Animal Farm Commandments: How Many Were There and What Did They Mean?

Table of Contents

How Many Commandments Were There In Animal Farm

Discover how many commandments were originally in Animal Farm and how they changed over time in this insightful analysis.

Have you ever wondered how many commandments were in Animal Farm? Well, let me tell you, it’s not as straightforward as you may think. At the beginning of the novel, there were seven commandments that the animals had agreed to live by, but as the story progresses, the number changes. It’s almost as if the commandments themselves were a reflection of the corruption and decay that was slowly taking over the once pure and idyllic farm. So, let’s delve into the details and explore the evolution of these commandments, from their inception to their eventual downfall.

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a political allegory that tells the story of a group of animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be free and equal. The novel is famous for its portrayal of the Soviet Union under Stalin, but it also offers a broader critique of totalitarianism and the corrupting influence of power. One of the key themes of the novel is the idea of commandments, which represent the laws and principles that govern the animal’s society. In this article, we will explore how many commandments were there in Animal Farm.

The Seven Commandments

At the beginning of the novel, the animals establish seven commandments that are supposed to guide their behavior. These commandments are:

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

The seven commandments represent the ideals that the animals hope to achieve in their new society. They are designed to promote equality and freedom, and to prevent the abuse of power. However, as the novel progresses, the commandments are gradually changed and corrupted.

The Eighth Commandment

After the animals have successfully overthrown their human oppressors, they add an eighth commandment to their list. This commandment states that All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. This commandment is an example of the way in which power can corrupt even the most well-intentioned individuals. The pigs, who are the leaders of the animal community, use this commandment to justify their own privileged position, and to control the other animals.

The Ninth Commandment

As the novel progresses, the pigs continue to change and manipulate the commandments to suit their own purposes. One significant change occurs when the pigs alter the ninth commandment, which originally read No animal shall kill any other animal. The pigs change this commandment to make it easier for them to eliminate their enemies and critics. The new version of the commandment reads No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.

The Tenth Commandment

The final change to the commandments occurs towards the end of the novel, when the pigs add a tenth commandment to the list. This commandment simply reads All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. This commandment is an example of the complete corruption of the original ideals that the animals hoped to achieve. It shows how power can be used to justify any action, no matter how unjust or hypocritical.

The Decay of the Commandments

The gradual decay and corruption of the commandments is a key theme of Animal Farm. It demonstrates how power can corrupt even the most noble ideals, and how language can be manipulated to justify any action. The story of Animal Farm is a cautionary tale about the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of maintaining individual freedom and equality.

The Lessons of Animal Farm

Animal Farm is a powerful allegory that has resonated with readers for decades. It offers a stark warning about the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of individual freedom and equality. The story of the animal rebellion and its eventual downfall is a reminder that power corrupts, and that the ideals of democracy and justice must be constantly defended and upheld.

The Legacy of Animal Farm

Animal Farm remains one of the most important political novels of the 20th century. Its message about the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of individual freedom and equality continues to resonate with readers around the world. The novel has been adapted into various forms, including a stage play, a film, and even an animated feature. It is a testament to Orwell’s enduring legacy as a writer and a political thinker.

Conclusion

Animal Farm is a powerful and timeless novel that offers important lessons about the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of individual freedom and equality. The story of the animal rebellion and its eventual downfall is a cautionary tale that reminds us of the need to be vigilant in defending our democratic ideals. The gradual corruption of the commandments in the novel is a powerful reminder of the ways in which power can corrupt even the most noble ideals, and of the importance of language and communication in shaping our understanding of the world around us.

