The Seven Commandments In George Orwell's Animal Farm

460 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Analysis of the ten commandments

Animal Farm: The Seven Commandments The Seven Commandments are an important factor to the story of Animal Farm by George Orwell. It gives the animals rules and regulations to follow in order to reach their desired future. The Seven Commandments were created by Snowball and Napoleon before the revolution began. It set expectations for the way the farm animals should behave towards the human race and all that they stand for. Once Snowball is driven out of the farm, Napoleon slowly broke the rules and asked Squealer, his public speaker and servant, to change them in his benefit so he is not perceived as a traitor among the animals. His plans was first noticed when Clover began to question whether the pigs were allowed to sleep in the farmhouse …show more content…

‘It says, ‘No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets,’ she announced finally.” (Orwell 47) The original commandment was ‘No animal shall sleep in a bed’ however, since Napoleon decided to sleep in the farmhouse, he changed it in hopes of the animals looking past the change. As he changed the farm, Napoleon wanted the animals to be oblivious of the direction the farm was heading. By changing the Commandments one at a time, the animals never noticed a large change sa they did not study each and every word that was written. As time continues on and the animals adjust to all of the changes that have been made, Napoleon eliminates the Commandments as a whole. In the quote, “For once Benjamin consented to break his rule, and he read out to her what was written on the wall. There was nothing there now except a single Commandment. It ran: ‘all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others’” (Orwell 92), it was noticed that the Commandments had been changed once and for all. During this period of time, Napoleon and the pigs began to wear clothing, stand on their hind legs, and carry around whips to punish the misbehaving animals. All the Commandments had been broken, therefore Napoleon

Show More
Related

  • Did Squealer Fail To Point Out In Animal Farm By George Orwell

    883 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the milk and apples went missing and they found out the pigs had taken them, the animals were not happy, as they thought they were going to be divvied up among the animals equally. When this happened Squealer was, of course, there to explain as to why this was the case. He cried out, “‘Comrades!...Many of us actually dislike milk and apples. I dislike them myself. Our sole object in taking these things is to preserve our health...It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples. Do you know what would happen if we pigs failed in our duty? Jones would come back!...Surely there is no one among you who wants to see Jones come back?’” (Orwell 52). Another time, when the animals began talking about Snowball being the front hand man at the Battle of the Cowshed, Squealer showed up to reposition their thinking. Squealer heard them talking and explained to them, saying, “‘As to the Battle of the Cowshed, I believe the time will come when we shall find that Snowball’s part in it was much exaggerated...Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?’” (Orwell 70). Squealer twisted the animals’ thinking around and made them reconsider all of Snowball’s actions during the battle. Squealer did not want them thinking Snowball was brave in the battle at all. Then, to get them to never mention it again, he used rhetorical questioning to

    Read More

  • The Seven Commandments May be the Key to Understanding Animal Farm

    699 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel, Animal Farm, by George Orwell expresses the idea of self-government through the animals. The animals play the role of humans. Because the animals decide that they want to run the farm by themselves, they make up a way of living called Animalism. The Seven Commandments (Animal Farm's Constitution) under which they live are based on these major principles of Animalism. As time passes, the Seven Commandments undergoes subtle changes as the pigs rewrite it to suit their own agenda. The Seven Commandments may be said to be the key to understanding Animal Farm.

    Read More

  • What Is Napoleon's Rebellion In Animal Farm

    358 Words  | 1 Pages

    Under the pigs supervision, animals change the name of the farm to “Animal Farm” and adopt “Animalism” along with “Seven Commandments of Animalism” which are painted on the wall. At first Rebellion seemed to be a success, they harvest and even try to build a windmill, but then the animals realize that as they received less and less food, pigs got fatter and fatter. Napoleon’s leadership becomes a dictatorship. Pigs break the Seven Commandments by their will. For example, one night pigs become drunk and the Commandment, "No animals shall drink alcohol" is changed to, "No animal shall drink

    Read More

  • George Orwell's Animal Farm

    1401 Words  | 3 Pages

    We got to put a stop to this immediately. We got to bring Snowball back.” All the animals had agreed upon what Clover had said. Secretly the animals would have meetings now and then when Napoleon and the others were not around. “I have found a way to get rid of that obnoxious pig, Napoleon, but I am going to need your help and Snowball is willing to help us”, Clover said to the animals at one of their planned meetings....

