Such is the natural life of a pig. But no animal escapes the cruel knife in the end. You young porkers who are sitting in front of me, every one of you wil scream your lives out at the block within a year. To that horror we al must comecows, pigs, hens, sheep, everyone. Even the horses and the dog s have no better fate. You, Boxer, the very day that those great muscles of yours lose their power, Jones wil sel you to the knacker, who wil cut your throat and boil you down for the foxhounds. As for the dogs, when they grow old and toothless, Jones Page 2

Orwell, George : Animal Farm

ties a brick round their necks and drowns them in the nearest pond.

"Is it not crystal clear, then, comrades, that al the evils of this life of ours spring from the tyranny of human beings? Only get rid of Man, and the produce of our labour would be our own. A1most overnight we could become rich and free. What then must we do? Why, work night and day, body and soul, for the overthrow of the human race! That is my message to you, comrades: Rebel ion! I do not know when that Rebel ion wil come, it might be in a week or in a hundred years, but I know, as surely as I see this straw beneath my feet, that sooner or later justice wil be done. Fix your eyes on that, comrades, throughout the short remainder of your lives! And above al , pass on this message of mine to those who come after you, so that future generations shal carry on the struggle until it is victorious.

"And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tel you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. It is al lies. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. Al men are enemies. Al animals are comrades." At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. While Major was speaking four large rats had crept out of their holes and were sitting on their hindquarters, listening to him. The dogs had suddenly caught sight of them, and it was only by a swift dash for their holes that the rats saved their lives. Major raised his trotter for silence.

"Comrades," he said, "here is a point that must be settled. The wild creatures, such as rats and rabbits-are they our friends or our enemies? Let us put it to the vote. I propose this question to the meeting: Are rats comrades?"

The vote was taken at once, and it was agreed by an overwhelming majority that rats were comrades. There were only four dissentients, the three dogs and the cat, who was afterwards discovered to have voted on both sides. Major continued:

"I have little more to say. I merely repeat, remember always your duty of enmity towards Man and al his ways. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.