Orwell develops the roles of the three pigs and shows the difficulties they face in spreading Animalism. Squealer is described as a brilliant talker who can “turn black into white,” meaning that he can make lies sound like the truth through persuasive language. This phrase foreshadows his role in the novel as a propagandist who manipulates the animals into accepting the pigs’ decisions, even when those decisions contradict their original principles. Meanwhile, Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer organize Old Major’s teachings into Animalism, turning his revolutionary vision into a political ideology. However, many animals resist these ideas because they are ignorant, passive, or afraid of losing the security they receive from Mr. Jones. Some call him “Master” and believe they would starve without him, showing how oppression can make people dependent on the very system that exploits them. Others question why they should work for a rebellion that may happen after their deaths, revealing their lack of political understanding and collective responsibility. Mollie represents a different weakness: her concern about sugar and ribbons shows that she values luxury and personal comfort more than freedom. Snowball explains that ribbons are “the badge of slavery,” symbolizing how attractive possessions can represent dependence and submission to human control. His statement that “liberty is worth more than ribbons” expresses the revolutionary belief that freedom is more valuable than material luxuries, although Mollie remains unconvinced. Finally, the passage introduces Moses, Mr. Jones’s tame raven, whose stories about Sugarcandy Mountain distract the animals from their suffering by promising them a comfortable afterlife. Through these characters, Orwell shows that a revolution must overcome not only physical oppression but also ignorance, selfishness, propaganda, and beliefs that discourage people from fighting for change.

Orwell develops the symbolism of Moses, introduces Boxer and Clover, and explains why the Rebellion happens so easily. Moses’s story about Sugarcandy Mountain, a place where animals enjoy endless comfort after death, represents religious beliefs that promise happiness in the afterlife. Although the animals dislike Moses because he does no work, some still believe his stories. This reflects Orwell’s idea that promises of future happiness can distract oppressed people from their suffering in the present. Boxer and Clover, meanwhile, represent the hardworking working class. They faithfully accept the pigs’ teachings and spread them to other animals, showing their loyalty and willingness to follow leaders without questioning their ideas. Boxer’s great strength and loyalty will later make his exploitation especially tragic. The passage then explains that the Rebellion happens earlier than expected because Mr. Jones has become irresponsible and neglectful. His drinking, dishonesty among his workers, and failure to care for the farm leave the animals hungry and mistreated. This shows that the old ruling system becomes vulnerable when those in power neglect their responsibilities. In the historical allegory, Mr. Jones represents Tsar Nicholas II, whose weak and ineffective rule helped create the conditions for the Russian Revolution. Overall, Orwell shows that the Rebellion results not only from the animals’ desire for freedom but also from the failure of their ruler, while introducing the dangers of blind loyalty and beliefs that discourage resistance.

Orwell describes the beginning of the Rebellion and shows how the animals finally overthrow their human oppressors. Mr. Jones’s failure to feed the animals, caused by his drinking and neglect, becomes the immediate reason for their uprising. When the hungry animals take food from the store-shed, Jones and his men attack them with whips, but this violence pushes the animals beyond their limits, and they fight back together. Their rebellion is spontaneous rather than carefully planned, showing how long-lasting oppression can eventually lead to a collective uprising. The whips symbolize the cruelty and control used by the ruling class, while the animals’ united resistance represents the oppressed working class rising against an unjust system. Jones and his men are frightened because they are no longer able to control the animals through force, and their escape symbolizes the collapse of the old ruling order. Historically, this event represents the Russian Revolution, in which the people overthrew Tsar Nicholas II and ended the monarchy. Mrs. Jones’s escape and Moses flying after her also show that the humans’ departure is sudden and complete. Finally, when the animals shut the gate and take possession of Manor Farm, their victory represents the hope of freedom and self-government. However, this success also sets up the novel’s central conflict: whether the animals can preserve their equality or whether their new leaders will eventually become oppressors themselves.

