The Hanging By George Orwell Essay

613 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: George orwell influence for 1984

George Orwell was one of the twentieth century’s most renounced political and literary writer. From 1992 to 1927, he served as a member of the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, which is now known as the Union of Myanmar. From this involvement stemmed an exceptional narrative essay that describes his personal feelings toward the concept of capital punishment.

The Hanging begins with a description of the weather in Burma. It is portrayed to be “a sodden morning” with “a sickly light, like yellow tinfoil.” The use of this pathetic fallacy not only establishes an ominous mood that creates a dark and gloomy setting, it also alludes to the confined nature of prison. Orwell then proceeds to comment on the inhumane jail cells which are “small animal cages.” The imagery that is created as this point acts as a sign of Orwell’s disapproval towards the entire atmosphere of prison. This is further reinforced …show more content…

This makes the circumstance of execution much worse. However, it does lead to an epiphany for Orwell, who finally expresses clearly how he thinks that capital punishment is wrong. This turning point is seen quite literally as it happens when the prisoner is “stepping slightly aside to avoid a puddle on the path”. The double alliteration in this line of the essay captures exactly how monumental the moment really is. Unfortunately, at this point, readers are forced to endure the execution of the prisoner. The torment in the atmosphere is clearly detectable as the prisoner chants the name of his god, repeating “Ram! Ram! Ram!” However, the steady, strong, and rhythmical tone suggests that the prisoner has accepted his

Show More
Related

  • The Rhetorical Analysis Of George Orwell's Shooting An Elephant

    781 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Geroge Orwell

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 1922, Orwell began working as the assistant superintendent of police in Myaungmya, Burma, and this is where his hatred toward imperialism and its tyrannical rule over the underdogs in society developed. He felt guilty torturing and flogging unwilling subjects. The community had taken too much power over the individual, and the imperialist society commanded Orwell to enforce this injustice: “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. With one part of my mind I thought of the British Raj as an unbreakable tyranny…with another part I thought the greatest joy in the world would be to drive a bayonet into a Buddhist priest’s guts. Feelings like these are normal by-products of imperialism” (qtd. in Lewis 41). Obviously, imperialism had affected Orwell to the point where he developed animosity towards the Burmese. As a policeman doing “the dirty work of the Empire” (qtd. in Lewis 41), Orwell acquired a hatred for imperialism, a belief that is focused on dominion over other individuals.

    Read More

  • Shooting An Elephant Cultural Analysis

    633 Words  | 2 Pages

    George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” is a short story that not only shows cultural divides and how they affect our actions, but also how that cultural prejudice may also affect other parties, even if, in this story, that other party may only be an elephant. Orwell shows the play for power between the Burmese and the narrator, a white British police-officer. It shows the severe prejudice between the British who had claimed Burma, and the Burmese who held a deep resentment of the British occupation. Three messages, or three themes, from Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” are prejudice, cultural divide, and power.

    Read More

  • George Orwell's Argument Analysis

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the novel 1984, George Orwell elaborates on the idea of an autocratic government. This novel describes Orwell’s views on the dark, twisted form of government that he believes will develop in future years. The culture he created for this story was the most horrifying, troubling place a person could reside. The goals of the Party consisted of keeping the citizens squared away and oblivious to the unethical actions taking place around them. This unrealistic society gave Orwell the opportunity to create a vision of what a future communist nation might resemble. The purpose of this work is believed to be informative to citizens of how the government impacts our way of thinking, living, and believing. Fear from the citizens is used as manipulation by the government; this means the government shapes the citizens that will not conform to their society. Throughout this writing, the author remains in a dark, cold mood; thus, creating the feeling of negativity and opposition to the government. Ethical appeal is revealed in this

    Read More

  • Analysis of George Orwell’s Essay, A Hanging

    671 Words  | 2 Pages

    “I had never realised what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man.” After reading and understanding George Orwell’s feelings through his experiences in his essay “A Hanging.” We come to realize that George Orwell, a visitor from the European establishment, gets the opportunity to participate in the execution of a Hindu man. The author is degraded by what he has witnessed and experienced, and decides to share his feelings with the rest of the establishment through his writings.

