Animal Farm Theme of Rules and Order

Rules are often thought of as a way to maintain generally accepted notions of order. Traditions might be thought of as a way of remembering one’s debt to the past, of re-affirming one’s values. Yet in Animal Farm, both function mainly as political tools. The commandments and the traditions set up immediately after the Rebellion are meant to unite and energize the animals. Yet both rules and traditions prove malleable (easily changeable), and the animals can't understand that these customs are being used to deceive and take advantage of them.

1. The animals establish tons of traditions on the farm, and certain routines become cyclic and expected. Is the action of the plot itself – that is, the cycle of oppression-rebellion-corruption, a routine tradition? Could it be? Maybe Benjamin hints at this when he says, "Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey." Then again, maybe he doesn't.
2. What are the different rules that get changed? Why do they get altered in this order? Which changes are the most significant?

The shifting rules, customs, and traditions of Animal Farm can be traced to parallel the decay of Animalism and the ideals of old Major.

Although the pigs have many ways of oppressing the other animals, the use of laws and traditions is the most powerful tool.