Animal Farm: Summary and Analysis

The Significance Of The Seven Commandments

• The Seven Commandments are the core principles of Animalism, the philosophy created by Old Major
• The commandments are:
  1. Whatever goes upon two legs is an enemy.
  2. Whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend.
  3. No animal shall wear clothes.
  4. No animal shall sleep in a bed.
  5. No animal shall drink alcohol.
  6. No animal shall kill any other animal.
  7. All animals are equal.
• The commandments serve as a moral code for the animals, promoting unity and equality
• Throughout the novel, the pigs gradually modified the commandments to suit their own interests, undermining the original principles of Animalism

The Pigs Rise To Power

• The pigs, led by Napoleon and Snowball, take control of the farm after Jones' expulsion
• They establish themselves as the leaders, using their intelligence and cunning to manipulate the other animals
• The pigs begin to abuse their power, exploiting the other animals for their own benefit
• They justify their actions by claiming they are working for the greater good, but in reality, they are driven by self-interest

The Farms Transition To Animalism

• The farm undergoes a significant transformation after the animals' rebellion
• The animals rename the farm "Animal Farm" and adopt the Seven Commandments
• The farm is initially successful, with the animals working together to harvest crops and manage resources
• However, the farm's success is short-lived, as the pigs' corruption and abuse of power begin to undermine the farm's progress

Character Analysis: Old Major

• Old Major is a wise and charismatic boar who inspires the animals to rebel against Jones
• He is a symbol of the Russian revolutionary leader, Vladimir Lenin
• Old Major's vision for a utopian society is based on the principles of equality and justice
• He is a skilled orator, able to rally the animals and inspire them to take action
• Despite his admirable qualities, Old Major's vision is naive and ultimately flawed, as it fails to account for the corrupting influence of power

The Russian Revolution Allegory

• Animal Farm is a direct allegory of the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism
• The characters and events in the novel are meant to represent real historical figures and events
• Old Major represents Lenin, while Napoleon represents Stalin
• The novel critiques the idea of revolution and the dangers of totalitarianism
• Orwell's use of allegory allows him to comment on historical events without directly referencing them, making the novel more accessible and thought-provoking.