Shooting An Elephant Imperialism

In the extract, "Shooting An Elephant" Orwell conveys his message through the use of various persuasive tools. He wants the reader to identify when somebody assumes power. This technique is used to show that the powerful are also a captive to the will of people they control. Everyone involved in the situation becomes affected. In this instance, imperialism has a negative affect on them all. The various persuasive tools identified are, symbolism, metaphors and irony throughout the extract.

The consequence of imperialism is discussed in “Shooting an Elephant”; The victim of imperialism is not only the natives but also the narrator. Indeed, this essay is about the suffering and the struggling of Orwell who is torn between the Burmese’s actions and the Imperial System.

He exemplifies this through a metaphor used when approaching the elephant with the rifle, describing that he “was only an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the will of those yellow faces” (152). Orwell explains that “the Burmese population had no weapons and were quite helpless” (149) and yet, even with the rifle in his hand he feels equally as powerless. This metaphor details the true nature of imperialism and the reliance on the perception of power rather than actual possession of it. In this situation, Orwell is forced to maintain the perception of power as he cannot “trail feebly away, having done nothing … [as] the crowd would laugh at [him]” (152). This crowd of people dictates his actions because he must constantly project the image of power and confidence. Any doubt threatens the strength of Orwell and in turn the empire. Each of these yellow faces holds a string and with their expectations and desires moves Orwell to shoot the elephant. This metaphor creates a vivid image for the reader of Orwell’s helplessness and the obligations that bind him to take action. One may assume that those obligations lie with the Empire, as he is their officer, however it’s the Burmese who pull his strings. Specifically, Orwell is emphasizing to readers the fragility of British power and how the role of power pressures one to act according to the will of those

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.

George Orwell first explains the effects of peer pressure in Shooting An Elephant. Peer pressure has always been and always will be in extreme issue in today’s society. In schools, workplaces, and public areas many people are pressured into doing things that they would not choose to do on their own. Henry Jones, a child therapist explains, “Kids often give in to peer pressure because they want to fit in.” Kids long to be able to fit in and be a part of what the cool kids are doing. Teenagers and children are not the only people who are struggling with always striving to impress those around them. Adults also struggle with this because of the constant need to have the nicest house, the best car, or the most expensive clothes. Materialistic things are an large part of peer pressure, but another aspect is actions. In Shooting An Elephant George Orwell explains, “The crowd would laugh at me. And my whole life, every white man’s life in the East, was one long struggle not to be laughed at,”(lines 156-158). Orwell means that the only reason he shot the elephant was because of the the consequences of what would come to follow.

In “Shooting an Elephant,” Orwell retold an occasion where he was struggling to come to a final decision of whether to shoot the elephant or not. With his final decision, the elephant finally lay dying in front of thousands of people. He said that he was forced to shoot it because the Burmese people were expecting him to do that. In addition, he also explained that he had to do it “to avoid looking like a fool” in front of the crowd (14). At first glance, one would think that it makes sense for him to kill the elephant to save his face, but that was not the case. He effectively uses this incident to demonstrate the “real nature of imperialism” (3), whereas the elephant represents the British Empire.

The quest for power is one which has been etched into the minds of men throughout history. However, it can be said that true power is not a result of one’s actions but comes from the following one’s own beliefs without being influenced by others. This principle sets up the story for Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell. The protagonist, Orwell himself, is a sub divisional police officer in Burma, a British colony. Orwell must try to find and use his inner power when he is faced with the decision of whether or not to kill an elephant which has ravaged the Burman’s homes. The state of power established through the imperialistic backdrop show that Orwell, as a colonist, should be in control. As well, the perspective and ideas given by Orwell

When the elephant’s escape becomes relevant, Orwell adapts the role he is expected to play. The best description is explained by Orwell with the metaphor about a face growing to fit a mask. Orwell does what a police officer is expected to do rather than what

The glorious days of the imperial giants have passed, marking the death of the infamous and grandiose era of imperialism. George Orwell's essay, Shooting an Elephant, deals with the evils of imperialism. The unjust shooting of an elephant in Orwell's story is the central focus from which Orwell builds his argument through the two dominant characters, the elephant and its executioner. The British officer, the executioner, acts as a symbol of the imperial country, while the elephant symbolizes the victim of imperialism. Together, the solider and the elephant turns this tragic anecdote into an attack on the institution of imperialism.

