Analyzing the First Commandment Breach in Animal Farm: A Reflection on Orwell’s Allegory of Power Dynamics

How Was The First Commandment Broken In Animal Farm

The first commandment in Animal Farm was broken when the pigs claimed more privileges than the other animals, becoming corrupt and power-hungry.

Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, depicts a society ruled by animals. The novel is an allegory of the Russian Revolution and Stalinist era in the Soviet Union. In this society, the first commandment was Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. But this commandment was broken in ways that no one could have foreseen. As the animals struggled to maintain their newfound freedom, they soon discovered that betrayal and corruption were lurking around every corner. Through the use of creative voice and tone, this paragraph will explore how the first commandment was broken in Animal Farm.

Animal Farm

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a satirical novel that tells the story of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human farmer and run the farm themselves. The novel is an allegory of the Russian Revolution and Soviet Union under Stalin. The first commandment of the farm is “All animals are equal.” However, this commandment is broken in various ways throughout the novel.

The Pigs Take Control

Pigs

After the animal rebellion, the pigs take control of the farm and start making decisions for the rest of the animals. As time goes by, the pigs become more and more powerful and start to use their power to oppress the other animals. Although the pigs claim to be working for the benefit of all animals, they start to live a life of luxury while the other animals work hard to provide for them.

The Commandment Changes

Commandment Change

One of the most significant ways in which the first commandment is broken is through the changing of the commandment itself. The original commandment was “All animals are equal,” but as the pigs become more powerful, they change the commandment to “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” This change shows how the pigs are using their power to justify their oppression of the other animals.

The Hierarchy of the Farm

Hierarchy

As the pigs become more powerful, a hierarchy develops on the farm. The pigs are at the top of the hierarchy, followed by the dogs who act as enforcers, and then the other animals who do most of the work. This hierarchy goes against the original commandment of equality and shows how the pigs have broken the first commandment.

The Treatment of Boxer

Boxer

Boxer is one of the strongest and hardest working animals on the farm. He is loyal to the pigs and works hard to build up the farm. However, when Boxer is injured and can no longer work, the pigs send him to the knacker’s yard to be slaughtered for meat. This treatment of Boxer shows how the pigs have broken the first commandment by valuing their own interests over the well-being of all animals.

The Use of Propaganda

Propaganda

The pigs use propaganda to control the other animals on the farm. They use slogans such as “Four legs good, two legs bad” to manipulate the animals into following them. The use of propaganda is a way for the pigs to maintain their power and control over the other animals, which goes against the original commandment of equality.

The Betrayal of Snowball

Snowball

Snowball is a pig who was instrumental in the overthrow of the human farmer. However, he is later betrayed by Napoleon, another pig who becomes the leader of the farm. Napoleon accuses Snowball of being a traitor and uses this as an excuse to consolidate his power. The betrayal of Snowball shows how the pigs have broken the first commandment by valuing their own power over the well-being of all animals.

The Execution of Animals

Execution

Throughout the novel, the pigs execute animals who are seen as a threat to their power. These executions go against the original commandment of equality and show how the pigs are willing to use violence to maintain their control over the other animals.

The Treatment of the Other Animals

Other Animals

The other animals on the farm are treated poorly by the pigs. They are given less food and are made to work harder than the pigs. This mistreatment goes against the original commandment of equality and shows how the pigs have broken the first commandment.

The Use of Fear

Fear

The pigs use fear to control the other animals on the farm. They use the dogs to intimidate the other animals and make them afraid to speak out against the pigs. This use of fear is a way for the pigs to maintain their power and control over the other animals, which goes against the original commandment of equality.

The Conclusion

Conclusion

In conclusion, the first commandment of Animal Farm is broken in numerous ways throughout the novel. The pigs take control of the farm, change the commandment, create a hierarchy, mistreat other animals, use propaganda and fear, execute animals, and betray Snowball. These actions show how the pigs have broken the first commandment of equality and have become more interested in maintaining their own power than in working for the benefit of all animals.

In Animal Farm, the first commandment is introduced as “Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.” This fundamental rule is meant to differentiate between the animals who are meant to live on the farm and the humans who are not. However, as the story progresses, we see how this first commandment is broken time and time again, leading to a series of unfortunate events. The first time the commandment is broken is when the owner of the farm, Mr. Jones, returns to the farm. Despite being driven away by the animals, he still considers himself the rightful owner of the farm. The animals’ disobedience also leads to the breaking of the first commandment when they decide to execute a traitor among them, which goes against the principle of “no animal shall kill any other animal.” The arrival of humans on the farm is yet another proof of the broken first commandment. The animals are not supposed to invite humans on their premises, and yet they do. Furthermore, the animals break the commandment by trading with human beings, jeopardizing their own welfare. The leaders of the rebellion, the pigs, break the first commandment by walking on two legs, which was forbidden. They justify their actions and continue to do so while gaining more and more power. The pigs even change the commandment themselves, rephrasing it to say “Four legs good, two legs better,” which clearly contradicts the original meaning. The betrayal of one of the animals, Snowball, is another way the first commandment is broken. Cast out as a traitor, Snowball was simply trying to uphold the original principles of the rebellion. Despite chasing away the humans from the farm, they return, taking advantage of the animals’ weaknesses and running the farm once again. In the end, the first commandment is completely abandoned, and the animals no longer recognize it. The hierarchy on the farm ends up replicating the human society they had tried to escape from.

