Who is Karl Marx?
Karl Marx born in Prussia on 5th May, 1818. At the University of Berlin, he studied Hegelian philosophy and became interested in economics. While he was in Paris, he met Friedrich Engels, who supported him financially for the rest of his life. In 1848, they both published the Communist Manifesto, a radical interpretation of the high class. They both declared that capitalism was against the working class, and the business class will end in a new society, a communist one. In 1867, Marx published the first volume of Das Kapital which he worked out a theory of society. He found out the history is propelled by class struggle with communism and a classless society as the final stage. In Marx's last years, he continued to write treaties on socialism and lived there as a stateless exile until his death on March 14, 1883. (Pitara Kids Network. (n.d.))
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Old Major is another Karl Marx?
In Animal Farm, Old Major "the prize Middle White boar" (p.1) calls a meeting to share a dream he had. He points out that someday the farm would be run by animals and wants radical changes to the way Mr Jones cares for and treats the animals. He teaches his comrades a song called, "Beast of England" , which means all animals live together in peace without humans running their lives. He reminds the animals of their hopeful future. Old Major thinks that their misfortunes can be all traced back to Man, who "is the only creature that consumes without producing,"(p.4). In other words, Man takes advantage of the animals by forcing them to work until death, while he does nothing but to boss them around. When the animals produce goods, man reaps the benefits. As Old Major says,"Is it not crystal clear, comrades, that all the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings?” (p.5). Old Major encourages the animals to "work night and day, body and soul, for the over-throw of the human race" (p.5) In short, he explains that Men have been taking advantage of them for years, and it is the time for tyranny of man to end. His message, boiled down to a word: "Rebellion" (p.5)
Old Makor's speech is a simplified version of the basic tenets of communism, which refers to Karl Marx's The Communist Manifesto, published in 1848. The Communist Manifesto is the book that inspires Lenin who led the Russian Revolution of 1917, which implies many of Marx's ideas. In chapter one, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” (Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1967).
In Animal Farm, the animals represent the proletariat (working class), who are itching to overthrow Mr. Jones. The humans (e.g Mr. Jones) represent the capitalist, who take advantage of the working class and keep the benefits of their labor for themselves. According to Marx, the only way to end it, is by revolution. In the last chapter of The Communist Manifesto, "The proletarians (workers) have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workers of the world, Unite!" In Old Major's speech, he ends the same way with his final call to "Rebellion!"
Both Karl Marx's "The Communist Manifesto" and Old Major's song lead to an uprising of their people, however they both died before they could see their plans in effect. Old Major influenced the animals through his vision and theories of equality, and communism. The way he uses his theories is the same way that Karl Marx did, which was to persuade people to believe in him and his beliefs. They both help their societies out greatly but sadly weren't able to see their work.
Old Makor's speech is a simplified version of the basic tenets of communism, which refers to Karl Marx's The Communist Manifesto, published in 1848. The Communist Manifesto is the book that inspires Lenin who led the Russian Revolution of 1917, which implies many of Marx's ideas. In chapter one, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.” (Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1967).
In Animal Farm, the animals represent the proletariat (working class), who are itching to overthrow Mr. Jones. The humans (e.g Mr. Jones) represent the capitalist, who take advantage of the working class and keep the benefits of their labor for themselves. According to Marx, the only way to end it, is by revolution. In the last chapter of The Communist Manifesto, "The proletarians (workers) have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workers of the world, Unite!" In Old Major's speech, he ends the same way with his final call to "Rebellion!"
Both Karl Marx's "The Communist Manifesto" and Old Major's song lead to an uprising of their people, however they both died before they could see their plans in effect. Old Major influenced the animals through his vision and theories of equality, and communism. The way he uses his theories is the same way that Karl Marx did, which was to persuade people to believe in him and his beliefs. They both help their societies out greatly but sadly weren't able to see their work.
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Orwell Effect
In Animal Farm, Old Major is the first major character described by Orwell, a "purebred" of pigs is the kind, grand fatherly philosopher of change, a metaphor for Karl Marx. Old Major comes up with a solution - a rebellion to the animals' desperate situation under the Jones. After his death, the socialist ideas he professes changes drastically when Napoleon and the other pigs begin to dominate. It is interesting that Orwell does not mention Napoleon or Snowball during old major's speech, this shows how distant and out of touch they are, and it seems the pigs fed off old major's inspiration and use it to benefit themselves. Orwell's purpose of using old major's naivety is to conclude that no society is perfect, no pure socialist civilization can exist, and there is no way to escape the grasp of capitalism.