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Shooting an elephant critical analysis
Shooting an elephant critical analysis
Shooting an elephant critical analysis
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George Orwell utilizes differing sentence structures and lengths in his essay, “Shooting an Elephant”, to illustrate his aversion to British imperialism. He begins the piece by describing his experiences as a white, British police office in Burma. In this, he primarily uses compound, complex, or compound-complex sentences, most of which are long and periodic. These sentences draw attention to the intolerable effects of British Imperialism on the inhabitants of their colonies and capture his emotions and thoughts. As he continues to describe the chase, and eventual murder, of the rampant elephant, Orwell begins to use short, loose, and declarative sentences, escalating the pace of the story. After Orwell kills the elephant, he uses a mixture
Orwell argues in “Shooting an Elephant ” that countries lose power went they become imperialist and totalitarian countries. In “Shooting an Elephant ” he gives the main character beliefs and the will to do the right thing. Despite the main character's sympathy for the people he severs, the people still ridicule him. When the protagonist gets the chance to please the people he does it because he does not want to look weak. He is an instrument of the will of the people he severs, just like totalitarian governments. This argument opened my eye about totalitarian rule, but I am not completely convinced it has discussed all the values in this equation. Totalitarians are only the puppet of the majority. So, if the Totalitarian can manipulate the majority, he can subject his will.
He illustrates the effects that imperialism can cause on a society. He creates an abominable diction through words such as “hatred,” “rage,” “evil,” which are feelings that according to Orwell “are normal by products of imperialism.” (Orwell, 1101) Through his diction he appeals to pathos as he creates a feeling of appalment among his audience. Orwell utilizes the appeal to ethos as he recounts the shooting of an elephant, which becomes a metaphor for imperialism. Orwell claims that this event “was enlightening” (Orwell, 1101) as it allowed him to understand the nature for which humans take some of the actions they carry. During the event of the elephant on the loose in the streets of Burma, Orwell uses the rhetorical device of imagery to describe the crowd of “yellow faces” who demonstrated enthusiasm for the killing of the elephant. As Orwell contemplates the action point of shooting the elephant he realized that he would “have to shoot the elephant after all” (Orwell 1103) since the people expected him to do so. “two thousand people marching at my heels, and then to trail feebly away, having done nothing- no that was impossible.”(Orwell, 1103) Like Thoreau had stated, the
In this story ,Orwell is taking part in imperialism by proving his power and dignity to the natives presenting imperialism metaphorically through the use of animals. He is using the elephant as a symbol of imperialism representing power as an untamed animal that has control over the village. He uses a large and very powerful animal to represent a significant metaphor for imperialism.. In doing so he leads to the understanding that the power behind imperialism is only as strong as its dominant rulers. Orwell?s moral values are challenged in many different ways, ironically enough while he too was the oppressor. He is faced with a very important decision of whether or not he should shoot the elephant. If he does so, he will be a hero to his people. In turn, he would be giving in to the imperial force behind the elephant that he finds so unjust and evil. If he lets the elephant go free and unharmed the natives will laugh at him and make him feel inferior for not being able to protect the...
In “Shooting an Elephant” writer George Orwell illustrates the terrible episode that explains more than just the action of “shooting an elephant.” Orwell describes the scene of the killing of an elephant in Burma and reveals a number of emotions he experienced during the short, but traumatic event. Effectively, the writer uses many literary techniques to plant emotions and create tension in this scene, leading to an ironic presentation of imperialism. With each of the realistic descriptions of the observing multitude and the concrete appeal of the narrator’s pathos, Orwell thrives in persuading the audience that imperialism not only has a destructive impact on those being governed under the imperialists’ oppressive power, but also corrupts
Every day, each individual will look back on decisions he or she have made and mature from those experiences. Though it takes time to realize these choices, the morals and knowledge obtained from them are priceless. In George Orwell’s nonfictional essay, “Shooting an Elephant”, a young Orwell was stationed in Burma for the British imperial forces, tasked to deal with an elephant who destroyed various parts of the village Moulmein while its owner was away. Backed by second thoughts and a crowd of thousands, he finds himself shooting the elephant and reflecting that it was not justified; however, it was a choice pushed by his duty and the people. Written with a fusion of his young and old self’s outlook on shooting the elephant, Orwell’s essay is a sensational read that captivates his audience and leaves them questioning his decision.
