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
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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 the essay‚ then the thesis could be considered to relate to the essay. Based on the way that I interpreted the essay‚ I can see how
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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
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George Orwell essay was full of thoughts and denial. 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
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_SHOOTING AN ELEPHANT BY GEORGE ORWELL:_ _Commentary_ Political‚ social & ethical issues raised in Orwell’s essay "Shooting an Elephant" create a controversial storyline in which the events metaphorically symbolize the colonial imperialism of the time. Set in Burma‚ 1936‚ the context is based around the anti-European attitudes existent post the Anglo-Burmese Wars. Orwell’s positions‚ as police officer for the despotic British governments‚ required him to hold authority over the Burmese‚ consequently
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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
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his main purpose(s) in shooting the elephant? Both the one he uses to justify his decision and his real
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.......George Orwell immediately begins the essay by first claiming his perspective on British Imperialism.George Orwell was “disgusted by the inhumanity of colonial rule that he witnessed while stationed in Burma” .He notes that the Burmese civilians were not allowed to own guns during his stay – a testament of British control over Burmese resources. He claims that it is evil and he is fully against the oppressors‚ the British. Though he is a British officer himself at the time in Burma‚ he feels
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In Shooting an Elephant‚ George Orwell explores the ideology of imperialism. Throughout the essay it is established that Orwell is not in favor of imperialism. By using an officer from the British empire as the narrator‚ Orwell uses the officer to show the evils of imperialism on not only the Burmese but also on the enforcers. Orwell develops his argument against British imperialism through his use of rhetorical strategies such as symbolism‚ similes/metaphors‚ and imagery. One rhetorical strategy
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approval. George Orwell in “Shooting an elephant” and Langston Hughes in “Salvation” deal with the issue of “fitting in” in very different ways. George Orwell describes to us in “Shooting an elephant” the struggle that his character faces when to win the mobs approval and respect when he shoots down an innocent animal and sacrifices what he believes to be right. Orwell is a police officer in Moulmein‚ during the period of the British occupation of Burma. An escaped elephant gives him the opportunity
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