Shooting an elephant essay. Shooting An Elephant Essay 2022-10-25
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"Shooting an Elephant" is a short story written by George Orwell, first published in 1936. The story is an autobiographical account of Orwell's experience as a British imperial police officer in Burma, and it explores themes of colonialism, power, and the nature of authority.
At the beginning of the story, Orwell receives a call to deal with an elephant that has gone "must," meaning that it is in a state of extreme excitement or aggression. As he approaches the elephant, Orwell becomes increasingly aware of the power dynamics at play between himself, the Burmese people, and the elephant. He is under pressure to demonstrate his authority as a representative of the British Empire, but he also feels a sense of sympathy and compassion for the elephant.
As the story progresses, Orwell finds himself in a difficult position. On the one hand, he knows that it is his duty to shoot the elephant, as it poses a danger to the people of the village. On the other hand, he feels a strong moral reluctance to kill the animal, especially as it seems to be in a state of distress. Ultimately, Orwell decides to go through with the shooting, but he does so with a sense of shame and remorse.
The story is a poignant reflection on the nature of power and authority, and how it can lead individuals to act in ways that go against their own moral code. It also serves as a commentary on the destructive effects of colonialism, as Orwell's role as a representative of the British Empire puts him in a position of authority over the Burmese people, even though he is deeply ambivalent about this role.
Overall, "Shooting an Elephant" is a thought-provoking and powerful tale that raises important questions about the nature of power and authority, and the ways in which they can shape our actions and beliefs. It is a must-read for anyone interested in these themes, and its enduring relevance makes it a timeless classic.
≡Essays on Shooting An Elephant. Free Examples of Research Paper Topics, Titles GradesFixer
His first shot did not bring the peaceful elephant down, nor the second. The elephant has escaped his captivity while his owner is away. However, he continued to publish several literary pieces that showed his strong disgust against the imperial evil in Asia. But at that moment I glanced round at the crowd that had followed me. British explorers traveled across the world in search of trade routes and goods. Once Orwell found the elephant calm in a field he was faced with a decision of whether to kill the elephant or let it be Orwell 69.
Orwell's Shooting an elephant: Summary, Analysis & Essay Questions
Everyone involved in the situation becomes affected. However, the people around him did not know that. Nothing, he explains, would be worse than ridicule. The rifle represents the weapon of tyranny and the cruel methods used by British to keep the local population under control. The officer headed to the bazaar where the elephant was reportedly seen, but it had moved on by the time he arrived. When brought into a political position his corrupt face was showing over his mask.
Symbolism in "Shooting an Elephant" George Orwell's story, "Shooting an Elephant," tells a story about humanity through symbolism. Orwell demonstrates his outlook and feelings about imperialism; and how it effects his duty as to being a white man. As for the job I was doing, I hated it more bitterly than I can perhaps make clear. I turned to some experienced-looking Burmans who had been there when we arrived, and asked them how the elephant had been behaving. . Alongside the elephant are the primitive Burmese people whom we see living in thatch huts; we see children naked; they are represented in a way that connects them to nature.
He did not feel strong and highly effective, as a hunter would; he felt weak and helpless. The narrator runs into several sources of conflict, including himself, the environment, and others around him. This image of the scarred buttocks and broken bodies of the prisoners is the first image of violence in the essay. George Orwell was an English novelist, essayist, journalist and critic, which was born in Bengal,. So he was telling his incredible story as a way of informing the British citizens at the time of exposing the injustices and dark side of imperialism that he felt he had to right. Through this focus, the story depicts the unnecessary shooting and killing of an elephant.
The thick blood welled out of him like red velvet, but still he did not die. Orwell has poured several bullets into it and left the scene. The events come to a head one day when the officer is called out to report to an incident of an escaped wild animal. The police officer sides with the crowd, shooting at the animal, but it is a difficult creature to kill. He was told the elephant was by some rice paddies, and he started off in that direction. The Burmese people play a huge role, badgering Elephant In Shooting An Elephant A Life Taken, and a Life Saved Sometimes shooting a defenseless animal in certain scenarios could be ethical.
The fact that his books have animals in them… Pages: 6 1803 words · Type: Term Paper· Bibliography Sources: 1 Thesis … ¶… Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell Portraying Imperialism through the Imagery of George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" Imperialism proved to be one of the worst institutions since the… Pages: 3 922 words · Type: Thesis · Style: MLA· Bibliography Sources: 3 Reaction Paper … ¶… Shooting an Elephant" reveals the shift in public consciousness related to imperialism and colonialism. GradeSaver, 22 February 2017 Web. He fills the animal with bullets, and it still takes a painfully long time to die. Lesson Summary George Orwell published "Shooting an Elephant" in 1936, a year before Burma became separate from India. Orwell did not want to be taken as a joke, he wanted them to respect him. Wallace Analysis 675 Words 3 Pages Orwell centers his essay around the shooting of an elephant, when the elephant really represents British imperialism.
The Nationalists were lead by the reluctant leader, General Franco. Over everything else it shows that the imperialists have achieved everything meaningless there in Burma. The animal's death symbolizes the slow death of the Burmese. Anti-British sentiment ran rampant, and for good reason. It's unclear whether Orwell's story is autobiographical or allegorical. He raises an internal conflict of what he is forced to do and what he does not want to do. Our first impression of the elephant is that it represents the Burmese society crumbling under British imperialism.
Free Shooting An Elephant Essay Examples and Topic Ideas on GraduateWay
Thus, it is merely a suggestion that an attempt to understand the locals ' cultures and traditions will help the Imperial power to maintain their power. He feels wrong for killing the elephant because he feels that there could have been a more peaceful solution and killing it will bring more harm than good. Besides, legally I had done the right thing, for a mad elephant has to be killed, like a mad dog, if its owner fails to control it. Still, they never got to become friendly. But in falling he seemed for a moment to rise, for as his hind legs collapsed beneath him he seemed to tower upward like a huge rock toppling, his trunk reaching skyward like a tree. The elephant is the most powerful symbol in the story in that it represents British paper NOW! Southeast Asia was a popular destination for the natural goods that could be found there, particularly spices and textiles. He trumpeted, for the first and only time.
