Shooting An Elephant Imperialism Essay

In the story “Shooting an Elephant”, George Orwell recounts an experience where he was faced with a moral dilemma during the unpleasant years he spent working as a British police officer in Burma. Due to the British empire's dictatorship, the natives ridiculed and mocked his foreign presence and authority. Triggering Orwell to hate his job, hate British imperialism and hate the Burmese natives. However, shooting the elephant gave him a sight of the true nature of imperialism. Through his actions, Orwell efficiently demonstrates the negative effects of imperialism on individuals and society. In the passage, the theme of colonialism is demonstrated through Orwell’s use of key literary elements such as symbolism, tone, setting, and language.

Orwell uses his experience of shooting an elephant as an example of the effects of colonialism. He writes “It gave a better glimpse of the real nature of imperialism – the real motives for which despotic government act.” (Orwell). Shooting an elephant as it calmly eats, once it no longer poses a threat, is an act of barbarism, which symbolized the barbarity of colonialism altogether. The elephant’s must is a result of a

The tone toward his readers was friendly, revealing, and informal. This approach draws the reader in and motivates them to trust him because he shares intimate details about himself, such as the fact that he was hated and conflicted. This approach allows the narrator to reveal parts of his personality that we would otherwise not see. For example, when he said, "I was stuck between my hatred of the empire I served and my rage against the evil-spirited little beasts who tried to make my job impossible.” (Orwell).Hee speaks from the perspective of working man trying to do the right thing in a situation that is, from his viewpoint, impossible. Since he’s so honest about his problems the readers can effectively follow, understand and relate to his