Orwell shows the animals celebrating their freedom and trying to erase every reminder of human oppression. Their destruction of the harnesses, chains, knives, and whips symbolizes their rejection of the cruelty and control they suffered under Mr. Jones. The animals’ joy when the whips burn represents their hope for a life without punishment or exploitation. Snowball’s decision to burn the horses’ ribbons is also significant because he considers them symbols of human identity and slavery, arguing that animals should live naturally and equally. Boxer throwing his straw hat into the fire shows his loyalty to the revolutionary ideals, even though he does not fully understand their political meaning. Napoleon’s distribution of extra food demonstrates the immediate benefits of the Rebellion and helps strengthen the animals’ excitement and trust in their new leaders. Their repeated singing of “Beasts of England” expresses their shared hope for a future of freedom and equality. However, the passage also contains an important irony: although the animals destroy the symbols of their former oppression, this does not guarantee that oppression will never return. Orwell suggests that winning a revolution is only the beginning; maintaining its principles is much more difficult. The animals’ celebration reflects the early optimism of the Russian Revolution, when people believed that overthrowing the old ruling class would create a fairer society.

Orwell shows the animals experiencing the joy of owning the farm for the first time. Their excitement at seeing the land and realizing that everything belongs to them symbolizes the working class’s hope for freedom, equality, and control over the fruits of its labour. However, their hesitation to enter the farmhouse reveals that, despite their victory, they are still unfamiliar with the privileges and lifestyle of the ruling class. The luxurious furniture, mirrors, and expensive decorations represent the wealth and comfort that humans enjoyed while the animals worked. The picture of Queen Victoria also connects the farmhouse with the old British social hierarchy and monarchy. Mollie’s behaviour is particularly important because she stays behind to admire herself wearing a blue ribbon, showing that she values beauty, luxury, and human approval more than collective freedom. She represents people who are unwilling to sacrifice personal comforts for revolutionary ideals. In contrast, the other animals reject the farmhouse’s luxuries and destroy the beer, showing their initial determination to avoid living like humans. This creates dramatic irony because the pigs will later begin adopting the very human habits that the animals reject. Through this scene, Orwell highlights the animals’ early hopes for an equal society while foreshadowing how selfishness and the desire for privilege may eventually corrupt the revolution.

Orwell shows how the animals begin establishing their new society and turning the ideals of the Rebellion into rules. Their decision to preserve the farmhouse as a museum, where no animal is allowed to live, reflects their determination to reject the human lifestyle and prevent the return of the old system of privilege. However, the pigs’ ability to read and write gives them an advantage over the other animals, foreshadowing the inequality that will develop between the intelligent pigs and the less educated animals. Renaming Manor Farm as Animal Farm symbolizes the end of human ownership and the beginning of a new society supposedly controlled by animals. The change in name also represents the revolutionary desire to create a new identity separate from the old ruling class. Most importantly, the pigs introduce the Seven Commandments, which are intended to establish equality and serve as the unchangeable laws of Animalism. These commandments represent the original principles of the Russian Revolution, which promised a fairer society without exploitation. However, Orwell’s description of the commandments as an “unalterable law” creates irony because the pigs will later change them to justify their own privileges and betray the revolution’s ideals. Overall, this passage marks the formal beginning of Animal Farm as a new political system while foreshadowing how control over education, language, and laws can allow leaders to gain power over others.

Orwell introduces the Seven Commandments, which establish the original principles of Animalism. The rules emphasize the separation between humans and animals, prohibit human habits such as wearing clothes and drinking alcohol, and most importantly declare that “All animals are equal.” This final commandment expresses the central promise of the Rebellion: a society without privilege or exploitation. The animals’ agreement shows their hope and trust in the new system, while their eagerness to begin the harvest reflects their determination to prove that they can work more successfully without humans. However, the disappearance of the milk at the end of the passage introduces the first clear sign of corruption. When Napoleon tells the animals not to worry about the milk and redirects their attention to the harvest, he avoids answering a reasonable question. The milk symbolizes resources produced through the animals’ labour, which should theoretically be shared equally. Its disappearance suggests that the pigs are already taking special privileges for themselves while the others continue working. This creates dramatic irony because the pigs establish equality as a fundamental law but begin violating its spirit almost immediately. Through this scene, Orwell warns that revolutionary leaders may exploit the trust of ordinary workers and secretly claim the benefits of a system that was supposed to serve everyone equally.

🔶. Animal farm / Notes / part 13

▪️ The Seven Commandments under an microscope.

▪️ Their expressions, exactness and hidden details.

▪️Recognizing a friend from an enemy.

▪️ Preventing the major causes of all the negative social phenomena.

▪️ Prohibition of blood-shedding.

▪️ Solid pillars for a unified community.

▪️Point of discussion.

The connection between the 7 and 10 commandments.