    Read More

  • What Are The 7 Commandments In Animal Farm

    602 Words  | 2 Pages

    Animal Farm by George Orwell, is an allegorical novel in which animals get mistreated and forgotten which represents the Russian revolution except using animals in place of humans. For example, the animals, like the pigs and horses were mistreated and forgotten about. Their owner, Mr. Jones has forgotten to feed them many times due to his own drunkenness, neglect and lack of responsibility. He would also treat some of the animals different from the others and give some animals better treatment by providing them with more food than the other animal. Mr. Jones knows he doesn't feed the animals but he does not care because most of the time he is drunk and doesn't remember anything. He influences Napoleon to the point that Napoleon starts to act like Mr. Jones and tricks the animals and treats them badly with no care just like Mr. Jones had previously done. But Mr. Jones

    Read More

  • Animal Farm, by George Orwell

    579 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the beginning of the story, there were two leaders, Snowball and Napoleon, who were sharing power. Snowball was good with words, honest, good at arguing, was inventive, and believed in technology. He stayed in touch with the animals, and wanted to make things better for them. Napoleon, on the other hand, was bad with words, dishonest, hated arguing, and was not inventive. He wanted to be above all the animals; he didn't care about making things better. He only believed in serving himself. In order for Napoleon to be above all the animals, he had to get Snowball out of the way. Napoleon did that by getting his dogs to scare him away so Snowball would never come back to the farm. Napoleon was now in total control of the farm and the animals. Napoleon and the pigs started acting like humans - they would drink, wear clothes, sleep in beds, fight, and walk. They did everything that they had once said was wrong.

    Read More

  • How Power Corrupted the Pigs in Animal Farm by George Orwell

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    commandments are to be followed by all the animals living on the farm at all times.

    Read More

  • The Inequality in an Equal Society in Animal Farm by George Orwell

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the story, the first signal that illustrates the corruption in pigs started right after the animals chased away Mr. Jones. When the animals milked the cows and discussed about what to do with all the milk, Napoleon cried “Never mind the milk, comrades…placing himself in front of the buckets” (p18) and then all buckets of milk disappeared. This is foreshadowing that later Napoleon may become the kind of leader who keeps everything good for himself and does not care about others, and this actually happened later. Several days later, someone found out that all the milk was mixed in pigs’ mash everyday as well as the apples and pointed that pigs broke the rule of “All animals are equal” (p17).

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Animal Farm By George Orwell And Klee Wyck

    1477 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the beginning of the text, “all animals are equal” (Orwell 6) and are united under the common goal of freeing themselves from “the tyranny of human beings” (5). However, life on the farm progresses in a manner contradictory to this initial belief, and ultimately does not benefit the masses. Rather, it is driven exclusively by and for the privileged elite, “the cleverest of animals” (9): the pigs. Napoleon and his supporters are able to impose their authority upon the “lower animals” (92) by using language to create “the seven commandments” (15), and consequently re-creating them when they see fit. For example, it was declared in the Commandments that “no animal shall kill any other animal” (61). Yet, when the very pigs that created the law break it, it is re-written such that “no animal shall kill any other animal without cause” (61). These subtle manipulations take place consistently throughout the story, until all previous laws are eradicated and replaced with one overarching commandment: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” (90). Here Orwell highlights the fact that by re-writing the past, those in power are able to directly control the future. By monopolizing language, they monopolize progress. Without “the words to express” (59) their opposition, the animals lack agency and are effectively silenced, forced to accept what is written “on the

    Read More

  • Free Essays - The Seven Commandments of Animal Farm

    809 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first alteration to the Commandments comes after the pigs move back into the farmhouse. The ban on sleeping in beds is changed in Napoleon's favour by the addition of the words "with sheets". At this point in the history of the farm the pigs do not quite have enough power to do what they like and Squealer is forced to change the Commandments to fit new circumstances. But sleeping in beds is a minor matter compared to murder, and the next alteration to the Commandments is far more shocking. After the failures of the winter and the collapse of the first windmill, the pigs use Snowball as scapegoat.