Once upon a time, in the idyllic Animal Farm, the animals lived in harmony and peace. They had overthrown their human oppressors and established a new society based on equality and fairness. The pigs, who were the smartest animals on the farm, took the lead in organizing and running the new order. They had formulated a set of commandments that all the animals had agreed to follow, and the first of these was:

  1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
  2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
  3. No animal shall wear clothes.
  4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
  5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
  6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
  7. All animals are equal.

For a while, everything was going well, and the animals were happy with their new way of life. However, it wasn’t long before the first commandment was broken.

Point of View: The Pigs

From the point of view of the pigs, the breaking of the first commandment was justified. They had always known that the humans were their enemies, and they had no intention of letting them back onto the farm. However, there were some animals who were not as committed to the cause, and they began to question why the pigs were so hostile to humans.

The pigs knew that they needed to maintain their authority and control over the other animals, and they saw an opportunity to do so by breaking the first commandment. They claimed that they needed to trade with humans in order to get supplies for the farm, and that they could only do this by dealing with human traders who came on two legs.

At first, the other animals were skeptical, but the pigs were very persuasive. They argued that they were doing what was best for the farm, and that they were not breaking the first commandment because they were not making friends with humans – they were just trading with them.

Gradually, the other animals began to accept the pigs’ logic, and before long, they were all convinced that it was okay to break the first commandment. As time went on, the pigs became more and more powerful, and they began to bend the rules to suit their own needs. The other animals were too afraid to challenge them, and so the pigs continued to rule the farm with an iron fist.

Point of View: The Other Animals

From the point of view of the other animals, the breaking of the first commandment was a betrayal. They had trusted the pigs to lead them to a better life, and they had agreed to follow the commandments in order to achieve this goal. However, the pigs had proven themselves to be no better than the humans they had overthrown.

The other animals felt powerless to stop the pigs from breaking the first commandment, and they began to realize that the pigs were only interested in their own power and control. They saw that the pigs were living in luxury while the rest of the animals struggled to survive, and they began to feel resentful and angry.

However, they were too afraid to speak out against the pigs, and so they continued to follow the new order, even though they knew that it was flawed. They hoped that things would get better, but as time went on, they saw that the pigs were only becoming more corrupt and oppressive.

In the end, the breaking of the first commandment was just the beginning of a long line of betrayals by the pigs. They had promised the animals a utopia, but what they delivered was just another form of tyranny. The other animals were left to wonder if they would ever be truly free.

Greetings, dear readers! I hope this article has been an insightful read for you as we have explored the theme of power and corruption in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. As we delve deeper into the story, it is noticeable that the first commandment was broken quite early in the book, setting the stage for all the events that follow.

The first commandment stated that “whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy”. This was a fundamental rule that the animals agreed upon when they established their own government. However, as the story progresses, we see how the pigs, who had taken up leadership positions, began to break this rule. They started associating with humans, whom they had previously deemed as enemies, and began trading with them.

This first instance of breaking the commandment can be seen when Mr. Whymper, a human solicitor, is hired by Napoleon to act as an intermediary between Animal Farm and the human world. The pigs also begin to engage in trade with the humans, exchanging goods such as timber and eggs for items that they cannot produce themselves. These actions go against the very essence of the commandment and are a clear indication of the pigs’ hypocrisy.

In conclusion, the first commandment was broken quite early on in Animal Farm, setting the stage for the abuse of power that follows. The pigs’ association with humans and their trade agreements with them are a clear example of how those in power can easily become corrupted and betray the very principles that they claim to uphold. This is a powerful reminder of how easily people can fall victim to those who seek to exploit them, and how important it is to always be vigilant against those who would seek to manipulate us for their own gain.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope it has provided some insight into the themes of Animal Farm and how they can be applied to our own lives. Please feel free to leave any thoughts or comments below, and I look forward to continuing this discussion with you in the future!

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People also ask: How was the first commandment broken in Animal Farm?

  • 1. What was the first commandment in Animal Farm?
  • The first commandment in Animal Farm was All animals are equal.

  • 2. Who broke the first commandment in Animal Farm?
  • The pigs, who were the leaders of the revolution, broke the first commandment.

  • 3. How did the pigs break the first commandment in Animal Farm?
  • The pigs started to take special privileges for themselves, such as living in the farmhouse and sleeping in beds, which went against the principle of equality that was established in the first commandment.

  • 4. Did the other animals notice the first commandment being broken in Animal Farm?
  • Initially, the other animals didn’t notice or understand how the first commandment was being broken. However, as the pigs continued to take more privileges and power, the animals started to realize that they were no longer equal.

  • 5. What was the significance of breaking the first commandment in Animal Farm?
  • The breaking of the first commandment was significant because it showed that the pigs were becoming corrupt and selfish, and were no longer acting in the interest of all the animals. It also foreshadowed the further corruption and abuse of power that would occur on the farm.

Overall, the breaking of the first commandment in Animal Farm was a pivotal moment in the novel, as it marked the beginning of the downfall of the revolution and the emergence of a new oppressive regime.

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