“1944: The Year I Learned to Love a German “by Mordecai Richler essay talks about his experience in his young age during World War II and how his vision of life changed by a single book. Likewise, “shooting an elephant” by George Orwell essay describes George Orwell’s experience in Burma when he was opposed to the issue of whether or not to shoot an elephant that had caused trouble in the town. He compares this situation with the British occupancy of Burma. They both are in the period of well-known of historical events by the world. The first essay talks about the period of an incident that Jewish people killed by Hitler and the other essay talks in the dated of when India was during the rule of the British and got independent by Mahatma Gandhi. Also, one ethnic group ruled by another ethnic group in both stories. …show more content…
Orwell’s essay is in period where British were control India and how Mahatma Gandhi got an intendent to India. Even though he mentioned that he does not like Gandhi, he is in the period of independent in India. Similarly, in Richler’s essay the narrator is in the period where Hitler killed Jewish people. “I devoutly wished every German left on the face of the earth an excruciating death s“(Richler 156). This explains his hateful explanations about them. Also, in British is different ethnic group from India. They were ruling India and abuse them. Also the also is the position where he was having overload work by British. “Shooting an Elephant" is aiding in the British Imperial Police during the profession of Burma. The British was ruling Burma until their independence in 1948. Thru this time, the Burmese people were antagonistic toward the British. Orwell tries to show the forcefulness of British rule: Imperialism is harmful to everyone, to the oppressed and the
The police officer did not want to kill the elephant; however, he did it. According to George Orwell "I often wondered whether any of the others that I had done it solely to avoid looking fool" he wanted to keep his power and position, he wanted to fulfill the native Indians' expectations, but he lost his moral values. Similarly, David Sedaris wanted to learn the French language that is why he chose to leave his own country and culture. It was so difficult for him to adjust to a different culture, but he tried his best. He wanted to learn a new language, so he had to sacrifice some freedom to fulfill his goal. I think people sacrifices something to go fulfill their dreams. I would like to share one of my memories that remains me one of my own sacrifices. After receiving my high school diploma, I wanted to go to the best university in Bangladesh. Nevertheless, I lived in a small town; therefore, if I wanted to get admission to a good academic school, I had to leave my family, my own bedroom, and my all belongings. It is not possible to have all the things together in anyone's life. However, it is our duty to make the right decision at the right time. In George Orwell's essay, I totally disagree with the police officer's thoughts. He knew that he was wrong, but he killed the elephant to fulfill others'
Today I am going to be writing an essay on the book, 1984 by George Orwell. This book is about Winston Smith and Big Brother where an external conflict arises between the two. The internal conflict that also takes place in this book was between the two ideas, democracy and totalitarianism. The reason this novel was written was to show society what it could and or would become if things continued to go down the worse of the paths: Orwell sensed of the expansion of the great communism when he was thinking of this novel. The conflict that took place between these two ideas in the year 1945 created the two characters, which were the two characters above Winston Smith and the Big Brother, in his mind. The Big Brother is head of the totalitarian
Orwell depiction of this book is an extreme version of what the future may hold if we allow these types of societies to exist within our own nation. In “1984” Orwell is able to draw a link between Nazi, communistic society by the use of certain names that were Jewish. The Jews were often used as scapegoat that were responsible for all the worlds’ misfortune bad and evil.
Orwell, George. “Reflections on Gandhi.” Shooting an Elephant and Other Essays. Ed. Sonia Orwell. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., 1950. 93-103.
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 show his true character and lessen the overall power set up for him. Lastly, the symbols shown are representations of traditional forms of power, but take on different implications in the story. In Shooting an Elephant, George Orwell uses setting, characterization and symbols to show that true power comes from following the dictates of one’s conscience.
