The Power Of Imperialism In Shooting An Elephant, By George Orwell

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.

“Shooting an Elephant” is an essay written by George Orwell, first published in the journal New Writing in 1936. In this essay, the author tells his own story about when he was working as a police officer for the Indian Imperial Police in Burma.

As a European white man in the British colony of India, George Orwell, in his narrative essay Shooting an Elephant, describes one of his most memorable events while living in the Southeast Asian nation of Burma. Orwell’s purpose is to share the absolute horror of living in imperialism. He adopts a tense tone throughout his essay by using vivid description and gruesome imagery in order to relate the incident with the elephant to what it is like to live in imperialism.

“Shooting an Elephant” is a short anecdote written by George Orwell. The story depicts a young man, Orwell, who has to decide whether to bend the rules for his superiors or to follow his own path. George Orwell works as the sub-divisional police officer of Moulmein, a town in the British colony of Burma. He, along with the rest of the English military are disrespected by the Burmese due to the English invading their territory and taking over. Over time, Orwell, the narrator, has already begun to question the presence of the British in the Far East. He states, theoretically and secretly, he was “all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British.” Orwell describes himself as “young and ill-educated,” bitterly hating his job. Orwell uses powerful imagery and diction to convey a depressing and sadistic tone to the story. At the end of the story, he faces a dilemma: to kill the elephant or not.

All the fuss, actions he was encouraged to make, lead back to his job he had to do, which was one he despised. Orwell’s introduction makes it very clear he doesn't not like being a police officer and especially does not like imperialism. “For at that time I had already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing and the sooner I chucked up my job and got out of it the better.” (Orwell,1963,pg. 1) He wanted nothing to do with imperialism, he was all for the Burmese. He didn't believe in the cruel ways the British had forced him to act on. His words are spread among many sentences created this harsh tone. He was furious he was considered part of the imperialism. He was in the group though, and being part of this came with responsibility and standards. Orwell had to prove he was worthy and could hold up his end

As society has progressed, the evolution of imperialism has come to a point where people see it has pure history. It has vanished from our daily lives as we have not recently witness a country trying to dominate another. In “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell, we are able to envision the lives of the Burmese as they were involuntarily controlled by the British. In the early 1900’s we are told a true story of Orwell himself where he was once established in Burma was apart of his military service. During his service, he describes his living situation by noting that the army as well as himself were not appreciated. He mentions, “As a police officer I was an obvious target and was baited whenever it seemed safe to do so.”(1) One day he

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

Beyond the use of metaphorical techniques, Orwell also uses vivid imagery to the strongest extent, to further his stand against the imperial forces. Under the oppression of British imperialism, the Burmese people become “wretched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages of the lock-ups, the grey, cowed faces of the long-term convicts” (Orwell 285). Orwell applies

It is 1936, in British-controlled Burma. While serving a country he hates and protecting the natives, this Englishman is put in a situation in which he is torn: to shoot or not to shoot. There is a wild elephant and it has been tearing through villages, yet the elephant is found, peacefully with its owner. Facing thoughts of responsibility, pride, and embarrassment, the Englishman makes the decision to shoot. “Shooting an Elephant,” by George Orwell, depicts this scenario in a short story that can be analyzed through both a historical and psychological critical lens.

The Burmese deprecated imperialism and the people who worked for it. Orwell states in his essay, “As a police officer, I was an obvious target and was baited whenever it seemed safe to do so,” and later on to say that it, “Got badly on my nerves.” This quote

Because of the unjust colonization, there is a battle between cultures. The British represent a more technologically advanced people that come to industrialize while the Burmese represent a weak industrial-less civilization. The Burmese hate the British and the British accommodate with the Burmese. For example, Orwell does not want to kill the elephant, but the crowd does and in the end kills it due to the crowd. He personifies the animal and perceives its emotions of its horrific death at his own inhumane hands, but the crowd easily take the elephant’s flesh moments after it falls. The crowd’s appetite for bloodshed and brutality conflicts with Orwell’s hope to avoid violence entirely. The secondary culture clash that is clear is an internal

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.

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

The behavior of people in societies where another group is in power is something that has displayed itself in the many imperialist societies throughout history. Orwell attempts to bring light to these behaviors through the time period of “Shooting an Elephant”. In the time period of this story, Burma is a colony of Britain. Because of the historical basis and major themes of the story, George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” communicates the emotions and reactions of people who are under certain societal influences and higher levels of power. People in these imperialist systems are often given rigid roles to uphold which causes them to act in a very specific way, doing only what they are told.

George Orwell works as the police subdivision of Moulmein, a city in the British colony of Burma. Because he is, like the rest of the English, a military occupier, he is hated by much of the village. Although the Burmese never carry out a complete revolt, they express their displeasure by harassing Europeans at every opportunity. He works in the management of miserable prisoners gives him a close-up view of "the dirty work of Europe" and makes him feel guilty for his role in colonialism. He has yet to understand that the British Empire is decreasing deteriorating, and will soon be replaced by even worse regimes. This conflicting mentality is typical of officers in the British Raj, he explains.