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
Orwell’s autobiographical account of shooting and eventually killing an elephant presents the animal and its death sympathetically as it died a slow‚ painful death. Through the language‚ the author evokes sympathy towards the elephant and a slightly more complex feeling towards the author who‚ although he kills the elephant‚ suffers inwardly during the process and appears to be affected by the Burman crowd’s greed to strip the carcass. In the society Orwell lived in‚ hunting was common amongst
Premium George Orwell Burma Shooting an Elephant
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
"How to shoot an elephant" and "Empty Seat" caparisons In "Shooting an Elephant" The main characters biggest conflict was to shoot an elephant. This was something he did not and typically under the circumstances would not have done‚ but felt compelled and pressured to do so. If it weren’t for the watching Indians this story may have turned out differently. He felt as if he had to do it‚ cause by not doing it would have been like him demonstrating his and his native country weakness. Being in a
Premium English-language films Hunting The Most Dangerous Game
We are trapped in a never ending war‚ a war with ourselves and with others. In this war‚ each side is fighting for power. This is the case in the essay‚ “Shooting an Elephant‚” by George Orwell‚ where it can be interpreted that “when the white man turns tyrant‚ it is his own freedom he destroys… he wears a mask‚ and his face grows to fit it.” Through the beginning of the essay‚ a person can consider this thesis to follow yet disagree with the essay. Depending on the way that a person interprets
Premium George Orwell Burma Shooting an Elephant
Orwell writes Shooting an Elephant with his experiences in Burma; so story is in Burma‚ Myanmar. Both Orwell uses his own experiences in past and he lives in the significant era of British in history‚ we see high rise at historical background in the story. Orwell prefers to indirect way to express his emotions using symbols. One of the main symbols is an elephant. The elephant symbolizes British Empire. The reason that Orwell chooses the elephant‚ the empire is powerful like an elephant. When it dies
Premium Burma George Orwell Shooting an Elephant
In the essay “Shooting an Elephant”‚ George Orwell uses the elephant as an extended metaphor for Orwell’s morality and the outside forces challenging it. In the second paragraph‚ Orwell makes it clear that he “was stuck between [George Orwell’s] hatred of the empire [he] served and [his] rage against the evil-spirited little beasts who tried to make [his] job impossible.” Deep down‚ Orwell despised imperialism and sympathized with the oppressed Burmese people as a whole. His morality is clouded
Premium Burma George Orwell Shooting an Elephant
"Shooting an Elephant" is about the encounters of an English officer in Burma‚ then a state of England. Here‚ Orwell plainly portrays the contentions that colonialism conveys to various people groups. Government‚ it appears‚ has cons for both sides. The persona is despised by most‚ if not all‚ of the locals in Burma. He‚ then again‚ feel compassion and blame for the conditions on the Burmans however can’t make a move since he is relied upon to act with the power and pride of an Englishman. Despite
Premium George Orwell Burma Shooting an Elephant
In the beginning of his essay he was against shooting the elephant. Once he saw the opportunity of acceptance‚ he decided to take action towards the elephant. Throughout this essay the author doubts himself. He feels a sense of guilt towards the end of the essay. Orwell had three perspective in this essay guilt‚ doubtful‚ and acceptance. In this situation acceptance took over his feelings‚ and this is why Orwell was not justified in shooting the elephant. In the beginning of the essay the author said
Premium George Orwell Burma Shooting an Elephant
Every white man’s life long struggle in the East was to not be laughed at‚ so the safest choice for a man like George was to live without action. However‚ when a sexually aggressive elephant gets loose Orwell is called to take action.. In the essay he writes not just about his personal experience with the elephant but how metaphorical the experience is to Imperialism and his views on the matter. Orwell’s feelings are the hostile feelings toward the British‚ Imperialism‚ and Britain’s justification
Free British Empire Colonialism Burma