Discover the Key Commandments in Animal Farm: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the 7 commandments that govern the animal society in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. A classic tale of power, corruption, and rebellion.

Animal Farm is a classic novel written by George Orwell that serves as an allegory for the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalin’s dictatorship. The story follows a group of farm animals who rebel against their human owner and establish their own self-sufficient society. However, as time goes on, the pigs in charge begin to abuse their power and manipulate the other animals for their own gain. Throughout the novel, there are several commandments that the animals must follow, but these commandments are not always upheld. So, what exactly are these commandments and how do they shape the course of the story?

George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm is a political satire that tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can live free from oppression and exploitation. The pigs, who are the most intelligent animals on the farm, take over the leadership of the revolution and establish a set of commandments that all animals must follow. These commandments represent the ideals of Animalism, which is the name given to the new social system that the animals hope to create.

The Seven Commandments

At the beginning of the revolution, the pigs establish seven commandments that all animals must follow. These commandments are:

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.

The First Commandment

The first commandment is a clear indication of the pigs’ anti-human sentiment. This commandment forbids any animal from having any kind of interaction with humans. The pigs convince the other animals that humans are their enemies and that they have oppressed them for too long. This commandment also establishes the idea that animals are superior to humans, which is a central theme in the novel.

The Second Commandment

The second commandment is a little more ambiguous. It suggests that all animals that walk on four legs or have wings are friends. This commandment is important because it establishes the idea that all animals are equal. However, as the novel progresses, the pigs reinterpret this commandment to mean that some animals are more equal than others.

The Third Commandment

The third commandment forbids animals from wearing clothes. The pigs use this commandment to establish their superiority over the other animals. They begin to wear clothes themselves, claiming that it is necessary for their work on behalf of the other animals.

The Fourth Commandment

The fourth commandment prohibits animals from sleeping in beds. The pigs use this commandment to justify their use of the farmhouse, claiming that they need a comfortable place to sleep in order to do their work for the other animals. This commandment further establishes the idea that the pigs are the most important animals on the farm.

The Fifth Commandment

The fifth commandment forbids animals from drinking alcohol. The pigs use this commandment to establish their superiority over the other animals. They begin to drink alcohol themselves, claiming that it is necessary for their work on behalf of the other animals.

The Sixth Commandment

The sixth commandment prohibits animals from killing each other. This commandment is important because it establishes the idea that all animals are equal. However, as the novel progresses, the pigs reinterpret this commandment to mean that some animals are more equal than others.

The Seventh Commandment

The seventh commandment is the most important commandment because it represents the central idea of the novel. This commandment states that all animals are equal. The pigs use this commandment to gain the support of the other animals and to justify their takeover of the farm. However, as the novel progresses, the pigs reinterpret this commandment to mean that some animals are more equal than others.

The Changing Commandments

As the pigs become more powerful, they begin to change the commandments to suit their own interests. The first commandment is changed to “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets” and the sixth commandment is changed to “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.” These changes reflect the pigs’ desire for power and their willingness to use language to manipulate the other animals.

The Betrayal of the Commandments

The novel ends with the pigs fully in control of the farm. They have betrayed the ideals of Animalism and have become just as oppressive and exploitative as the human farmers they replaced. The commandments have been completely rewritten to reflect the pigs’ new position of power. The final commandment reads: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” This commandment represents the ultimate betrayal of the ideals of Animalism and the complete corruption of the revolution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the commandments in Animal Farm represent the ideals of the revolution and the hopes of the animals for a better life. However, the pigs’ manipulation of the commandments and their eventual betrayal of these ideals show the danger of language and the power of those who control it. The novel is a warning against the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of individual freedom and equality.

In this article, we have examined the significance of the commandments in Animal Farm and how they reflect the initial idealism of the animals and their eventual downfall. We saw how the pigs manipulated and personified the morals initially accepted by the animals, leading to their corruption and the ultimate failure of the revolution. From the rejection of hierarchical structures of power to the use of language as a tool of oppression, the commandments highlight the dangers of totalitarianism and the corrupting influence of power. It is essential to understand the inner workings of a totalitarian society to avoid repeating the same mistakes. The commandments serve as a warning that any idealism, when taken too far, can lead to disastrous consequences.

Once upon a time, on a farm far away, there lived a group of animals who had grown tired of being oppressed by their human owners. Led by the pigs, the animals staged a rebellion and took over the farm for themselves. They created a set of commandments to guide their new society and ensure that they would never be mistreated again.

The Commandments of Animal Farm

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

The commandments were written on the barn wall for all to see, and the animals took them very seriously. They worked tirelessly to build their new society, with the pigs taking on leadership roles and making important decisions for the group. The animals were happy and proud to be living in a world where they were free to do as they pleased, without fear of being mistreated.

However, things started to change as time went on. The pigs began to bend and twist the commandments to suit their own needs, slowly becoming more and more like the humans they had rebelled against. They moved into the farmhouse and slept in beds, wore clothes, and drank alcohol. The other animals began to question whether the commandments still applied, but the pigs always found a way to justify their actions.

As the years went by, the commandments became less and less important to the pigs. They changed them whenever it suited them, and the other animals were too afraid to speak up for fear of being punished. In the end, the commandments were little more than a memory of the ideals that had inspired the rebellion in the first place.

The story of Animal Farm is a cautionary tale about the dangers of power and how easily it can corrupt even the best of intentions. The commandments were meant to guide the animals towards a better future, but they ultimately failed because those in power were unwilling to abide by them. It is a reminder that freedom must be constantly fought for and protected, lest it be taken away by those who would abuse it.

Thank you for taking the time to read about the commandments in Animal Farm. As we wrap up our discussion, it’s important to reflect on the significance of these commandments and what they represent in George Orwell’s classic novel.

The commandments were initially created as a set of principles that all animals on the farm should abide by. They were meant to promote equality and fairness among the animals, and prevent any form of oppression or mistreatment. However, as the story progresses, we see how the commandments are gradually altered and manipulated by the pigs in power. They use their intelligence and cunning to bend the rules in their favor, ultimately leading to a corrupt and tyrannical regime.

This serves as a powerful commentary on the dangers of unchecked authority and the importance of vigilance against those who seek to abuse it. It also highlights the fragility of ideals and the ease with which they can be corrupted over time. The commandments were meant to be a symbol of hope and unity, but they ultimately became a tool for oppression and control.

In conclusion, the commandments in Animal Farm serve as a cautionary tale about the perils of power and the need for constant vigilance in preserving our values and principles. They remind us that even the most noble intentions can be distorted and corrupted if left unchecked. We must always remain vigilant and hold those in authority accountable for their actions, lest we fall victim to the same fate as the animals on the farm.

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People also ask about what are the commandments in Animal Farm:

1. What are the seven commandments in Animal Farm?

The original seven commandments were:

• 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.
2. How did the commandments change in Animal Farm?

As the pigs become more corrupt and gain more power, they begin to change the commandments to benefit themselves. For example, No animal shall sleep in a bed becomes No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets. The commandments eventually become reduced to a single phrase: All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

3. Why are the commandments important in Animal Farm?

The commandments represent the principles of Animalism, the political philosophy that the animals adopt after overthrowing their human oppressors. They serve as a symbol of the animals’ struggle for freedom and equality, and their ultimate betrayal by the pigs who take over the farm.