Post 1 Theme

What is the major theme of this novel? Why is this theme important to a teenager living in 2008?

I think the major theme in animal farm is that word has a power to control people. In animal farm animals were to follow whatever Napoleon has regulated, which are the 7 commandments. They are like humans following their own countries laws. When they violates the laws or the 7 commandments, the penalty were either you get kicked out or killed. Those nasty words in the commandments restricted the animals. Napoleon has adjusted what all animals should do and not do also what to love and what to hate. At the end of the story Napoleon and Squealer changed the commandments in secret. All the animals were puzzled but they just decided to follow the rules. Squealer and Napoleon changed the commandments so that the other animals will give more rights and respect to them. For example, the sixth commandment, "No animal shall kill any other animal" changed to "No animals shall kill any other animal without cause.” Because of the last two words to the original commandment, Boxer died. Napoleon used the commandments to kill Boxer.

This theme is extremely important to the teenagers living in 2008, because most of the teenagers use the language to show their power. Some teenagers use violent language to hurt people and rule over them. The older kids use cruel language to scare the little kids. Language can be warm and useful, but teenagers should realize how powerful a word is. They also need to know that a one word from one’s mouth can influence the people around them, and how awful and ugly it could get.