In the opening chapter of Animal Farm, the reader learns that Old Major, the boar, has summoned all the animals to the barn because he wants to tell them about a "strange dream" he has had. Because of his seniority on the farm, all of the animals are "happy to lose an hour's sleep" in order to hear what Old Major has to say. In other words, they anticipate that his dream is highly significant, and they gather in the barn as soon as the opportunity arises.
As it turns out, Old Major's dream is indeed significant because it offers a glimpse of "the earth as it will be when Man has vanished." This dream also reminds Old Major of a song that his mother used to sing to him, called "Beasts of England." The dream and this song, combined, offer a utopian vision of society in which Man is no longer the ruler of society and, in his place, all animals are equal and free to live as they choose.
It is at this meeting, then, that the animals first express their discontent with Man and make the commitment to rebel. This meeting thus provides the ideological justification for the overthrow of Mr Jones and sets the scene for a new way of life on the farm.
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