Orwell, George. “Shooting an Elephant.” The Brief Arlington Reader. Ed. Nancy Perry. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004. 334-339.
In that moment he changed his mind because “the people expected it of me and I had got to do it.” (Orwell) earlier in his essay he claimed to be against imperialism yet he fell to the pressures of it. The crowed can symbolize imperialism and the elephant represents the nations effected by it. Although he was the one with a weapon and seemingly with the power he went against his own decision and shot the elephant. The elephant does not die fast.
Mankind acts in a situation to determine the outcome. Control of a man indicates pressure from the crowd where George Orwell writes in the story, “Shooting an Elephant.” In the narrative story, Orwell considers shooting an elephant for the crowd’s pleasure. From the negative comments, Burman’s made, he recognizes a way for the harsh remarks to stop. The crowd yells for him to pull the trigger, but he did not want to kill.
The essay “Stranger in the village” by James Baldwin, and “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell, share a similarity in their experience in a new environments. Orwell a British officer he was not warmly welcome, the Burmese people hated. As for Baldwin it is more of racism than hated. Both essays happen in unfamiliar places where there were racism and discrimination. They do not fit in with the natives and is judged because of their nationalities. However, the themes of these writing differ.
In his essay, “Shooting an Elephant”, Orwell utilises figurative language to convey his purpose of discussing the dangers of societal influences on others. “Shooting an Elephant” illustrates a corrupted town and the inhumane acts of the people living there, as shown through Orwell’s use of metaphor, simile, and oxymoron. The use of this figurative language aids in amplifying the monstrous acts of the people.
In “Shooting an Elephant” , writer George Orwell describes a scene of an elephant being killed and describes the sensations that he goes through during the short but extremely dramatic event in the small city of Burma and articulates the sensations of a police officer goes through during this brief but very dramatic event. Rhetorically,George Orwell uses various literary techniques to convey the emotions in the scene, which ultimately leads to a detailed presentation of imperialism. Through descriptions of the crowd and a direct appeal with the narrator, Orwell succeeds in convincing the audience that imperialism has a negative impact on those being governed , but also to those that are exercising that power. As an adversary of political
Throughout "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell, he addresses his internal battle with the issues of morality and immorality. He writes of several situations that show his immoral doings. When George Orwell signed up for a five-year position as a British officer in Burma he was unaware of the moral struggle that he was going to face. Likewise, he has an internal clash between his moral conscious and his immoral actions. Therefore, Orwell becomes a puppet to the will of the Burmese by abandoning his thoughts of moral righteousness. This conflicts with the moral issue of relying upon other's morals, rather than one's own conscience.
The symbolic story in the Shooting an Elephant is an attack towards imperialism. Orwell presents the ironic truth that imperialism benefits neither the imperialist nor the countries they colonize. It is perhaps sad to see that men were once willing to buy in to the fraudulent and ephemeral glory that imperialism have offered. Hopefully, men have learned their lessons and no other animal will be sacrificed for men's greed.
...o the wrong spot cause the poor animal to die "very slowly and in great agony." In spite of Orwell putting "shot after shot into his heart and down his throat," the elephant lives thirty minutes after its "tortured gasps" force Orwell to leave. Many years later, Orwell still seems bothered by the fact that pride, not necessity, caused him to destroy the animal.
Orwell?s extraordinary style is never displayed well than through ?Shooting an Elephant,? where he seemingly blends his style and subject into one. The story deals with a tame elephant that all of a sudden turns bad and kills a black Dravidian coolie Indian. A policeman kills this elephant through his conscience because the Indians socially pressurized him greatly. He justified himself as he had killed elephant as a revenge for coolie.