A Hanging By George Orwell

Even before finishing the first paragraph of “Shooting an Elephant,” one can clearly recognize Orwell’s inclusion of first-person point of view. Furthermore, since Orwell’s essay is written in first-person point of view,

Orwell describes the native Burmese people, who have been gathering behind him, as a “sea of yellow faces above the garish clothes-face all happy and excited over this bit of fun; all certain that the elephant was going to be shot” (Orwell). This imagery of an immense crowd swirling and stirring like a sea would before a storm, depicts the sense of power these defenseless native people had over Orwell and his mental state. As the essay proceeds, Orwell is overwhelmed by an unparalleled force pressuring him to shoot the elephant. “[He] could feel their two thousand wills pressing me forward, irresistibly” (Orwell). As Orwell’s attempts to conclude upon the infamous question of whether or not to take the life of this elephant, he comes to the realization of the power of the “white man in the East.”

Well known author and journalist, George Orwell, in his essay, Shooting an Elephant, describes his experiences as a Policeman in Moulmein, Burma during European Imperialism. Orwell’s purpose is to convey the ideal that what is right and what is accepted don’t always align. He adopts a remorseful tone in order to convey to the reader the weight of his actions. By looking at George Orwell’s use of imagery and figurative language, one can see his strongly conflicting opinions on Imperialism.

Two of Orwell’s first literary works were his essays regarding his experiences as a policeman in Burma during imperialization from Europe. These essays include “A Hanging” and “Shooting an Elephant.” In these essays, he shows his clear disagreement of oppression, even while working for the oppressors. Orwell writes

In Jim’s case, the subject of “excitement and prejudice in the public mind” is greatly emphasized; a large amount of hype surrounded the trial, which consequently may have altered the decision made by the courts. During this time, executions were still part of a public spectacle. Stemming back to European and colonial society, executions, especially hangings, were a large form of public entertainment that brought the whole community together. In one perspective the execution may have created a hole in society, but with the development of executions as communal spectacles, the hole is mended, and instead brings the community together in a sense through the removal of a “bad” in their society. Jim’s case comes during a time in which there was a large amount of fear surrounding slave revolts- with Jim his act of violence likely sparked a sense of fear throughout his community. By deciding to sentence Jim to hanging, this would act to reassure the community with a sense of safety to enforce the superiority of the “better”

“All work is stopped, all assemble there, nobody leads the cows out, the cows are there with the rest. At midday, the roll of drums. Soldiers have marched into the prison in the night, and he is in the midst of many soldiers. He is bound as before, and in his mouth there is a gag—tied so, with a tight string, making him look almost as if he laughed.” He suggested it, by creasing his face with his two thumbs, from the corners of his mouth to his ears. “On the top of the gallows is fixed the knife, blade upwards, with its point in the air. He is hanged there forty feet high—and is left hanging, poisoning the water.”

As we progress through the essay, Orwell’s creative style becomes even more apparent through his contrasting tone when he has an epiphany that the hanging is wrong. In this section of the essay, a dog has come running into the prison yard, and is very excitable, while the prisoner and the guards are standing, waiting.

Every writer has that one special quirk that keeps readers coming back for more. Whether it is the humor or the characters, most authors carry their quirks from story to story. In “Shooting an Elephant,” George Orwell describes his experience of shooting an elephant. In “A Hanging,” he describes the emotions that run through him as he watches the hanging of a prisoner. Both essays have similar key ideas that identify Orwell as a writer. The results of pride and power contribute to the themes that connect his essays and identify Orwell as a descriptive writer.

Remained hanging for more than half an hour, lingering between life and death. The boy struggling to breathe for half an hour just to make an example out him. This reminds me of the lynching of the african american people during the 18th and 19th century. Because hangings are a complicated process done by and executioner, lot of hangings were not quick and were messy if not done right. Many times the body was left hanging in the trees for days to teach people a lesson. Innocent people were killed throughout history, people in power controlled others using

George Orwell, an experienced Assistant Superintendent in the British Imperial Police, composed “A Hanging” after his resignation in 1927. The narrative is a personal testimony set in the 1920’s in Burma. Orwell uses the classical techniques of formal argument to depict the death of an unknown prisoner, while taking a position against the death penalty. George Orwell’s Abolitionist message in “A Hanging” is conveyed through the prisoner, dog, functionaries, and their actions, words, and body language.

I think I see movement behind the one-way glass mirror on the opposite wall—the executioner getting into position. Jon is smiling at us, his great neck twisted uncomfortably sideways. A microphone suspended from the ceiling hangs a few inches above his head. The speaker above our heads crackles to life and Jon speaks, craning his head around to see the victims’ witnesses in the room next door.”

The man’s neck is then clasped by the grotesque hands of the executioner and he is throttled

Overall it seems to encapsulate his time well during the five unhappy years Orwell spends as a British police officer in Burma. Orwell was always free ultimately to make the morally right decision though, and writing this does not free him from brutality that was needlessly carried out.

hanging. Orwell sees the prisoner as an animal and his killing just a job that must be done. Then he

Orwell implies that capital punishment dehumanizes by illustrating the prisoner’s living conditions and treatment. George Orwell describes the prisoner’s cell as an “animal cage” (99). By giving the prisoner’s environment animalistic qualities, Orwell implies the condemned man is not treated in a humane manner. In doing this, Orwell insinuates that capital punishment dehumanizes the prisoner. Similarly, the author relates the treatment of the condemned man to a fish. He states, “It was like men handling a fish which is still alive and may jump back into the water” (99). By explaining the treatment of the prisoner and the way the guards handle him, George Orwell implies capital punishment dehumanizes everyone involved.