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

life in captivity, as Orwell explains “It had been chained up, as tame elephants always are when their attack of “must” is due.” (Orwell). Likewise, the ridicule and disrespect that police like Orwell received from the natives were an understandable result of the limitations the colonial regime imposed on the natives. Orwell knew he shouldn’t shoot the elephant, likewise, he knew the natives did not deserve to be subjected to restraints by the government. Nonetheless, he ends up shooting the elephant not because of its immoralities, but because of the corrupt ideals of the man holding the rifle. By showing how the components of colonialism and imperialism force him to act barbarically, Orwell exemplifies that “when the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys.” (Orwell).
The use irony helps Orwell strongly conveys his theme. The irony is a key component to this story, as it helps the readers understand how being an imperialistic power essentially limits freedom. Instead of listing the cruel things done by the British colonizers to the colonized, it criticizes colonialism by revealing how it ironically restrains the freedom of the colonizer. For example, the natives had control and power over the officer instead of being the other way around. Shooting the elephant made him feel important to the native people for once, as George wrote: “They did not like me, but with the magical rifle in my hands, I was momentarily worth watching.” (Orwell).
The tone is also a key literary aspect of George Orwell’s story.

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

thoughts.
The use of language and diction in his essay helps Orwell effectively conveys his emotions and message to his readers. Throughout the story, the author uses words and phrases from eastern terminology, Latin, and Hindu. He used words such as coolie (unskilled laborer), bazaar (marketplace), and mahout (skilled elephant trainer). These terms help give the reader a better picture of the social status and the culture he’s currently living in. Orwell also uses descriptive language to show the hidden cruelty of imperialism, for example when he said: "The wretched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages of the lock-ups" (Orwell). This shows how Burmese prisoners were treated like animals, trapped in small overcrowded rooms, in horrendous conditions. The metaphor of "stinking cages" creates a striking image for the reader of jails in imperialist Burma.
“Shooting an Elephant” displays its theme powerfully with the of literary elements. Symbolism, diction, tone and language all work together to create a strong impact on the reader of the evils of imperialism. Orwell’s narrative was written to expose the corruptness of colonialism and the damages it inflicts on both parties. The author displays this perfectly by turning himself, who was supposed to be the greater power, into the victim. Thus, exposing the fact people will do immoral things simply to “avoid looking a fool."