    Read More

  • George Orwell's Animal Farm

    584 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is a substantial amount of conflicts that occur in this satirical story. Often these conflicts are between the pigs and the rest of the animals. Only a minute portion of the animals didn’t really have some sort of conflict with Snowball, Napoleon, Squealer, or the rest of the dominating pigs. Overall, Snowball was a better leader than Napoleon, yet the animals reacted differently to Napoleon than to Snowball.

    Read More

  • Animal Farm by George Orwell

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the very beginning, Napoleon started breaking the commandment that stated all animals are equal. He had all the milk and apples set aside for the pigs. He put forth the idea that the pigs depended on these things for survival, and that it was in the interest of the entire farm that they be set aside for them. The others were convinced by Squealer’s arguments that

    Read More

  • The Relationship between Snowball and Napoleon in Animal Farm

    424 Words  | 1 Pages

    What's worse, Napoleon came to constantly use Snowball to shift the blame on every small mishap on the farm. For example, when the windmill was first destroyed by the tornado, Napoleon blamed it on Snowball. Also, Snowball was blame for destroying farm property, mixing foods with weeds, and secretly conspiring with human, which was strictly prohibited by animal law. However, the accusations were never proven true, as Snowball was never heard from again since his expulsion.

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Animal Farm

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    First of all, Napoleon is a huge Berkshire boar and he clearly is the most powerful of all the animals.  He was able to take complete leadership of the farm because he secretly trained the dogs to attack Snowball.  George Orwell writes, “ ‘Never mind the milk, comrades!’ cried Napoleon, placing himself in front of the buckets.  ‘That will be attended to, the harvest is more important’ (817).  Napoleon is quite demanding none of the animal’s even question his authority because they know that he has more control than any other animal.  Throughout the novel Orwell has many quotes that describe Napoleon as a leader, “ ‘long live Comrade Napoleon’ ” (846).  All the animals on the farm (no matter what Napoleon did to them) would treat him as a powerful leader and whatever he said they would do.  Often Orwell stirs up controversy about the rebellion, “ ‘forward in the name of the rebellion.  ‘Long live Animal farm!’ ‘Long live Comrade Napoleon!’ ‘Napoleon is always right.’ Those were his very last words, comrades’ ” (849).  Squealer’s letting everyone know that no matter what happens to Animal Farm, just remember that Napoleon was an outstanding leader most of the time.  Napoleon was an outstanding leader and contributor to Animal Farm without his power the farm would have collapsed earlier.

    Read More

  • Hypocrisy In George Orwell's Animal Farm

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    At the beginning on the text, after the rebellion, the animals are all seen as equal, with a high quality of life. Napoleon and Squealer often mentioned how important it was for all animals to do their equal share of work; however they often did little to no work. They were able to do this by Squealer acting as the media and reminding the animals that the hard work that the pigs did deserved a larger break then everyone else. As the text progressed, Napoleon and his small group of pigs slowly changed the commandments to suit themselves. Many animals didn’t question the change in commandments; and when they did they were either proven wrong or made an example of via public executions. During chapter 6, the pigs are questioned after allegedly breaking the 4th commandment “no animals shall sleep in a bed”. Squealer was quick to react, by stating that the pigs required extra rest due to how smart they were. When Muriel goes to read the commandments to prove that what the pigs are doing is wrong, she finds that the board now states “no animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets”. Through this, the pigs where able to gain control at a rapid pace and adjust the rules to have the most benefits in their

    Read More

More about The Seven Commandments In George Orwell's Animal Farm

Open Document