Discuss the use of visions and dreams in Animal farm and watership down at the beginning of the novels? CAND 4

CANDIDATE 4

Discuss the use of visions and dreams in Animal Farm and Watership Down at the beginning of the novels?

 

Both Orwell and Adams use visions and dreams to present the initial ideas and theme of both books. Adams begins his novel with fiver vision. Using the “danger” that the vision presents to begin a chain of events which run throughout the book. Adams presents the vision as a vague description of “Blood” in the field,  allowing the reader to feel “fear” and apprehension, however it does not definitively tell us what is going to happen.

 

Orwell also uses a dream to introduce the themes of the novel, however unlike Adams, the dream, had by major is not vague, and serves an exact purpose. Majors dream is almost orchestrated to gain the faith and following of his “Comrades”. This dream is far less spontaneous compared to fivers vision, and the fact that major uses the “dream” in his speech also makes this statement feel divested for majors own gain. Showing the corrupt side of his plan and the pigs from the very beginning.

 

However the fact that Adams uses a vision instead of a dream gives the reader a sense that the vision is influenced by a supernatural element. Which could be because the events in the book are influenced through the faith that the rabbits have in “el ahrairah”. This gives the impression that fivers vision is down to a supernatural or other worldly power, this could mean that the events that are guided by fivers vision could also be guided by a supernatural power.

 

Orwell, instead, uses a “dream”, dreams are highly influenced by the person who had them. Therefor the “dream” that is used in majors speech is just another way of pushing his views on the situation. Dreams are more guided by the individual who had them, that is why the dream causes downfall at the end of the novel,  because his dream, unlike fivers vision, is tainted by majors own personal opinions.

 

Adams also shows that a certain amount of hesitation towards fivers visions. The “Threarah” is very hesitant towards fivers ideas, even though the visions are not untrue, and, unlike the majors visions in animal farm, they are not fabricated or twisted for his own purpose. Adams emphasises this by using an allegory about a woman named cassandra who was also able to see glimpses into the future but no one would believe her.

 

However in animal farm, orwell shows that almost every animal is completely convinced by his dream, however he does not truly explain the dream and uses it as a pretence to push his views on the unsuspecting animals.