Significant Quotes from Animal Farm and Their Impact on the Story

Animal Farm, written by George Orwell, is a political allegory that uses a group of farm animals to criticize the events that occured during the Russian Revolution and the Stalin era in the Soviet Union. The novel is rich in memorable quotes that poignantly highlight the themes of power, manipulation, and the danger of tyranny. In this post, we will explore some of the most significant quotes from Animal Farm and examine their impact on the story.

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

This quote can be found in Chapter 10 and it perfectly captures the hypocrisy and corruption that ultimately pervades the farm throughout the story. Initially, the animals create a set of commandments to promote equality and guide their new society, with the underlying principle that “all animals are equal.” However, as time goes on, the pigs – who become the leaders of the farm – manipulate this principle to justify their own selfish actions and oppressive rule.

When the pigs eventually declare themselves “more equal than others,” it reveals the ultimate betrayal of the animals’ initial goal of establishing a society based on equality and freedom from oppression. This quote highlights the dangers of power and how easily it can corrupt even those with seemingly good intentions.

“Four legs good, two legs bad.”

This simple slogan, introduced in Chapter 3, is an early indicator of how the pigs manipulate the other animals throughout the story. The animals use this catchy phrase to remind themselves of the need to remain united against their human oppressors. However, the pigs – particularly Snowball and Napoleon – quickly realize that they can capitalize on the other animals’ simplicity and limited understanding in order to further their own agenda and maintain control over the farm.

The corruption of this slogan is emblematic of the overall corruption of the ideals the animals initially fought for – the pigs skillfully use language and manipulation to perpetuate their rule and maintain their power, a commentary on the deceptive nature of political rhetoric.

“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”

This final line of the novel serves as a powerful illustration of how the pigs have become indistinguishable from their former human oppressors. Throughout the novel, the animals sought to overthrow the humans and establish a society where all are equal and free. However, by the end of the story, the pigs have come to resemble the humans in their greed, corruption, and tyranny.

This quote serves as a warning to the reader about the cyclical nature of power and the dangers of allowing a few individuals to hold unchecked authority. It also serves as a critique of the failures of the Russian Revolution and Communism, as the farm’s descent into corruption mirrors that of the Soviet Union under Stalin’s rule.

“No animal shall kill any other animal without cause.”

This commandment, originally stated as “No animal shall kill any other animal,” is altered by the pigs in Chapter 8 to justify their brutal executions of the alleged traitors on the farm. This event is a turning point in the novel, signaling the complete downfall of the society the animals had sought to create.

The alteration of this commandment, along with other changes to the commandments throughout the story, highlights the pigs’ willingness to exploit the other animals’ trust and ignorance in order to maintain their rule. It also serves as a chilling reminder of how those in power can manipulate the law and reality in order to justify their actions and maintain control.

Conclusion

The significant quotes throughout Animal Farm provide insights into the novel’s themes and the dangers of power, manipulation, and tyranny. By examining these quotes, we better understand the cautionary messages at the heart of George Orwell’s powerful allegory.