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After the rebellion, the seven commandments of Animal Farm were simplified to just one: All animals are equal. But as power corrupts, even this is forgotten.
As George Orwell’s Animal Farm draws to a close, readers are left wondering how many of the original commandments remain intact. Throughout the course of the novel, the pigs in charge have altered the rules to fit their own selfish purposes, causing confusion and chaos amongst the other animals. Despite their initial intentions of creating a fair and equal society, the pigs’ thirst for power has led them down a path of corruption. In the end, it is up to the reader to determine whether any of the original commandments still hold true and if the animals truly achieved their goal of freedom.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a political allegory that represents the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the early years of the Soviet Union. In the novel, the animals overthrow their human owner and establish a self-governing society. However, as time passes, the pigs, who are the leaders of the animal revolution, become increasingly corrupt and oppressive. This article discusses how many commandments remain at the end of Animal Farm and what they signify.
The Seven Commandments
At the beginning of the novel, the animals establish a set of seven commandments that are painted on the barn wall. These commandments serve as the foundation of their new society, and they are meant to ensure equality, justice, and freedom for all animals. The 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 Changes to the Commandments
As the novel progresses, the pigs, who are the leaders of the animal revolution, begin to change the commandments to suit their own interests. The first change is made when the pigs start walking on two legs, which violates the first commandment. To avoid breaking the commandment, they change it to Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. And also: whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, or is human, shall be allowed to sleep in a bed with sheets.
Each time the pigs break one of the commandments, they change it to justify their actions. For example, when they start drinking alcohol, they change the commandment to No animal shall drink alcohol to excess. When they start executing animals for minor offenses, they change the commandment to No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.
The End of Animal Farm
At the end of the novel, only one commandment remains: All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. This commandment represents the ultimate corruption of the pigs’ leadership and the betrayal of the animals’ original ideals. The pigs have become the very thing they overthrew: oppressive rulers who use their power to exploit and control the other animals.
The Significance of the Commandments
The commandments in Animal Farm represent the principles of equality, justice, and freedom that are essential to any democratic society. The changes to the commandments show how easily those principles can be corrupted and manipulated for personal gain. The final commandment, All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others, is a chilling reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of remaining vigilant against tyranny.
The Lessons of Animal Farm
Animal Farm is a powerful commentary on the nature of power, corruption, and revolution. It reminds us that even the noblest of causes can be perverted by those who seek to control others. It also highlights the importance of staying true to our principles and being willing to stand up against oppression, even when it comes from within our own ranks.
The lessons of Animal Farm are as relevant today as they were when the novel was first published in 1945. They remind us to remain vigilant against tyranny and to hold our leaders accountable for their actions. By doing so, we can ensure that the principles of equality, justice, and freedom continue to thrive and flourish in our societies.
At the beginning of Animal Farm, there were seven commandments laid out by Old Major, representing the core principles of Animalism. These commandments were meant to ensure equality, cooperation, and a rejection of human oppression. However, as the story progresses, these commandments begin to deteriorate, and the animal society becomes more and more corrupted by the pigs’ thirst for power. One of the first commandments to deteriorate was related to religion and spirituality. Moses, the raven, had initially told stories of Sugarcandy Mountain, a paradise where animals would go after they died. The other animals had rejected this idea, seeing it as a human invention meant to keep animals oppressed. However, towards the end of the novel, the pigs begin to use Moses and his stories as a way to distract and pacify the other animals. This effectively erodes the original commandment against religion and spirituality. Another core principle of Animalism was equality, yet towards the end of the novel, the pigs begin to favor their own group and become more dominant. This slow erosion of equality can be seen in the way the pigs begin to hoard resources, take on leadership roles, and even change the commandments to suit their own needs. The pigs begin to see themselves as a superior class, and the other animals become second-class citizens in their own society. As the pigs gain more power and authority, they begin to rewrite the commandments in their favor, incorporating them into a new set of rules that fit their own agenda. This absorption of commandments into the new rules is a clear sign of the pigs’ manipulation and desire for control. They use language to twist the truth and convince the other animals that their actions are justified. This is a clear example of propaganda, which is used to control the narrative and enforce the pigs’ version of the truth. The rise of manipulation and propaganda is just one of the many ways in which the pigs abandon the moral and ethical principles that the commandments were founded upon. Instead of focusing on the collective good, the pigs become power-hungry and focus solely on their own self-interest. This abandonment of morality and ethics can be seen in the way the pigs treat the other animals, manipulating and betraying them for their own gain. Despite the initial push for equality and the abolition of classes in the animal society, the pigs eventually create their own hierarchy, placing themselves at the top and relegating the other animals to subordinate positions. This emergence of classism and hierarchy is a clear example of the pigs’ corruption and desire for power. They use their intelligence and cunning to maintain their position of authority, even if it means betraying the principles of Animalism. As the pigs become more entrenched in their own power, they begin to favor individual interests over the collective good, leading to a breakdown in cooperation and unity among the animals. This disappearance of cooperation and unity is a clear sign that the animal society is falling apart, and the pigs are to blame. They sow seeds of discord and division, pitting the animals against each other and creating a sense of mistrust. Despite the initial promise of freedom and autonomy under Animalism, the pigs begin to restrict the other animals’ behavior and limit their ability to make choices for themselves. This waning of freedom and autonomy is a clear indication of the pigs’ desire for control. They use their power to limit the other animals’ actions and enforce their own will, effectively creating a dictatorship. As the pigs become more corrupt and power-hungry, they begin to betray the trust and loyalty of the other animals, leading to a breakdown in relationships and alliances. This weakening of trust and loyalty is a clear indication that the animal society is falling apart. The other animals begin to see the pigs as their oppressors rather than their leaders, and they lose faith in the principles of Animalism. Throughout the novel, the commandments and principles of Animalism represented a hope for a better society and a rejection of the oppressive forces of the human world. However, as the pigs become more tyrannical, this hope and idealism begins to fade away. The diminishing of hope and idealism is a clear indication that the animal society has failed to live up to its initial promise. The pigs have corrupted the principles of Animalism and turned it into a tool for their own gain, effectively betraying the other animals and the original vision of Old Major. In the end, only one commandment remains: All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. This twisted version of the original commandments represents the pigs’ complete corruption and betrayal of the principles of Animalism. The other animals are left disillusioned and betrayed, while the pigs continue to revel in their power and authority.
