Of course, the irony of the entire episode in the barn is that the animals will eventually betray the ideals set forth by Major. He warns, for example, that the animals must never come to resemble their human oppressors — but by the end of the novel, the tyrannical pigs are indistinguishable from their human companions. Old Major’s dream of an animal utopia will quickly become a totalitarian nightmare.
The song “Beasts of England” is another way in which Major rouses his audience. Although the narrator jokes that the tune is “something between Clementine and La Cucaracha,” the animals find it rousing and moving. The use of a song to stir the citizenry is an old political maneuver, and the lyrics of “Beasts of England” summarize Major’s feelings about Man: The song describes a day when all animals (even Irish ones — a detail Orwell knew would resonate with a British readership) will overcome their tormentors. Symbols such as rings in their noses, harnesses, bits, spurs, and whips are used to convey the liberty that Major hopes will one day be won. Images of food and plenty also contribute to the song’s appeal. The singing of this powerful piece of propaganda reflects one of the novel’s chief themes: Language can be used as a weapon and means of manipulation. As the animals will later learn, characters like Napoleon and Squealer will prove even more skilled at using words to get others to do their bidding.