George Orwell, an ardent opponent of endemic social inequality, records in his persuasive essay Shooting an Elephant a life-changing moment that discloses far more than just shooting an elephant. In his essay Orwell eloquently describes the scene of killing an elephant and articulates the sensations he feels during the brief yet emotional event. Orwell utilizes a myriad of literary techniques to convey the situational, ironical presentation of imperialism. Orwell's objective is to convince his audience, the working class of Britain, that imperialism both has a negative impact on those governed and degrades those exercising their power. First and foremost, Orwell begins to describe the atmosphere of Moulmein, Burma in order to set the scene for the events that follow.
A police officer in the British Raj, the supposedly 'unbreakable'; ruling force, was afraid. With his gun aimed at a elephant's head, he was faced with the decision to pull the trigger. That officer was George Orwell, and he writes about his experience in his short story, 'Shooting an Elephant';. To save face, he shrugged it off as his desire to 'avoid looking the fool'; (George Orwell, 283). In truth, the atmosphere of fear and pressure overwhelmed him. His inner struggle over the guilt of being involved in the subjugation of a people added to this strain, and he made a decision he would later regret enough to write this story.
“Shooting an Elephant” By George Orwell reflects Orwell’s emotions of hatred, bitterness, and guilt felt due to oppression of Imperialism.
Howe, Tom. "George Orwell." British Writers Volume VII. Ed. Ian Scott-Kilvert. New York: Scribner, 1984. 273-287.
Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell is an essay about his experiences in Burma as a sub-divisional police offer while working for the British Empire in the 1920’s where it had imposed its power onto the Burmese. Orwell felt this strong disagreement with imperialism because how oppressed the Burmese were, but in a way of guilt and sympathy. To better understand what imperialism means we must get a clear definition of it; imperialism is the policy of extending power of a nation over another nation; with the addition of the possibility of economic and political gains through control. With Orwell having the position of being a police officer, he plays the role of being an oppressor and; and because of this, the Burmese look at him and make him – and other Europeans ¬– a target of hatred and frustration. And Orwell also uses a plethora of rhetorical strategies to explain his own sympathies and frustrations with the Burmese, but uses the elephant
In his short story account of shooting an elephant, George Orwell challenges the negligent ideas of imperialism, peer pressures and pride. In Shooting an Elephant Orwell uses diction, and symbolism bring forth the idea that the subjugation of other beings is morally wrong.
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 George Orwell novel, “Shooting an Elephant” he expresses his fear and indefinite feelings of shooting an elephant so that he can impress the natives of his town as a white man. Orwell’s purpose is to convey the white men of his town that holding a rifle in his hand means that he is self-reliant and can impress the natives. He creates a inside imagery of a convinced feeling and encouragement by the thousands of people that crowded the streets just to see him shot a elephant. By doing so, he builds the confidence from the town people that followed him as a way to show that natives what they expect from him. In George Orwell’s novel “Shooting an Elephant”, he gives the reader a observable understanding through his use of words using his imagery, tone words, and figurative language.
Every writer has that one special quirk that keeps readers coming back for more. Whether it is the humor or the characters, most authors carry their quirks from story to story. In “Shooting an Elephant,” George Orwell describes his experience of shooting an elephant. In “A Hanging,” he describes the emotions that run through him as he watches the hanging of a prisoner. Both essays have similar key ideas that identify Orwell as a writer. The results of pride and power contribute to the themes that connect his essays and identify Orwell as a descriptive writer.
"Shooting an Elephant" is perhaps one of the most anthologized essays in the English language. It is a splendid essay and a terrific model for a theme of narration. The point of the story happens very much in our normal life, in fact everyday. People do crazy and sometimes illegal moves to get a certain group or person to finally give them respect. George Orwell describes an internal conflict between his personal morals and his duty to his country to the white man's reputation. The author's purpose is to explain the audience (who is both English and Burmese) about the kind of life he is living in Burma, about the conditions, circumstances he is facing and to tell the British Empire what he think about their imperialism and his growing displeasure for the imperial domination of British Empire.