"Shooting an Elephant" is a short story written by George Orwell, first published in 1936. The story is an autobiographical account of Orwell's experience as a British imperial police officer in Burma, and it explores themes of colonialism, power, and the nature of authority.
At the beginning of the story, Orwell receives a call to deal with an elephant that has gone "must," meaning that it is in a state of extreme excitement or aggression. As he approaches the elephant, Orwell becomes increasingly aware of the power dynamics at play between himself, the Burmese people, and the elephant. He is under pressure to demonstrate his authority as a representative of the British Empire, but he also feels a sense of sympathy and compassion for the elephant.
As the story progresses, Orwell finds himself in a difficult position. On the one hand, he knows that it is his duty to shoot the elephant, as it poses a danger to the people of the village. On the other hand, he feels a strong moral reluctance to kill the animal, especially as it seems to be in a state of distress. Ultimately, Orwell decides to go through with the shooting, but he does so with a sense of shame and remorse.
The story is a poignant reflection on the nature of power and authority, and how it can lead individuals to act in ways that go against their own moral code. It also serves as a commentary on the destructive effects of colonialism, as Orwell's role as a representative of the British Empire puts him in a position of authority over the Burmese people, even though he is deeply ambivalent about this role.
Overall, "Shooting an Elephant" is a thought-provoking and powerful tale that raises important questions about the nature of power and authority, and the ways in which they can shape our actions and beliefs. It is a must-read for anyone interested in these themes, and its enduring relevance makes it a timeless classic.
≡Essays on Shooting An Elephant. Free Examples of Research Paper Topics, Titles GradesFixer
He shot the animal several times, and it still took about 30 minutes to die. Although individuals argue that they do not attempt to fit into social groups, closer examination shows that the majority of people try to impress others by performing irregular actions and adapting character qualities. Related Essays: Term Paper … Shooting an Elephant George Orwell's hatred for English imperialism was one of the main themes of his story, 'Shooting an elephant'. It is to keep readers focused on the central topic which is the moral dilemma and guilt Orwell personally faced serving the British empire. During the final phase of violent musth, glands begin reducing, secretion slows down, and the elephant's behavior becomes less violent. As the area was under British rule, the police force was largely comprised of white men, such as Orwell. He asserted that he did not want to shoot the elephant.
Shooting an Elephant Essay
Orwell wanted to show the crowd that he is not scared, even though he would have to kill the elephant who seems very harmless in the field. The wretched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages of the lock-ups, the grey, cowed faces of the long-term convicts, the scarred buttocks of the men who had been Bogged with bamboos — all these oppressed me with an intolerable sense of guilt. Similarities Between Langston Hughes And George Orwell 467 Words 2 Pages He has a rifle and this makes the crowd extremely happy because they believed that he was going to shoot the elephant who had caused chaos and killed one coolie. His pride overtook his conscience, and he decided to shoot the elephant to save face. And then down he came, his belly towards me, with a crash that seemed to shake the ground even where I lay.
Shooting An Elephants
The British are described as evil, dirty, stinky, grey, convicts and scared whereas the man killed by the elephant is described as lying on his belly, wide-open eyes, arms crucified and grinning with an expression of unbearable agony. He believes that his actions are due to human nature and so he speaks as if his decision would be matched by others. Still, they never got to become friendly. He knows that the locals despise him. In this essay, the elephant destroyed homes and other items in their town.
Shooting The Elephant Character Analysis
One was the ruling party, known as the Republicans. He finds himself between two the empire, represented by the elephant and the natives. Imperialism is broken when the writer shoots the elephant and he feels as a puppet of the natives. He takes his rifle, a weak and powerless weapon, to use against a massive vigorous being. He realizes the his determination have to be based on the best curiosity of the Burmese. It had killed a cow, destroyed fruit stalls and stock and even vented its anger on the municipal van. I watched him beating his bunch of grass against his knees, with that preoccupied grandmotherly air that elephants have.
