How Did the Seven Commandments Change in ”Animal Farm”?
The pigs Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer secretly change four of the seven commandments of Animalism in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” after breaking the farm’s laws. Over time, these seven commandments become two prevailing laws.
After chasing the humans off of Animal Farm, Snowball, Napoleon and Squealer paint on a barn wall the seven commandments of Animalism. All animals on the farm must follow these commandments, which bar them from wearing clothes, sleeping in beds, drinking alcohol and killing other animals. The commandments remind the animals that “whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy” and “whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.” The final and most important commandment calls all animals equal.
After getting caught engaging in human behaviors, such as drinking alcohol, sleeping in beds and ordering certain animals killed, Snowball, Napoleon and Squealer change the commandments. They now bar animals from sleeping in beds with sheets, drinking alcohol to excess and killing other animals without cause. The other animals accept that the commandments always included these additions, and Napoleon and his friends go unpunished.
Over time, some pigs learn to walk on two legs and are convinced that they are superior to the other animals on the farm. These changes lead to further revisions. Two maxims replace the seven commandments. While all animals are all equal, some are more equal than others. Also, while having four legs is good, having two legs is better.
