The Shifting Morality: Seven Commandments in Animal Farm

George Orwell's "Animal Farm" stands as a profound piece of literary work that uncovers the flaws of utopian ideals in society, particularly focusing on the events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the early years of the Soviet Union. Central to the evolving morality of the farm are the Seven Commandments, initially inscribed as unalterable laws, which ironically become the instruments of the animals’ gradual subjugation.

The Seven Commandments, formulated by the pigs, were intended to govern animal behavior on the farm to prevent them from emulating humans, whom they overthrew.

They served as a collective agreement that every animal on the farm would live by to maintain equality and peace. However, the gradual alterations of these commandments revealed the pigs' cunning manipulation, hunger for power, and the eventual replication of the humans' oppressive reign.

Initially, the commandments are seemingly straightforward, advocating for animal unity and equality. They strictly forbid any form of human behavior or tyranny and emphasize the solidarity of the animal kingdom.

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However, the pigs’ progressive alteration of the commandments unveils their capacity for deceit and their insidious corruption.

As the pigs gain power and privilege, the other animals notice subtle changes to the commandments, though they often doubt their recollections due to their manipulated perceptions. These alterations allow the pigs to justify their transgressions while maintaining an illusion of moral high ground. The commandments are discreetly modified to accommodate the pigs’ escalating indulgences and betrayals, displaying their transformation into the very tyrants they once revolted against.

The commandments’ gradual distortions represent a perversion of ideals in the quest for power. For instance, the pigs indulge in trade and consumption of alcohol, both strictly prohibited in the initial commandments. These actions manifest the corrupting influence of power and the erosion of revolutionary ideals for personal gain.

The irony in these transformations is poignant, as the pigs, who were once the harbingers of animal equality and liberation, become indistinguishable from the oppressive humans. The other animals, subjected to unrelenting labor and deprivation, are left disillusioned, as the utopian dream they envisaged turns into a mirror of their past sufferings.

This disintegration of revolutionary ideals is not merely a tale of animal woe but a metaphorical representation of human societies. Orwell uses the Seven Commandments as a vehicle to portray how noble ideologies can be perverted by those in power to sustain their control, leaving the masses disillusioned and subjugated.

Beyond being mere rules for the animals, the Seven Commandments symbolize the malleability of moral and societal norms. The clandestine modifications of these commandments reflect how those in power can manipulate ideologies to validate their transgressions and maintain dominance over the uninformed or the unquestioning populace.

"Animal Farm," through its allegorical tale and the transformation of the Seven Commandments, delves deep into the paradox of equality and the corruptive nature of power. It underscores how revolutionary ideals can be systematically eroded by the very individuals who championed them, leading to a regime as oppressive as its predecessor.

The allegorical representation of the Seven Commandments in Orwell’s narrative acts as a timeless reminder of the constant battle between ideals and their implementation. The disillusionment and subjugation experienced by the animals reverberate in real-world scenarios, where noble principles are often manipulated and discarded to suit the whims of those in control.

In conclusion, Orwell’s "Animal Farm" and its evolving Seven Commandments paint a somber picture of revolutionary ideals, power, and moral flexibility. It’s a cautionary tale emphasizing the vigilance required to preserve the integrity of societal norms and ideals against the corruptive allure of power. The constant transformation and degradation of the initial commandments echo the eternal struggle between maintaining moral high ground and succumbing to the intoxication of unchecked authority.