George Orwell “Shooting an Elephant” In the essay “Shooting an Elephant” George Orwell argues that imperialism ruins and hurts not just a countries’ economic‚ cultural and social structure‚ but has other far reaching consequences; oppression undermines the psychological‚ emotional and behavioral development of mankind. Orwell served his country‚ the British Empire‚ in Burma during the early 20’s as a police officer. The country was colonized by the most powerful economical leader in Europe.
Premium Burma Colonialism George Orwell
In George Orwell’s essay‚ Shooting an Elephant‚ he is an outsider in his country. As a European in a mainly Burman consumed country he was thought of an outcast or treated as a fool for just being from a different origin than the others. Throughout his days he is continuously taunted and bullied by his own community members‚ yet ironically they are the ones that he is supposed to be protecting. One day he is presented a problem that he had two potential ways to solve‚ the non-lethal choice that
Premium George Orwell
"Shooting an Elephant‚" by George Orwell is a first person view on living and working as a European police officer in Moulmein‚ Lower Burma. There was a bit of tension between the locals and the foreign law enforcement since the British had taken over the country‚ so Orwell was not thought fondly of. The climax of this essay was when a otherwise tame elephant starts rampaging because is had gone into "must" a term used on page 118 that means in heat. The owner loses track of the animal in the
Premium George Orwell Burma Shooting an Elephant
Shooting an Elephant is one of the most famous essays by George Orwell that presents the situation of preindependence era in Burma. There are very subtle instances that act as a window for the readers into the social setup of that time. One could see that the Burmese hated the British in a pity and helpless manner. One of the few opportunities they had to express their anger was during the soccer game where the rules of society were over ruled by the rules of the game. The psychology of the author
Premium George Orwell Burma Shooting an Elephant
their differences is merely impossible. Thus‚ the existence of dichotomy will always be. People tend to choose their accepted social counterparts based on what they have in common with one another. For example‚ the Burmese villagers in‚ “Shooting an Elephant” viewed the foreigner as an outsider because
Premium Sociology Person Religion
During the time of imperialistic rule‚ rich empires were able to take over those of lesser value and benefit from their resources. This is the exact situation going on in Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell; the British had taken over the Burmese. Through Orwell’s use of stylistic and rhetorical strategies‚ he conveys the inferior attitude he has towards himself and the trapped‚ conflicted attitude he feels towards his position in Burma‚ which both stem from the negative aspects of imperialism
Premium Burma George Orwell Shooting an Elephant
Abstract The present study looks at an important political essay “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell. The literary critics gave the text wide recognition and appreciation. It depicts Orwell’s anti-imperialistic view which is presented through the shooting of an elephant. The theme is presented in a fantastic way and this is evident from Orwell’s use of lexis‚ syntax‚ cohesive ties‚ point of view‚ and figures of speech. A closer look at the experiences he had gone indicate that his sentiment
Free British Empire Colonialism United Kingdom
In 1936‚ author George Orwell wrote an essay titled “Shooting an Elephant”. In the essay Orwell describes a scene of a British police officer who is stuck between having to shoot an elephant. The story takes place in Burma‚ India where then‚ they were under British imperialism. Imperialism is a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force. It humiliates the occupied people‚ reducing them to an inferior status in their own country. Analyzing Orwell’s work
Premium British Empire George Orwell Colonialism
Technique Analysis of ‘Shooting an elephant’ Written by George Orwell Essay by Arthur Diennet In 1936‚ George Orwell published his short story ‘Shooting an elephant’ in an English magazine. Since then‚ it has been republished dozens of times and holds a place as a definitive anti-colonial piece of literature‚ in an era where the British Empire was at its peak and covered almost 1/3 of the Earth’s surface. George Orwell believed that “…imperialism was an evil thing...” and uses much themes
Premium Burma Colonialism British Empire
Reflection on “Shooting an Elephant” “I was hated by… people” and “the only time…been important enough” are words that jump out at me revealing Orwell’s low self-esteem and low self-worth. His essay describes the events that turn his luck enabling him to feel a pseudo-sense of control and authority over the Burmese. Opportunity presents itself in the form of an elephant running amok‚ leaving a trail of destruction and death behind. Unfortunately he gives in to pressure exerted by the locals and does
Premium Burma George Orwell Shooting an Elephant