Once upon a time, on a farm far away, there lived a group of animals who had enough of their human farmer’s tyranny. They decided to overthrow him and create a society where all animals were equal and free. This was the beginning of Animal Farm.
At first, everything seemed to be going well. The pigs, who were the smartest animals on the farm, took charge and established a set of rules that they called the Seven Commandments. These commandments were meant to guide the animals in their new way of life, and they were displayed prominently on the side of the barn.
However, as time passed, the pigs became more and more corrupt. They began to ignore the commandments and do whatever they wanted, using their intelligence to manipulate the other animals into following them. Slowly but surely, the original Seven Commandments were changed and twisted until they no longer resembled their original form.
So, how many commandments remained at the end of Animal Farm? The answer is simple: none. Here is a breakdown of what happened to each of the original Seven Commandments:
- Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. – This commandment was changed to Four legs good, two legs better when the pigs started walking on two legs like humans.
- Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. – This commandment was kept relatively intact, although the pigs did start making exceptions for certain animals that they deemed more valuable than others.
- No animal shall wear clothes. – This commandment was ignored when the pigs started wearing clothes to distinguish themselves from the other animals.
- No animal shall sleep in a bed. – This commandment was changed to No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets when the pigs started sleeping in beds.
- No animal shall drink alcohol. – This commandment was ignored when the pigs started drinking alcohol to excess.
- No animal shall kill any other animal. – This commandment was changed to No animal shall kill any other animal without cause when the pigs started executing animals for supposed crimes.
- All animals are equal. – This commandment was completely forgotten as the pigs became more and more powerful, taking special privileges for themselves and treating the other animals like slaves.
As you can see, the pigs gradually manipulated the commandments to suit their own needs, until there was nothing left of the original rules. The animals on Animal Farm had been betrayed by their own leaders, who had become the very thing they had rebelled against. It was a sad ending for a once-promising revolution.
In conclusion, the point of view about how many commandments remained at the end of Animal Farm is one of disappointment and betrayal. The animals had hoped for a better life, but their leaders let them down, turning the original Seven Commandments into a meaningless jumble of words. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of power and corruption, and a reminder that we must always be vigilant against those who seek to exploit us for their own gain.
As we reach the end of Animal Farm, we are left with a sense of unease and uncertainty. The animals have successfully overthrown their human oppressors and established their own society, but it quickly becomes clear that their new leaders are no better than the ones they replaced. Throughout the novel, the animals’ commandments serve as a symbol of the principles that they strive to uphold, but by the end of the story, very few of these commandments remain intact.
At the beginning of the novel, the animals establish seven commandments that are meant to guide their society. These commandments include such principles as All animals are equal and No animal shall kill any other animal. Initially, the animals take these commandments very seriously and work hard to ensure that they are upheld. However, as the pigs begin to consolidate power, they gradually begin to change the commandments to suit their own interests. For example, they change All animals are equal to All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. By the end of the novel, there are only a few commandments remaining, and even these are subject to interpretation and manipulation by the pigs.
So what does this say about the nature of power? Perhaps it suggests that those who seek power will always find a way to twist the rules to their advantage. Or maybe it’s a commentary on the nature of revolution itself – that even the most well-intentioned uprisings can be corrupted by those who rise to the top. Whatever the case may be, Animal Farm serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blindly following leaders who claim to have our best interests at heart. We must always be vigilant and question those in power, lest we find ourselves living under a tyranny that we helped to create.
In conclusion, Animal Farm is a powerful novel that continues to resonate with readers today. Its portrayal of a society that is gradually corrupted by those in power is a warning that we would do well to heed. As we reflect on the fate of the animals in the story, let us remember that the principles that they fought for – equality, justice, and freedom – are worth upholding, even when those in power seek to undermine them. Thank you for joining me on this journey through Animal Farm, and I hope that it has given you much to think about.
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When it comes to the famous novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, readers may wonder about the fate of the commandments that were established by the animal characters. Here are some common questions that people ask:
- How many commandments were there at the beginning of Animal Farm?
- What happened to the commandments as the story progressed?
- How many commandments remained at the end of Animal Farm?
At the beginning of the story, there were seven commandments that summarized the animals’ principles for their new society. These included phrases such as Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy and All animals are equal.
As the pigs in Animal Farm gained more power and control, they began to change the commandments to suit their own interests. For example, they altered the original No animal shall sleep in a bed to No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets. Eventually, the commandments were completely replaced by a single maxim: All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
By the end of the story, there were no official commandments remaining. The original seven had been gradually eroded and manipulated by the pigs, until they were replaced by the hypocritical and self-serving phrase All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others. This final statement revealed the corruption and betrayal of the pigs, who had become the very human oppressors that they had overthrown.
In short, while Animal Farm began with a set of noble and idealistic commandments, these were ultimately destroyed by the greed and corruption of the ruling class. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of staying true to one’s principles.