The introduction of the commandments in Animal Farm marked a key moment in the establishment of the new society. Old Major, the respected boar who inspired the rebellion against the human oppressors, laid out the basic principles of Animalism in his famous speech. The commandments, which were designed to promote equality, freedom, and solidarity among the animals, became the cornerstone of the new order. The seven original commandments, such as All animals are equal and No animal shall kill any other animal, encapsulated the spirit of Animalism and reflected the animals’ desire for a better life.Old Major’s influence on the establishment of the commandments cannot be overstated. As the visionary leader who articulated the animals’ grievances and hopes, he provided the intellectual and moral foundation for the revolution. His speeches and ideas inspired the animals to take action against their human oppressors and to envision a new society where they could live without fear and exploitation. The commandments, as an expression of Old Major’s vision, embodied the utopian aspirations of Animalism and gave the animals a sense of purpose and identity.However, the role of the pigs in changing and adding to the commandments soon became apparent. As the most intelligent and politically savvy animals, the pigs took on leadership roles and gradually assumed more power and privileges. They used their intellectual superiority and persuasive skills to justify their actions and manipulate the other animals. One of the first changes they made was to add the phrase without cause to the commandment No animal shall kill any other animal, which allowed them to execute dissenters and enemies under the pretext of maintaining order and security.The commandment changes during the reign of Napoleon, the ruthless and ambitious pig who became the de facto leader of Animal Farm, were even more drastic. He abolished some of the commandments altogether, such as No animal shall sleep in a bed, and replaced them with slogans that served his own interests. For example, he changed the commandment All animals are equal to All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others, which reflected his contempt for democracy and his desire for absolute authority.Squealer’s manipulation of the commandments played a crucial role in maintaining the pigs’ control over the other animals. As the propaganda chief and spokesman for Napoleon, Squealer used his gift of persuasion to distort the meaning and memory of the commandments. He argued that the pigs had to change the commandments because they were too vague or outdated, or because they had to adapt to new circumstances. He also used fear, intimidation, and deception to prevent the other animals from questioning or challenging the pigs’ actions. His famous line All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others exemplified the irony and hypocrisy of the commandments, which became tools of manipulation and oppression rather than liberation and justice.The commandments, as a tool of control, had profound implications on the characters’ behavior. The animals, who believed in the sanctity and authority of the commandments, followed them blindly and without critical thinking. They accepted the pigs’ explanations and justifications for the changes and violations of the commandments, and even internalized their own inferiority and submissiveness. The pigs, on the other hand, used the commandments to justify their own privileges and abuses, and to maintain their dominance over the other animals. They exploited the animals’ ignorance and gullibility to extract labor, food, and obedience from them, while enjoying the benefits of their own corruption and greed.The demise of the commandments and the failure of Animalism were inevitable. As the pigs became more ruthless and corrupt, and as the other animals became more disillusioned and resentful, the commandments lost their moral and practical authority. The pigs no longer bothered to pretend that they followed or respected the commandments, and the other animals no longer believed or cared about them. The gradual erosion of the commandments and the emergence of a new ruling class exposed the flaws and limitations of Animalism and of any utopian ideology that relies on slogans and rhetoric rather than on concrete action and accountability.In conclusion, the commandments in Animal Farm represented both the promise and the peril of revolutionary ideals. They embodied the aspirations and dreams of the oppressed and exploited animals, but also the manipulations and abuses of their new rulers. The commandments served as a tool of control and propaganda, but also as a symbol of resistance and hope. The commandments challenged us to question our own beliefs and values, and to examine the contradictions and complexities of power and justice.

Once upon a time, in a farm far away, there lived a group of animals who were tired of being oppressed by their human owner. They felt that they deserved more rights and freedoms, so they decided to overthrow their owner and run the farm themselves. They created a set of rules, known as the Seven Commandments, to guide their new society.

However, as time passed, the pigs who were in charge of the farm started to change the rules to suit their own needs. They added new commandments, changed old ones, and even broke some of the original rules. The animals were confused and didn’t know how many commandments there were anymore.

The story is told from the perspective of the animals, who are naive and trusting at first, but slowly start to realize that their leaders are not as benevolent as they seem. The tone is one of frustration and disillusionment, as the animals struggle to understand the ever-changing rules.

Here are some examples of the different commandments that were introduced or altered:

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. – This was added to justify the pigs’ superior status and privileges.
No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets. – This was changed to No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets…without permission, which allowed the pigs to sleep in beds while the other animals slept on the floor.
No animal shall kill any other animal. – This was amended to exclude enemies of the state, which allowed the pigs to execute animals who opposed them.

As the commandments became more convoluted and contradictory, the animals began to lose faith in their leaders and their revolution. They realized that the pigs had become the new oppressors, and that their utopian dream had turned into a nightmare.

In conclusion, the story of Animal Farm is a cautionary tale about the dangers of power and corruption. It teaches us that even the most well-intentioned revolutions can be hijacked by those who seek to benefit from them. The animals learned this lesson the hard way, but it’s up to us to heed their warning and ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.

Greetings, visitors! I hope you found our discussion about Animal Farm’s commandments informative and engaging. In summary, the novel features a total of seven commandments that represent the principles and values of animalism. As the story progresses, the commandments undergo modifications and interpretations, reflecting the evolution of the pigs’ leadership and their betrayal of the other animals.

Through the commandments, George Orwell illustrates how power can corrupt even the noblest ideals and how language can be manipulated to deceive people. The first commandment, All animals are equal, serves as the cornerstone of animalism, but it is gradually replaced by All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others, which justifies the pigs’ privileges and exploitation of the rest. Similarly, the commandment No animal shall kill any other animal is amended to No animal shall kill any other animal without cause, which opens the door for the pigs to execute their opponents and dissenters.

Overall, Animal Farm’s commandments exemplify the fragility of democracy and the need for constant vigilance against tyranny and propaganda. By examining the changes in the commandments, we can also discern the characters’ motivations and personalities, as well as the themes of the novel. Therefore, I encourage you to read or reread Animal Farm with a critical eye and appreciate its relevance to our current political and social climate. Thank you for visiting our blog, and keep exploring the world of literature!