▪️The Seven Commandments are deep beyond surface analysis, if we examine them under a microscope we can recognize that they're not developed by a normal person but a philosopher, the philosopher who laid these rules designated the enemy and we should prepare for them, and for our friends we should welcome them, for the other rules of not wearing clothes or sleeping in a bed, this refers to envy between people, or even lead to stealing, these rules call for a humble and modest way of life, because luxury can lead to envy, jealousy, stealing or even murder.

▪️ "No animal shall drink alcohol" — alcohol is the start of all evils.

▪️ there's a direct prohibition of killing, no animal is allowed to shed blood for any reason, Old Major calls for a voted punishment depending on the level of the act.

▪️ "All animals are equal" — here, Old Major unified all kinds and sects under the cover of equality, all work together, all gain together, all feel like one unit, there are no different classes.

▪️ Old Major uprooted all these social maladies from the animals' society.

▪️ Q / What are the similarities between the 7 and 10 commandments?

▪️ A / both of them are coming from a very inspiring source, both set a community free, liberating the people, both paved the way for a new liberal democratic state, both are leading for a healthy Strong unified community, call for equality between classes, all laid certain rules and duties and rewards.

Both of them prohibiting murder, both differentiating between an enemy and friend, both are liberating the individual from dictatorship, both of them set rules and systems to follow for next generations to come.

🔶 Animal Farm Expanded Notes for Part 13

▪️ The Seven Commandments under a Microscope

The Seven Commandments are more than simple rules; they represent the moral and political foundation of the animals’ new society. They reflect Old Major’s vision of a community based on freedom, equality, unity, and the rejection of human oppression. Each commandment has a deeper meaning connected to the problems that Old Major believes have corrupted human society.

1. Their expressions, exactness, and hidden details

The wording of the commandments is important because each rule has a specific purpose. They are designed to prevent the animals from repeating the mistakes of human society. Their simplicity makes them easy to remember, but their meanings go beyond their literal expressions.

2. Recognizing a friend from an enemy

The first two commandments distinguish between enemies and friends: anything that walks on two legs is an enemy, while anything with four legs or wings is a friend. This creates a clear division between humans, who represent the exploiting class, and animals, who represent the oppressed. It also encourages unity among the animals.

3.Preventing the major causes of negative social phenomena

The commandments against wearing clothes, sleeping in beds, and drinking alcohol reflect the rejection of human habits and excessive luxury. Your lecturer connects these rules with social problems such as envy, jealousy, theft, and inequality. The general idea is that a modest lifestyle can help prevent competition over unnecessary possessions and privileges.

4.Prohibition of bloodshed

The commandment "No animal shall kill any other animal" establishes the importance of protecting life and preventing violence within the community. Old Major's vision is not based on revenge or internal conflict; instead, he wants the animals to live peacefully. His ideas also include the belief that wrongdoing should be dealt with through appropriate punishment rather than uncontrolled violence.

5. "All animals are equal"

This is the most important commandment because it summarizes the entire philosophy of Animalism. Old Major wants all animals, regardless of their kind or abilities, to live as one community. Everyone should contribute through work and share the benefits equally. There should be no social classes, discrimination, or privileged group controlling the others.

6. Old Major's vision of society

Through these commandments, Old Major attempts to eliminate the social problems associated with exploitation, inequality, violence, and excessive luxury. His goal is to establish a strong, unified community in which every animal has equal rights and responsibilities. However, the later behaviour of the pigs will reveal how easily these principles can be betrayed.

▪️The connection between the Seven and Ten Commandments

The Seven Commandments in Animal Farm have similarities to the Ten Commandments in the Bible. Both are presented as fundamental rules that guide a community's behaviour and establish moral principles.

Main similarities:

▪️ Inspiring source: Both sets of commandments come from a source regarded by their followers as highly authoritative and morally significant.

▪️ Freedom and liberation: Both are associated with establishing a new way of life and freeing people from oppression or harmful practices.

▪️ Strong community: Both provide rules intended to maintain order, unity, and peaceful relationships among members of society.

▪️ Equality and responsibility: Both emphasize moral duties and principles that individuals should respect.

▪️ Prohibition of murder: Both contain a rule against killing, highlighting the importance of protecting human or animal life.

▪️ Distinguishing right from wrong: Both establish boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

▪️ Guidance for future generations: Both are intended to provide lasting principles that guide the community beyond the generation in which they were introduced.