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Shooting An Elephant Imperialism

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Shooting Imperialism: An Analysis of Shooting an Elephant

The human condition is to oppress and to be oppressed. With this condition, the symptoms accumulate power, persecution, and remorse. In George Orwell’s essay, “ Shooting an Elephant”, he depicts an on-going manichean struggle between his virtue and character. It seems obvious which side he is on, however, his actions and thoughts differ. The British Empire is known for their infamous capture of many small countries in Southeast Asia such as Burma. Their imperialism was known as “ the White man’s burden” to help cultivate underprivileged countries. Orwell described his view as, ...“already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing and the sooner I checked up my job and got out of it the better. Theoretically- and secretly, of course- I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British. As for the job I was doing, I hated it more bitterly than I can perhaps make clear. In the job like that you the dirty work of Empire at close quarters.” It is ironic as the Burmese seemed to carry the “burden” more than the British did. And of course with the British Empire dominating them, envy seemed to circulate their emotions. …show more content…

It destroys the “coolie” as the British destroyed the Burmese Kingdom. “ The Burmese population had no weapons and were quite helpless against it.”(Orwell, 2) “It” exhibits the imperialistic character of taking what they desire by force. “ The people said that the elephant had come suddenly upon him round the corner of the hut, caught him with its trunk, put its foot on his back and ground him into the deep and a couple of yards long.”(Orwell,2) The British had rampaged the cities of Burma to what the Burmese seemed for no apparent reason and killed their theoretical lives by conquering what was

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