In George Orwell’s essay “Shooting an Elephant” (1936)‚ he reveals that he despises the very idea of imperialism. Orwell shows this by using an extended metaphor throughout the entire essay. The metaphor is shown through the story of him shooting an elephant. He is representing the entire British nation‚ and their imperialistic values. He shows that he does not really want to shoot this elephant if it is not necessary but the Burmese people keep pressuring him to do something and to do it right
Premium George Orwell Burma KILL
Imperialism in ‘Shooting an Elephant’ by George Orwell Shooting an elephant is a short story about the speaker’s experience in working as a colonial officer in Burma‚ a previous conquered province by Britain‚ and facing a pressure to shoot an innocent elephant to please a large Burmese crowd. Throughout the story Orwell makes clear to readers how Imperialism causes misery and pain. To a clear definition for Imperialism‚ I sum up the important points according to my understanding as
Premium Colonialism British Empire Burma
Orwell condemns it and thinks of it as only a façade of power. In ”Shooting an Elephant”‚ he conveys the ironic‚ powerless and evil nature of Imperialism through the experience of himself as a young British officer shooting the elephant against his own will in order to maintain the image of the imperial power in Burma. This is shown specifically through the relationship between the British and Burmese‚ the portrayal of the elephant as well as development of the inner conflicts of the protagonist.
Premium British Empire George Orwell Burma
Reaction to shooting an elephant This time tables are turned for Orwell. In A hanging Orwell was the oppressor but in shooting an elephant I felt that Orwell was oppressed by the Burmese people as he mentions that "In Moulmein‚ in lower Burma‚ I was hated by large numbers of people" and he emphasizes on that fact by adding "As a police officer I was an obvious target and was baited whenever it seemed safe to do so" and was also oppressed by the empire as he was forced to do a job that he doesn’t
Premium Burma George Orwell
reading the essay “Shooting an Elephant”‚ it gives away many symbols and a very important life lesson. The essay has many symbols‚ but three stick out like a sore thumb. These include the gun‚ the Burmese people‚ and the elephant. A main symbol that is easily noticed is the gun he uses. A small powerful rifle against a huge elephant. Orwell even noted “an old .44 Winchester and much too small to kill an elephant” (324). The gun isn’t mad to kill a giant beast like this elephant. It was all he had
Premium Firearm Gun Gun politics in the United States
Leonard Morrow Christina Olson Writing Assignment 3 9 April 2013 Rhetorical Analysis: “Shooting an Elephant” In the essay entitled “Shooting an Elephant‚” George Orwell writes‚ “In Moulmein‚ in lower Burma‚ I was hated by large numbers of people – the only time in my life that I have been important enough for this to happen to me” (Orwell‚ pg#). In this exert‚ not only does Orwell succeed in setting the mood and foreshadowing events to come‚ but he also introduces us to a protagonist
Premium Burma George Orwell Shooting an Elephant
Shooting an Elephant Summary: Set during the early 1900’s‚ the narrator recount his experiences as an English police officer stationed in Burma. He often describes that the British presence there were greatly despised and that he himself has been a target multiple times by the Burmese people. “As a police officer I was an obvious target and was baited whenever it seemed safe to do so.” (229) Being there to do the dirty work of the British empire‚ the narrator gets to see what imperialism really
Premium George Orwell British Empire Burma
In the passage‚ Shooting an Elephant a hated police officer killed an elephant. Orwell was asked to come and do something about an elephant ravaging a bazaar. On his way‚ he ran into Various Burman’s that told him what the elephant was doing. He figured that is was not anything to serious‚ the elephant would eventually calm down. The elephant was heated. The night before it had broken out of its chain and escaped. The elephant’s mahout was the only one who can manage it but he was about twelve hours
Premium Burma George Orwell Shooting an Elephant
“Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell in 1936 Imperialism is “the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic‚ cultural‚ and territorial relationship‚ usually between states and often in the form of an empire‚ based on domination and subordination”[1]. During the British colonial period from the late 16th century to the 19th century‚ Britain assembled an empire which in 1922 held sway over a population of about 458 million people. The United Kingdom had several colonies‚ dominions‚ protectorates
Free British Empire Colonialism Imperialism
Trystan Tomco Mr. Stone English 110 12/03/13 Shooting an Elephant Essay George Orwell wrote “Shooting an Elephant” to teach readers about imperialism and its effects on not only those ruled but also those charged with maintaining order above them. Orwell’s narrator is a British colonial official stationed in Burma who is charged with keeping the local populace from rioting. The officer speaks of how he is frightened by the Burmans and even by his own people rulers. Fear is one of the ways
Premium George Orwell Burma Shooting an Elephant