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Commandments are rules that one has to live by in order to be accepted in society and to let the society advance. If commandments are not followed, chaos and terror will reign. Since ancient times rules and codes have been enforced by civilizations in order to keep good judgment and peace. Old Major, like the predecessors of leaders before him, has paved the way for the set of commandments on the farm. Together with his wisdom and the animals determination to be free, they are eager to accept the challenges and willing to follow the responsibilities of being on Animal Farm. Old Major, a pig of great stature on the farm, has yearned for freedom from Mr.
Jones. This has leaded him to gather the other animals on the farm and convince them to band together to overthrow the Jones and their employees. The beginning of this novel portrays the animals as calm creatures with desired goals, none concerning power and corruption. Although not set in stone, his commandments preach equality for the animals on the farm and to collectively express their dislike of all creatures on two legs. He also makes a major (no pun intended hahah) point that no animal shall ever resemble any human because of the terror and atrocities that they have led him or her through. As Old Major passes there is a great struggle for power between the pigs.
The power hungry pigs take control because they are the smartest and the cleverest at luring the animals to their sides. They have also been studying how to read and write and therefore have a substantial advantage of the animals that dont know how to read. The major struggle is between Napoleon and Snowball, who each have ideas that are on opposite sides of the spectrum. As the book progresses Napoleon realizes that he (pigs) now has a dominating control over the animals and decides to use his power. However, he does not put this power into something good yet something horrible and ostracizes Snowball leaving him as the lone authority over the animals. Treacherously taking his power has led Napoleon into a dictatorship rule.
From this point on in the story the philosophy of the farm has been changes to what has once been a community effort to a one-person supremacy over all. The commandments have changed not only physically but also politically. An example from the story is when the pigs and dogs discover whiskey in the basement of Mr. Jones house and drink it, clearly breaking the commandment of not drinking alcohol. When some of the animals remember that the amendment was to prohibit drinking Squealer, using his speaking persuasiveness and propaganda ensured them that the commandment read that drinking was prohibited in excess. Politically, the animals had been transformed into slaves again with Napoleon and his dogs at the top of the pyramid of classes at Animal Farm.
In conclusion, I think that the commandments broke down as the story progressed because they were interpreted by only one person (Napoleon) and as a result the animals were better off in the beginning where at least they were slaves under a being who they all considered an enemy rather than listening to one of their own kind and werent sure whose side he was on.
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Research essay sample on Animals On The Farm Animal Farm