Page 103 - Dragon Flood

I question whether Orwell did not secretly have America in mind when he wrote this book.
After all, America’s conflict was with England, and the most important commandment of
the animals does not derive from the founding documents of Communist Russia, but from
the Declaration of Independence of America.

The application to America becomes more apparent as the book progresses. The animals,
having driven out Mr. Jones, set up their own government based upon a type of
Constitution that includes a Bill of Rights. These rights are seven in total.

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.

Over time, one of the pigs (Napoleon) begins taking the pups away from the dogs when they
are born and trains them as his personal protection force. Napoleon then drives away
Snowball, wresting control of the farm to himself. He ends the full community meetings of
the animals and sets up a committee of pigs that will govern the farm. Napoleon begins to
take the best food and supplies of the farm for his personal use, and that of the other pigs,
while also altering the laws to benefit his committee. Following are some of the changes
enacted to the original seven commandments.

“No animal shall sleep in a bed,” becomes “No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets.”
“No animal shall drink alcohol,” is changed to “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.”
“No animal shall kill any other animal,” becomes “No animal shall kill any other animal
without cause.”

Yet, the greatest change, and most noteworthy, is that “All animals are equal” is restated as
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others