwell has used many techniques of writing such as irony and humour to portray significant events throughout Animal Farm. This extract, just after the slaughter of the 'disloyal' animals (one of the most emotive of the events in the book), is no exception and so I will be analysing and interpreting the response of readers as well as making links to other parts in the book. 'Loud singing' could be heard from the farmhouse, this is just after the pigs have come across a 'case of whiskey'. It is not the singing itself, which is the 'surprise' to the animals but the song that is being sung, Beasts of England. Beasts of England, the song of rebellion and hope, has just been banned. The banishment of the song stood for the destruction of old Major's vision of a 'perfect unity' between animals. Also the song signifies rebellion and so Napoleon has forbidden it to extinguish any fighting spirit against his dictator-led regime. The pigs, after being intoxicated, lose all their inhibitions; it seems ironic how they are now relying on their natural instincts rather than their brains. Them singing Beasts of England is hypocritical of the banishment, and supports the readers dislike of the pigs. Napoleon is seen wearing a 'Bowler hat' and 'gallop rapidly round the yard', this is the only time where Napoleon loses control. In my opinion, which may be disputed, this is a sign of Napoleon evolving in to the 'pig to man' he becomes in the end. His wearing of the bowler hat, an item of clothing, reveals his human behaviour in contrast to him galloping, which exposes his animal instincts. To us this image of a boar in a bowler hat is amusing although the animals must have been confused. The following morning Squealer appears, 'walking slowly and dejectedly', already the readers are able to make the link that the pigs must be hung over hence no 'pig appeared to be stirring'. Squealer announces to the animals that Napoleon 'is dying!' As a reader I have no sympathy towards the announcement but only humour since I know he is not going to die, he is only hung over. On the other hand the reaction from the animals is tremendous; 'a cry of lamentation went up' and they had 'tears in their eyes' while asking each other 'what they should do if their leader were taken away from them'. As readers it is very frustrating to see the animals act so pathetically, that they are so dependant upon 'comrade Napoleon' their 'leader'. Later on Squealer declared 'the drinking of alcohol was to