George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a political allegory that deals with communism and the Russian Revolution. In this novel, farm animals overthrow their human owner and attempt to govern themselves. However, the pigs, who represent the leaders of the revolution, start breaking the rules that they themselves had created, illustrating how power can corrupt even the most idealistic of leaders.
The breaking of one commandment at a time can seem insignificant at first, but it leads to a slippery slope where the leaders ultimately end up betraying everything that they had once stood for. Animal Farm explores how a utopian society can quickly turn into a dystopian one when unchecked power and corruption take over. The novel offers us important insights into the dangers of totalitarianism and the importance of questioning authority.
Through the use of symbolism and satire, Animal Farm sheds light on the dangers of putting blind faith in our leaders – and how the corrupting influence of power can lead even the most well-intentioned individuals down a dark path. If you want to understand how revolutionaries often become the very thing they fought against, then this is a must-read. So, buckle up and read on to discover the literary masterpiece that is Animal Farm.
“Which Commandment Is Broken In Animal Farm” ~ bbaz
Introduction
Animal Farm is a novel that was written to mirror events that took place during the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin’s regime. George Orwell used talking animals in his writing to show how Stalin corrupted the system and went against the original principles of the communist revolution. This article takes a closer look at how the animals in Animal Farm broke one commandment at a time, and how this reflects real-life events that shatter the ideals presented by the original revolutionaries.
The First Commandment: Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
Initially, the animals in Animal Farm had a deep hatred for the humans who had been exploiting them for farm labor. In fact, the very first commandment they set up together after their successful revolution was Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy. However, as the story progresses, Napoleon decides to trade with humans from neighboring farms, contrary to this commandment.
Table Comparison:
| The First Commandment | Animal Farm | Soviet Union |
|---|---|---|
| Initially | Hated humans as the enemy | The rich were the enemy |
| Progression | Napoleon trade with humans | Stalin signed a treaty with Nazi Germany |
The Second Commandment: Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
The second commandment was supposed to be symbolic of the unity amongst the different animal species on the farm. All the animals were supposed to work in cohesion to build a better future for themselves. However, the pigs soon started to take advantage of this commandment too.
Table Comparison:
| The Second Commandment | Animal Farm | Soviet Union |
|---|---|---|
| Initially | All animals together to build a better future | All citizens working towards building a communist society |
| Progression | The pigs start taking advantage | The party elites introduced a hierarchy and privileged class |
The Third Commandment: No animal shall wear clothes.
Clothing was seen as a human invention in Animal Farm, and since the animals were supposed to be rising up against their human oppressors, it made sense to have this commandment in place. Unfortunately, the pigs disregarded the commandment and started wearing clothes themselves.
Table Comparison:
| The Third Commandment | Animal Farm | Soviet Union |
|---|---|---|
| Initially | Clothes were symbolic of human oppression | All citizens equal and free in a communist society |
| Progression | The pigs started to wear clothes | The Communist Party and government elites became corrupt and started enjoying luxuries, while the common people suffered |
The Fourth Commandment: No animal shall sleep in a bed.
A bed was seen as another human luxury, and so the animals were supposed to steer clear of them. Once again, the pigs went against this commandment when they moved into the farmhouse and started using the beds inside.
Table Comparison:
| The Fourth Commandment | Animal Farm | Soviet Union |
|---|---|---|
| Initially | Beds were symbolic of human luxury | Everyone was supposed to have basic necessities and live in equal conditions |
| Progression | The pigs moved into the farmhouse and used the beds | The government elites enjoyed up-scale living while many people were poor, and living conditions were poor |
The Fifth Commandment: No animal shall drink alcohol.
In Animal Farm, alcohol was supposed to be an avoidable luxury that could lead to wasted resources and negligent work. The pigs not only broke this commandment but also consumed it excessively.
Table Comparison:
| The Fifth Commandment | Animal Farm | Soviet Union |
|---|---|---|
| Initially | Alcohol was a luxury and a waste of resources | Prohibition – drinking was portrayed as immoral and inefficient |
| Progression | The pigs break this commandment and drank excessively | Drinking liquor became a common practice, and even became an institution practice including Alcohol Production factories |
Conclusion
Animal Farm offers a fascinating analysis of how a revolution can lose its initial ideals and become corrupted over time. George Orwell used the talking animals in his book as a way to make us recognize the ways that human societies and politics are subject to the same corruptions, and no one is immune to the lure of power. The comparison table above highlights some of the major changes that occured in Animal Farm while the opnion indicates that the Soviet Union socialist dream crumbled due to leaders’, government elites’ and parties’ corruption, which was reflected by the ever-increasing differences between the living conditions of the rich and the common people.
Analyzing Animal Farm: Breaking One Commandment at a Time
Thank you for taking the time to read this analysis of Animal Farm. The novel by George Orwell is a timeless masterpiece that portrays the dangers of totalitarianism and corruption. Through the use of animals as characters, Orwell successfully illustrates how power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
We have examined the different commandments that the animals break throughout the novel. Each violation shows how those in power, the pigs, become hypocritical and abusive. Moreover, they betray their original values and principles of fairness and equality. This gradual shift further emphasizes how corruption can easily take hold and poison even the noblest of causes.
Overall, it is clear that Animal Farm is a thought-provoking book that provides valuable insights into human nature and politics. It highlights the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of questioning those in authority. We hope you found our analysis engaging and informative. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thank you once again for reading!
People Also Ask about Analyzing Animal Farm: Breaking One Commandment at a Time:
- What is the main message of Animal Farm?
- What are some examples of the animals breaking the commandments?
- How does Napoleon manipulate the other animals?
- What is the significance of the ending of Animal Farm?
- The main message of Animal Farm is that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The novel is a commentary on the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the subsequent rise of Joseph Stalin.
- Some examples of the animals breaking the commandments include the pigs taking all the milk and apples for themselves, Napoleon having his own private security force, and the pigs walking on two legs.
- Napoleon manipulates the other animals by using propaganda and fear tactics. He creates an enemy in Snowball and convinces the other animals that he is a traitor. He also uses Squealer to convince the other animals that everything he does is for their own good.
- The ending of Animal Farm is significant because it shows that the pigs have become just like the humans they overthrew. They are drinking and playing cards with the humans, and the other animals can no longer tell the difference between them.
