Question

What commandment is altered to allow the pigs to sleep in beds?

• A. "No animal shall sleep in a bed"
• B. "No animal shall drink alcohol
• C. No animal shall kill another animal"
• D. None

Answer 1

Answer:

A. "No animal shall sleep in a bed"

Understanding the Altered Commandment in Animal Farm

• The Seven Commandments of Animalism

  • Initially, the revolution on Manor Farm established Seven Commandments, which were painted on the barn wall. These served as the unalterable laws and core principles of Animalism, aiming to prevent the animals from adopting human vices.
  • The commandments were intended to ensure equality, freedom, and an ethical code for the new animal society.

• The Original Commandment and Its Purpose

  • One of the original commandments was: "No animal shall sleep in a bed."
  • This commandment was established to distinguish animals from humans, as sleeping in beds was considered a human habit and a symbol of their decadent, comfortable lifestyle that the animals had revolted against. It aimed to uphold the principles of simplicity and equality among the animals.

• The Alteration and Justification by the Pigs

  • As the pigs, particularly Napoleon and Squealer, consolidated their power, they began to enjoy privileges and violate the original tenets of Animalism.
  • When the other animals noticed the pigs sleeping in the farmhouse beds, Squealer, the propaganda minister, skillfully manipulated the commandment. He argued that the prohibition was only against sheets, which were a human invention, and not against the beds themselves.
  • The altered commandment became: "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets."
  • Squealer convinced the other animals that beds were merely a place to sleep and that the pigs, being the 'brainworkers' of the farm, needed comfortable rest to function effectively for the good of all animals. He also implied that without adequate rest, Jones (the former human owner) might return, instilling fear.

• Symbolism and Allegorical Significance

  • This alteration is a crucial turning point in Animal Farm, symbolizing the corruption of revolutionary ideals and the rise of totalitarianism.
  • It illustrates how those in power manipulate language and truth (propaganda) to justify their actions and maintain control over the uneducated masses. Squealer represents the propaganda machine of a totalitarian state.
  • The gradual modification of the commandments highlights the erosion of the initial principles of equality and justice, leading to a new form of oppression, worse than the previous one.
  • This event parallels the historical manipulation of laws and truth by figures like Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union, where initial communist ideals were distorted to serve the elite's agenda.
  • The bewildered animals, unable to read or remember the original commandments precisely, are easily swayed by Squealer's deceptive rhetoric, showcasing the dangers of ignorance and uncritical acceptance.

• Key Takeaways for Competitive Exams

  • Author: George Orwell (pen name of Eric Arthur Blair).
  • Publication Year: 1945.
  • Genre: Allegorical novella, political satire, dystopian fiction.
  • Themes: Totalitarianism, corruption of power, propaganda, class exploitation, revolution and betrayal.
  • Squealer's Role: Master propagandist, responsible for reinterpreting and altering the commandments to suit the pigs' agenda.
  • Historical Allegory: Represents the events leading up to and during the Stalinist era in the Soviet Union. The pigs represent the Bolshevik leadership, particularly Napoleon as Stalin.
  • The alteration of this commandment is the first overt change to the written laws, setting a precedent for further manipulations, ultimately leading to the single commandment: "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."