The Seven Commandments in Animal Farm are established by the animals on the farm as a set of principles to govern their behaviour and ensure equality. Throughout the novella, these commandments undergo alterations, reflecting the corruption of the original ideals.
Here are the original Seven Commandments in order:
- 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.
As the story progresses, the pigs, who take on leadership roles, violate and modify these commandments to justify their increasing privileges and the deviation from the animals’ original ideals. The alterations and eventual corruption of the commandments symbolize the betrayal of the animals’ trust and the erosion of the principles of Animalism.
Changes to the commandments
The alteration of the Seven Commandments in Animal Farm is a critical element that reflects the gradual corruption of the animals’ original ideals.
Here’s an outline of how each commandment is altered or violated over the course of the novella:
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
- Alteration: This commandment is ultimately abandoned and replaced with the pigs walking on two legs, signifying a betrayal of the initial principle.
- Significance: The pigs’ adoption of human-like behaviour contradicts the original commandment, illustrating the pigs becoming the very enemy the animals sought to overthrow.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
- Alteration: This commandment is subtly changed to “Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend. No animal shall wear clothes.”
- Significance: The addition of the clothing clause signifies a departure from the original inclusivity, introducing a hierarchy based on attire and, consequently, betraying the principle of universal friendship.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
- Alteration: This commandment is altered with the addition of “No animal shall wear clothes,” emphasizing the pigs’ hypocrisy as they begin to wear human clothing.
- Significance: The pigs’ violation of this commandment underscores their move toward adopting the vices and privileges of the humans they initially rebelled against.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
- Alteration: This commandment is changed to “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets,” justifying the pigs’ use of the farmhouse beds.
- Significance: The alteration reflects the pigs’ manipulation of language to legitimize their luxuries, further betraying the original principle of simplicity and equality.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
- Alteration: This commandment is modified to “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.”
- Significance: The modification introduces a subjective element, allowing the pigs to justify their drinking. This alteration demonstrates the pigs’ manipulation of rules for their benefit.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
- Alteration: This commandment is altered to “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.”
- Significance: The addition of “without cause” provides a loophole for the pigs to justify their executions, betraying the original principle of non-violence.
7. All animals are equal.
- Alteration: This commandment is eventually modified to “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
- Significance: The ultimate betrayal, this alteration explicitly contradicts the foundational principle of equality, highlighting the pigs’ establishment of a privileged ruling class.
The alteration of the Seven Commandments in “Animal Farm” serves as a narrative device to symbolize the corruption of revolutionary ideals and the betrayal of the animals’ trust by their leaders. The deviations from the original principles illustrate the pigs’ descent into tyranny and the erosion of the animals’ dream of a just and equal society.
The changes to the commandments represent a betrayal
The changes to the Seven Commandments in “Animal Farm” represent a clear and deliberate betrayal of the animals’ original revolutionary ideals. Each alteration reflects the pigs’ gradual deviation from the principles of Animalism, leading to the establishment of a corrupt and oppressive regime. Here’s how the changes to the commandments signify betrayal:
1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
- Original Commandment: Reflects the animals’ animosity towards humans, setting the tone for the rebellion against human oppression.
- Betrayal: The pigs ultimately walk on two legs, aligning themselves with the very enemy the animals sought to overthrow. This represents a complete betrayal of the initial principle.
2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
- Original Commandment: Establishes a sense of unity among the animals, emphasizing friendship among non-human creatures.
- Betrayal: The addition of “No animal shall wear clothes” introduces a hierarchy based on attire, betraying the principle of universal friendship and inclusivity.
3. No animal shall wear clothes.
- Original Commandment: Rejects human practices and emphasizes simplicity and equality among the animals.
- Betrayal: The pigs violate this commandment by wearing clothes, symbolizing their adoption of human-like privileges and a departure from the original ideals.
4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
- Original Commandment: Reinforces the rejection of human luxuries and comforts, promoting a modest way of life.
- Betrayal: The alteration to “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets” introduces a loophole, allowing the pigs to sleep in the farmhouse beds. This represents a betrayal of the original principle of simplicity.
5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
- Original Commandment: Rejects human vices and excesses, promoting a temperate lifestyle.
- Betrayal: The alteration to “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess” provides the pigs with a justification for drinking. This introduces a subjective element, betraying the original principle of abstinence.
6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
- Original Commandment: Emphasizes non-violence and unity among the animals.
- Betrayal: The alteration to “No animal shall kill any other animal without cause” introduces a loophole for the pigs to justify their executions, betraying the original principle of non-violence.
7. All animals are equal.
- Original Commandment: Represents the fundamental principle of equality and the rejection of hierarchy.
- Betrayal: The alteration to “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” explicitly contradicts the foundational principle, establishing a privileged ruling class. This is the ultimate betrayal of the animals’ trust and aspirations.
In summary, the changes to the commandments in Animal Farm signify a systematic betrayal of the animals’ revolutionary ideals. The alterations reflect the pigs’ manipulation of language, introduction of loopholes, and ultimate descent into tyranny. The commandments, initially established to ensure equality and justice, become tools for justifying the pigs’ increasing privileges and the erosion of the animals’ dream of a utopian society.