animal farm corruption

• “The commandments were written on the tarred wall in great white letters.” This quote refers to the Commandments of Animalism, which were initially written on the wall as a set of guiding principles for the animals to live by. The "great white letters" symbolize the clarity and purity with which the revolution’s ideals were meant to be followed. However, as the pigs, particularly Napoleon, gradually change the commandments to suit their own needs, this image of clarity begins to become ironic. The Commandments were meant to represent equality and justice, but they are slowly altered to consolidate the pigs’ power, highlighting the corruption of the revolution. Orwell uses this image to show how foundational principles can be rewritten by those in power to manipulate and control the masses, eroding the original ideals in the process.
• “When [Napoleon] did appear he was attended by a black cockerel who marched in front of him.” Napoleon’s entrance, accompanied by the black cockerel, reflects his increasing sense of superiority and the way he is treated like royalty. The black cockerel, which symbolizes power and dominance, acts as a herald or a symbol of Napoleon’s elevated status. The fact that he is “attended” by this creature suggests that he is seen as a leader to be revered, with the cockerel marching in front of him, like a symbol of his control and authority. Orwell uses this image to show how dictatorships create a personality cult around the leader, emphasizing their importance through symbolism and spectacle. It highlights Napoleon’s transformation into a tyrant, making the animals worship him in the same way they once feared humans.
• “Napoleon himself appearing in a black coat.” This detail of Napoleon appearing in a black coat is another symbol of his power and transition into a figure resembling the human oppressors he initially opposed. The black coat could represent authority, status, and the corruption of the original revolutionary ideals, as the animals begin to realize that Napoleon has become no different from the humans they overthrew. Orwell uses the imagery of the black coat to symbolize the shift in Napoleon’s character, from a leader of equality to a tyrant who is now indistinguishable from the humans in his appearance and behavior. The coat, which signifies wealth and power, reinforces the idea that the pigs have abandoned the values of the revolution and become the new oppressors.