The story, “Shooting an Elephant”, is very descriptive and intriguing. George Orwell, the author, uses small words throughout this story that get the audience’s attention. He even has different lines that readers remember when the title is spoken of. Because he is so thorough in the plot taking place, the audience has an opportunity to feel as if they were there and saw everything that has happened. George Orwell’s stylistic choices related to pace, tone, and character development enable him to be successful.

In “Shooting an Elephant” Orwell contradicts himself about Imperialism. In the essay Imperialism is well influenced in Burma. Orwell is a British police officer sent to Burma to enforce imperialism among the Burmese people. At the time Orwell is very young and has no experience in his position as a police officer. Soon after he got to Burma he begins to despise his job. Almost everyday he had to witness prisoners in filthy cages and men tortured. He felt that he was doing the dirty work of the government. Orwell emotions went into an uproar and he begins to feel a sense of hatred for Imperialism. Orwell says Imperialism is an evil thing but he still works to enforce its mission. This can be very confusing because he hates the job that he has to do, how he is treated because of his job, and what people think of him because of what he is working for.

In others words, it permit people to think ideas in new means. Such a “trick” is useful in this context because Orwell appropriately demonstrates the audience a description of the police officer and his situation which involves a specific region, Lower Burma, and its culture during a period of anti-European feeling. Orwell does not want to shoot the elephant; his desire does not belong to him. Orwell understands that he must kill the elephant with the “magical rifle” because of the Burmese people’s expectations and the fear of being laughed at by the crowd. This “trick” persuades the readers effectively “that when the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys” (855).

Have you ever been pressured into doing something you didn’t want to, but felt like you had no other option? The narrator in Orwell's, “Shooting an Elephant” had a very similar experience. He was pressed by the Burmese into committing a senseless killing that he did not deem necessary. This transformation of the main characters mentality and morals gives the audience a terrific example of characterization, which would not be possible without the effective use of point of view in Orwell's story.

“His anti-imperialist convictions were derived from his experiences as a police officer in Burma from 1922 to 1927. Once there, doing "the dirty work of empire," he became increasingly aware of the great evil in which he was participating” (Imperialism 1). This experience is shown in the short story Shooting an Elephant, Orwell narrates the incidents and his actions. The course of events which take place in the story are not that remarkable, although with the skill of the author’s writing it succeeds in bringing out the troubles of imperialism and powerful white men. Orwell shows that those who are content in their cozy royal homes should face the truth about the ways they are making their own existences worthless. In order to retain authority, they have lost control over their personal measures. Their obsession to rule and repress the natives of the countries backfired. Without their knowledge they had also come to the same helpless state as the natives, because they no longer owned their own decisions. “When the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys. He became a hollow, posing dummy,” (Orwell 4). Orwell presents the truth of the consequences of Europe’s ruthless colonialism which eventually caused the fall of much of European global rule. With the defeat of places such as Germany and Italy, and devastation of France and Britain in the two World Wars, Europe's iron grasp over the rest of the world loosened. Because of this, one can say that there is no end to this anxiety. The party, the tormentor, and the tormented are all respectively worried and nervous. It is understandable why the people are stressed. What is more complicated is the psyche of the tormentor: it has a constant fear of losing power and control. This tendency of human nature is something that the authors of this period could not

In George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” a sub-divisional police officer described his position being in Moulmein, in lower Burma which was very anti-European. He described how the native treated Europeans and how he was treated by them each day. He was taunted, baited, and treated so terrible by the people it was hard to keep his cool. He said “imperialism was an evil thing and the sooner his job was done the better”. Then it’s described the narrator’s side on this, which was for the Burmese, and how the narrator wants to jab a bayonet it to the Buddhist priest’s guts because they were always jeer at Europeans, but says it’s a feeling like this in normal by product of imperialism. Moreover the mood changes to a day for the officer to prove his importance. He was called to a wild elephant ravaging the bazaar, but when he