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Discover the evolution of the Seven Commandments in George Orwell’s Animal Farm and how they reflect the pigs’ rise to power.
Animal Farm by George Orwell is a satirical novel that sheds light on the corruption and abuse of power in Soviet Russia. One of the most significant aspects of the story is the Seven Commandments, a set of rules established by the animals to govern their society. However, as the story unfolds, the commandments undergo several changes, highlighting the hypocrisy and deceitfulness of those in charge.
Initially, the Seven Commandments seem like a fair and just way to ensure equality among the animals. However, as time goes on, the pigs in charge start to make changes to the rules to suit their own needs. For example, the original commandment All animals are equal is modified to All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. This alteration highlights the pigs’ desire for superiority over the other animals and their willingness to manipulate language to achieve their goals.
The changes to the Seven Commandments demonstrate how those in power can use language and propaganda to control and manipulate their followers. As readers, we are left questioning the true intentions of those in charge and reflecting on the dangers of blindly following authority figures.
The Seven Commandments in Animal Farm were initially created to serve as a set of guiding principles that would ensure the success and prosperity of the animals on the farm. However, as time passed, these commandments underwent some significant changes that ultimately led to the downfall of the animal community. This article will explore the ways that the Seven Commandments changed throughout the story of Animal Farm.
The Original Seven Commandments
When Animal Farm was first established, the pigs created the Seven Commandments as a way to establish order and structure on the 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.
These commandments represented the ideals of equality and solidarity that the animals hoped to achieve through their revolution. The pigs, who were the leaders of the revolution, were responsible for upholding these commandments and ensuring that all animals adhered to them.
The First Change: All Animals Are Equal, But Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others
As time went on, the pigs began to exert more and more control over the other animals on the farm. They gradually became more corrupt and started to view themselves as superior to the other animals. This led to the first major change in the Seven Commandments.
The original commandment All animals are equal was changed to All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. This change reflected the pigs’ newfound belief that they were above the other animals and were entitled to special treatment.
The Second Change: No Animal Shall Kill Any Other Animal Without Cause
As the pigs’ power grew, they began to use violence and intimidation to maintain their control over the other animals. This led to the second major change in the Seven Commandments.
The original commandment No animal shall kill any other animal was changed to No animal shall kill any other animal without cause. This change allowed the pigs to justify their use of violence against the other animals.
The Third Change: Four Legs Good, Two Legs Better
The pigs’ increasing corruption and abuse of power led to further changes in the Seven Commandments. One of the most significant changes was the alteration of the commandment that had originally stated Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
This commandment was changed to Four legs good, two legs better. This change reflected the pigs’ desire to become more like their human oppressors and their belief that they were superior to the other animals on the farm.
The Fourth Change: No Animal Shall Sleep in a Bed With Sheets
Another major change in the Seven Commandments was the alteration of the commandment that had originally stated No animal shall sleep in a bed.
This commandment was changed to No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets. This change allowed the pigs to justify their use of the farmhouse and its amenities, which they had initially promised to reserve for the exclusive use of the other animals on the farm.
The Fifth Change: To the Memory of Comrade Napoleon
As the pigs became more corrupt and authoritarian, they began to rewrite history to suit their own purposes. One example of this was the addition of a new commandment:
To the memory of Comrade Napoleon was added to the Seven Commandments. This change reflected the pigs’ desire to elevate Napoleon to the status of a revered leader and to erase any memory of the original ideals of the revolution.
The Sixth Change: No Animal Shall Trade With Humans
As the pigs’ corruption continued to grow, they began to engage in secret dealings with the humans who had once oppressed them. This led to the addition of a new commandment:
No animal shall trade with humans was added to the Seven Commandments. This change reflected the pigs’ hypocrisy and their willingness to betray the principles of the revolution in order to enrich themselves.
The Seventh Change: The Commandments Are Replaced With a Single Maxim
By the end of the story, the Seven Commandments had been completely replaced by a single maxim:
All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
This change represented the complete corruption of the original ideals of the revolution and the pigs’ total domination over the other animals on the farm.
The Tragic Irony of the Seven Commandments
The tragic irony of the Seven Commandments in Animal Farm lies in the fact that they were initially created to serve as a symbol of the animals’ unity and solidarity. However, as time passed, the pigs gradually corrupted and perverted these commandments until they became a tool of oppression and control.
The changes in the Seven Commandments reflect the pigs’ descent into tyranny and their willingness to betray the principles of the revolution for their own benefit. Ultimately, the story of Animal Farm serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of corruption and the abuse of power.
Animal Farm was a place where all animals were equal and free from the oppression of humans. The original seven commandments were created to ensure that this equality would be maintained and that the animals would govern themselves in a fair and just manner. The commandments were as follows:
Commandment #1: All Animals are Equal
Commandment #2: No Animal Shall Kill Any Other Animal
Commandment #3: No Animal Shall Wear Clothes
Commandment #4: No Animal Shall Sleep in a Bed
Commandment #5: No Animal Shall Drink Alcohol
Commandment #6: No Animal Shall Engage in Trade
Commandment #7: All Animals Are Comrades
Initially, the animals were committed to upholding these commandments, and they worked together to build a new and better society. However, over time, the commandments began to erode, and the animals started to forget their original purpose.
Commandment #1, which stated that all animals were equal, was one of the first to be ignored. The pigs, who were more intelligent than the other animals, began to take control of the farm and make decisions on behalf of the others. This led to a hierarchy where some animals were more equal than others.
Commandment #2, which prohibited animals from killing each other, was also disregarded. The pigs decided that it was acceptable to kill other animals if they were deemed to be a threat to the farm or if they were not useful anymore.
Commandment #3, which forbade animals from wearing clothes, was also violated. The pigs began to wear clothes and even started to walk on two legs, which was strictly forbidden.
