The question "Who was the first pig to walk on two legs?" most commonly refers to the events depicted in George Orwell's allegorical novel, Animal Farm. In this renowned work, the adoption of bipedalism by the pigs serves as a pivotal symbol of their transformation and the corruption of the revolution's ideals.
Bipedalism in Animal Farm: A Symbolic Shift
In Animal Farm, the pigs gradually begin to walk on two legs towards the latter stages of the story, signifying their complete embrace of human characteristics and their rise to oppressive power. This significant change directly contradicts the original Seven Commandments of Animalism, particularly the maxim "Four legs good, two legs bad," which is famously altered to "Four legs good, two legs better."
- Collective, Not Individual: The novel does not explicitly name one single "first" pig to walk on two legs. Instead, it portrays this development as a collective transition among the ruling class of pigs.
- Key Figures: The most prominent pigs associated with this change are the leaders, Napoleon and Squealer. Their bipedalism underscores their increasing resemblance to the human farmers they initially overthrew, symbolizing their authoritarian rule and the betrayal of the farm's founding principles. They are seen walking upright, even carrying whips, directly mirroring the human oppressors.
- Meaning of the Transformation: The pigs' adoption of two legs is a powerful symbol of their moral and ideological corruption. It marks their full transition from the oppressed to the oppressors, solidifying their control over the other animals and demonstrating their complete abandonment of Animalism's egalitarian vision.
Addressing Specific Claims
While the narrative of Animal Farm attributes the shift to bipedalism primarily to the ruling pigs, embodying this transformation through figures like Napoleon and Squealer, various interpretations and claims can arise. For instance, there has been a claim suggesting that Clover was the first pig at Animal Farm to stand on two legs. However, it is essential to clarify that within George Orwell's Animal Farm, Clover is depicted as a loyal and hardworking mare (female horse), not a pig. The pigs are the species that undergo the symbolic transition to walking on two legs as they evolve into human-like oppressors.