    Read More

  • Fahrenheit 451 Rhetorical Analysis

    802 Words  | 2 Pages

    This shows that the deceased prisoner is nothing more than a corpse and is one more victim of the British Imperial justice system. This portrays the callous, cruel and unsympathetic nature of capital punishment. The superintendent's isolation and his miserable demeanor serve to highlight Orwell's strong beliefs against capital punishment; he believes it is inhumane and detracts from the human spirit. It enslaves society, forces us to oppress our emotions and sacrifice our ability to forgive which makes the reader sympathies with Orwell's

    Read More

  • Shooting an Elephant

    422 Words  | 1 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • How Does Orwell Create Tension In Shooting An Elephant

    121 Words  | 1 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Media Manipulation Exposed in George Orwell's Shooting an Elephant

    1588 Words  | 4 Pages

    In George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant, Orwell suggests just that; one can form his own ideals, but they will either be changed by the media (symbolized in his essay by the Burmese natives) or constructed from...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of A Hanging By George Orwell

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the story, the prisoners are often dehumanized by how they are treated while they wait for their hanging. The beginning of the story starts with the narrator describing what the prisoner cells looked like with it in poor condition:

    Read More

  • A Hanging By George Orwell Essay

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    The text “A Hanging” is based on George Orwell’s experience as a policeman witnessing a Hindu man being hung. The theme spins around the inhumane nature of taking a human life.

    Read More

  • Conflict In Shooting An Elephant

    784 Words  | 2 Pages

    The character, himself, is part of the British rule and is supposed to have all of the power. The Burmese, though, dangle the power in front of him. He is weak and unsure of himself, stating that he “wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it” (60). The character is not able to stand up for what he believes in -- that is, not shooting the elephant. There is a back and forth struggle in his mind about whether or not the elephant needs to be killed. Orwell’s character is fully aware that it is wrong and immoral to shoot an innocent creature, but eventually secedes to the demands of the Burmese, attempting to prove his cooperation and loyalty to those watching. In a way, the Burmese represent the pressures of society. Because of this, the audience can sympathize with the main character. There are always times when we, the readers, are unsure of ourselves, but we eventually make a decision. Whether we make the decision for ourselves or are assisted by others, in the end, we must take responsibility for our own actions. In a broader sense, Orwell’s character represents the internal conflict that everyone faces: should we conform to society or should we be our own

    Read More

  • True Power in "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell

    1473 Words  | 3 Pages

    George Orwell uses setting, characterization and symbols to show that true power come from following the dictates of one’s conscience. The state of power established through the imperialistic backdrop show that Orwell should have control over the Burmese. Also, the perspective and ideas given by Orwell show his true character and lessens the overall power set up for him. Lastly, the symbols Orwell uses show representation of traditional forms of power, but take on different implications in the story. These points come together to prove that power exists within one’s self and not through one’s position, conquests or by the items they possess. In the end, it can be said that man’s journey for power will be a continuous struggle until the end of time but that in order at attain power, one must learn to listen to one’s conscience.

    Read More

  • Pride and Power in George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" and "A Hanging"

    986 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of Orwell’s distinctive characteristics is his emphasis of his emotional response to life and death in every situation. Orwell engages readers in his pieces because they feel that they can sit back and imagine what is going on in every situation through the narrator’s eyes. Every sentence is a new description that touches the audience’s emotions. In “A Hanging,” Orwell describes the death sentence scene by stating, “gripping the prisoner more closely than ever, they half led, half pushed him to the gallows and helped him clumsily up the ladder. Then the hangman climbed up and fixed the rope round the prisoner’s neck” (Orwell: A Hanging). Orwell’s perspective on the scene was that the prisoner was slowly walking to his death in a torturous way. He focuses on the sadness he feels versus other people’s perspectives and feelings. It seems that Orwell does not take death easily, so he uses evocative words to describe the trauma through his eyes. In “Shooting an Elephant,”Orwell’s point of view is that killing the elephant will not only hurt the animal, but it will destroy his own pride as a reluctant shooter. He looks at the big picture, but he also identifies with the subj...

    Read More

  • George Orwell's A Hanging

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    George Orwell was a well-known author during the mid-twentieth century whose books 1984 and Animal Farm are often studied in high school literature along with many of his short stories, including his essay called “A Hanging”. In the story, George Orwell describes an incident when he worked in Burma, India where a young and healthy Hindu prisoner was executed before him and reflects upon the meaning of this man’s death and whether or not it was right. Orwell includes many details throughout the story to explain his personal views on the subject of the death penalty and provides an argument for his stance against it. He uses things such as the prisoner’s actions before execution, his upsetting death, and a dog representing his desire to free

    Read More

More about The Hanging By George Orwell Essay

Open Document