provide cover for their many nefarious acts and to give them free reign to do as they please.

The First Commandment states that whatever goes on two legs—i.e. is a human—is an enemy. Yet Napoleon blatantly violates this Commandment by engaging in lucrative trade with the nearest town and with local farms.

The Second Commandment states that whatever goes upon four legs or has wings is a friend. But try telling that to the hens massacred on the orders of Napoleon for refusing to hand over their eggs. Some friendship this is!

The Third Commandment states that no animal shall wear clothes. Napoleon, however, fancies himself as a bit of a sharp dresser, so ends up disregarding the commandment entirely. The pigs like wearing clothes, which is one of the reasons why it becomes increasingly difficult to tell them apart from humans.

The Fourth Commandment is pretty emphatic that no animal shall sleep in a bed. Why? Because that's something that humans do, and humans are to be hated and despised. But this is yet another commandment that goes by the board as Napoleon rather likes sleeping on beds. So he subtly changes this Commandment to read "No animal shall sleep in a bed with sheets".

The Fifth Commandment, with its prohibition on animals drinking alcohol, is another one designed to prevent animals from behaving like humans. But once Napoleon discovers the contents of Mr. Jones' drinks cabinet, then it's time for another subtle change in Old Major's teachings. Now, the Commandment states that "No animal shall drink alcohol to excess". Yet even this is blatantly violated by Napoleon, who's such a greedy pig.

The Sixth Commandment is one of the most important: No animal shall kill any other animal. But it's also the one most honored in the breach than the observance. Once Napoleon establishes himself as dictator of the farm, he has no hesitation in killing any other animal who gets in his way.

Last, but not least, we have the Seventh Commandment: All animals are equal. In actual fact, however, some animals are more equal than others. While most of the animals work long hours in return for ever-diminishing rations, Napoleon and the pigs get to live like kings.

Although it is unintentional, the first major corruption of the Seven Commandments of Animalism comes when Snowball, with good intentions, creates a distilled law: "Four legs good, two legs bad." While it helps to instill the ideals of Animalism in all the animals, even those without much intellect, it starts the path of simplification that ends with the seven rules converted into one rule: "Four legs good, two legs better."

The first proper corruption of the Commandments comes when the pigs move into the farmhouse, sleeping in beds, directly against the original wording of the laws:

"...You did not suppose, surely, that there was ever a ruling against beds? ... The rule was against sheets, which are a human invention... You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?"
(Orwell, Animal Farm, msxnet.org)

With this change, it becomes obvious to the pigs that they can slowly alter the rules and as long as Squealer appeals to their fear and hatred of Farmer Jones, the other animals will forget the original wording and believe the new wording. More changes follow, giving the pigs the ability to take on human attributes while keeping the other animals oppressed. This sets up the farm to change from a community of equality to a dictatorship, and all done with the implicit approval of the other animals, who cannot think far enough ahead to see what these changes will mean.

The Sixth Commandment created by the animals of Animal Farm states that

No animal shall kill any other animal.

However, this commandment is soon broken. Napoleon attempts to have Snowball killed in Chapter V when he orders his nine canine bodyguards to attack his opponent, but Snowball manages to escape the vicious dogs. In Chapters VI and VII, the chickens are forced to turn over their eggs for sale to the humans--an act they consider murder, but in Chapter VII, the first brutal killings actually occur. When several hens admit to being supporters of Snowball, they are "slaughtered." One sheep admits to "urinating" in the drinking water; two more admit to killing an old ram;

They were all slain on the spot.

More executions are administered, leaving "a pile of corpses" at Napoleon's feet. A few days later, the Sixth Commandment had been changed. It now read

"No animal shall kill any other animal without cause."

The original 5th and 6th commandments read as follows:

5. No animal shall drink alcohol.

6. No animal shall kill any other animal.

When the situations change, however, the commandments change to fit the desires of Napoleon and the other pigs.  The new commandments read as follows:

5. No animal shall drink alcohol to excess.

6. No animal shall kill another animal without cause.

In George Orwell's novel Animal Farm, the animals of the farm rebel against Mr. Jones. After taking over the Manor Farm, the animals (led by Snowball and Napoleon) begin to make the laws which the animals are expected follow. The original Seven Commandments of the Animal Farm 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.

Unfortunately for Snowball and Napoleon, many of the animals are illiterate (meaning that they do not know how to read). Therefore, the commandments become somewhat of a challenge for them to uphold.

Snowball, realizing that the commandments have become hard for other animals to read (let alone memorize), decides that the rules of the farm need to be changed. Snowball, realizing that one idea is, by far, most important, decides to eliminate all of the original commandments. The new, and more easily memorable, commandment is "four legs good, two legs bad."

Early in George Orwell's Animal Farm, the animals take over Manor Farm and come up with seven commandments by which they agree to live their lives.

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. (Orwell 43)

It does not take long, though, for the pigs, particularly Napoleon, to take over as leaders and once this happens, the commandments start to change. By the end of the book, the pigs are walking around on two legs, wearing clothes, sleeping in beds, and drinking alcohol. As each commandment is broken, the other animals go to check the original commandments on the wall and find them "magically" changed. "No animal shall sleep in a bed" has "with sheets" added to the end of it, for example. Alcohol may be drunk, just not to excess. Animals can kill other animals if there's a good reason for it. Snowball, though he has four legs, is considered an enemy. The pigs live in the house and have become quite human-like and in many ways worse than Mr. Jones in their treatment of the other animals.