Commandment #4, which prohibited animals from sleeping in beds, was another commandment that was broken. The pigs started to sleep in beds, and they even had sheets and blankets to keep them warm at night.
Commandment #5, which stated that animals were not allowed to drink alcohol, was also ignored. The pigs started to drink alcohol, and they even brewed their own beer and cider.
Commandment #6, which prohibited animals from engaging in trade, was also violated. The pigs started to trade with other farms and even started to use money, which was strictly forbidden.
Finally, Commandment #7, which declared that all animals were comrades, was completely abandoned. The pigs began to treat the other animals as inferior beings and even went so far as to change the name of the farm to Napoleon’s Animal Farm.
The slow but steady erosion of the commandments was a tragic development for the animals of Animal Farm. What started out as a hopeful and promising society became corrupted by greed and power. The pigs, who were supposed to be the leaders of the farm, became the very thing they had fought against in their quest for freedom.
In conclusion, the sad fate of Animal Farm serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of corruption and the importance of maintaining principles and values. The seven commandments were meant to ensure that all animals were equal and free, but they were slowly eroded over time until they became meaningless. The pigs, who were supposed to be the guardians of these principles, became corrupted by power and greed, ultimately leading to the downfall of Animal Farm.
Once upon a time, in the land of Animal Farm, there were seven commandments that all animals lived by. These commandments were created to ensure equality and fairness among all animals. The 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.
At first, the animals were happy and content with these commandments. They felt empowered and united, working together to create a better life for themselves. However, as time passed, the commandments began to change.
The first change came when the pigs, who had taken control of the farm, began to walk on two legs like humans. This went against the very first commandment, but the pigs argued that it was necessary for them to conduct business with humans. Slowly but surely, the other animals began to accept this change.
The second change came when the pigs began to wear clothes. Again, this went against one of the original commandments, but the pigs argued that they needed to dress like humans in order to be taken seriously. Once again, the other animals begrudgingly accepted this change.
The third change came when the pigs began to sleep in beds. This was a blatant violation of one of the original commandments, but the pigs argued that they needed a good night’s sleep in order to make good decisions for the farm. The other animals were starting to become suspicious of these changes, but they still followed the pigs’ lead.
The fourth change came when the pigs began to drink alcohol. This was yet another violation of one of the original commandments, but the pigs argued that they needed to drink in order to relax after a hard day’s work. The other animals were becoming increasingly uneasy, but they still did not speak out against the pigs.
The fifth change came when the pigs began to kill other animals. This was the most egregious violation of the original commandments, but the pigs argued that some animals were more equal than others and therefore deserved to be punished. The other animals were horrified, but they were too afraid to stand up to the pigs.
The final change came when the seventh commandment was altered. It now read: All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. This change was the ultimate betrayal of the original ideals of Animal Farm, but the pigs had complete control over the other animals and there was nothing anyone could do to stop them.
As the years went by, the pigs became more and more like the humans they had overthrown. The other animals realized too late that they had been duped and that the revolution they had fought for had been corrupted by those in power.
From my point of view, the changes in the seven commandments were a clear indication of the pigs’ greed for power. They slowly twisted the original ideals of Animal Farm to suit their own needs, without regard for the other animals. The changes were made gradually, so as not to alarm the other animals, but each change brought them one step closer to complete control. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of questioning authority.
Dear readers,
As you know, Animal Farm is a well-known allegorical novella that depicts the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the early years of the Soviet Union. One of the most significant aspects of this book is the Seven Commandments that were established by the animals to govern their society.
Initially, the Seven Commandments represented the ideals of equality and fairness that the animals hoped to achieve. They embodied the principles of Animalism, which aimed to eliminate the oppression and exploitation of animals by humans. The Commandments included rules such as All animals are equal and No animal shall sleep in a bed.
However, as time passed, the pigs began to manipulate and twist the Commandments to suit their own interests. They gradually changed the rules to benefit themselves, creating new Commandments that contradicted the original ones. For example, All animals are equal became All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. The pigs also started to break the Commandments themselves and used force to maintain their power.
By the end of the novella, the Seven Commandments had been completely altered, and the pigs had become indistinguishable from the humans they had once rebelled against. The original ideals of Animalism had been corrupted, and the animals had lost their freedom and autonomy.
In conclusion, the evolution of the Seven Commandments in Animal Farm represents the dangers of authoritarianism and the manipulation of language for political gain. It shows how even the most noble ideals can be corrupted by those in power, and how important it is to remain vigilant against tyranny and oppression. We hope that this article has given you a deeper understanding of this classic work of literature and its timeless themes.
Thank you for reading!
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People also ask about how did the seven commandments change in Animal Farm:
1.
What were the original 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 over time?
The commandments changed as the pigs became more and more corrupt. They gradually added new commandments and altered existing ones to suit their own interests. For example, they changed No animal shall sleep in a bed to No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets, and later changed it to No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets…without good reason. They also added new commandments such as All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.3.
Why did the pigs change the commandments?
The pigs changed the commandments to consolidate their power and maintain control over the other animals. By altering the commandments to suit their own interests, they were able to justify their actions and convince the other animals that they were acting in their best interests. The changes also allowed the pigs to indulge in behaviors that were previously forbidden, such as drinking alcohol and sleeping in beds.4.
What was the significance of the changes to the commandments?
The changes to the commandments symbolize the corruption of power and the dangers of totalitarianism. By altering the rules to suit their own interests, the pigs were able to manipulate and control the other animals. The changes also demonstrate how easily people can be swayed by those in power, even when their actions directly contradict their stated beliefs and values. Ultimately, the changes to the commandments represent the betrayal of the original ideals of the animal revolution and the triumph of tyranny.
