What is the main theme of the essay Shooting an Elephant?
The main themes of “Shooting an Elephant” include conscience, culture clash, and order and disorder. Conscience: In the essay, colonial law contrasts with the conscience of the narrator both in his killing of the elephant and his treatment of the Burmese.
What is Orwell’s main point in Shooting an Elephant?
‘Shooting an Elephant’ is a 1936 essay by George Orwell (1903-50), about his time as a young policeman in Burma, which was then part of the British empire. The essay explores an apparent paradox about the behaviour of Europeans, who supposedly have the power over their colonial subjects.
What is the thesis of to shoot an elephant?
THESIS: Although Orwell is justified, legally shooting the elephant is wrong because, the elephants “must” period was over, the way the animal was shot caused the animal to suffer, and Orwell violated his own beliefs because of peer pressure.
What does Shooting an Elephant reveal about imperialism?
The shooting of the elephant in the incident that reveals that imperialism inflicts damage on both parties in an imperialistic relationship. The British officer, Orwell, displays many aspects of the being the “absurd puppet” under the institution of imperialism.
What type of essay is Shooting an Elephant?
The essay describes the experience of the English narrator, possibly Orwell himself, called upon to shoot an aggressive elephant while working as a police officer in Burma….
| Shooting an Elephant | |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Genre(s) | Unknown whether fiction or non-fiction |
| Published in | New Writing |
| Publication date | 1936 |
How did Orwell feel about shooting the elephant?
Orwell abandons his morals and kills the elephant to garner the approval of the Burmese. Orwell speaks of himself when he says, “it is the condition of rule that he shall spend his life in trying to impress the natives.” And so in every crisis he has got to do what the natives expect of him.
Why did Orwell change his mind and decide to shoot the elephant?
Because the locals expect him to do the job, he does so against his better judgment, his anguish increased by the elephant’s slow and painful death. The story is regarded as a metaphor for colonialism as a whole, and for Orwell’s view that “when the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys.”
Is Shooting an Elephant a narrative essay?
“Shooting an Elephant” is the stronger descriptive narrative because of vivid sensory detail, manipulating the perception of the reader, and Orwell’s use of conflict. The vivid sensory detail of a text is the perfect way to wrap the reader’s senses around the story.
What is the main idea of shooting an elephant?
Shooting an Elephant is mainly about the tussle going on in Orwell’s conscience while working as a police officer for the British in Burma. However, apart from imperialism and its effects on local life, the essay is also about how the inherent evil of imperialism is destroying the freedom of both the oppressor and the oppressed.
What does Orwell say about Burma in shooting an elephant?
Shooting an Elephant Quotes and Analysis “Theoretically—and secretly, of course—I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British…” Orwell explicitly states his allegiance to the Burmese people and his opposition to the power that he himself embodies, as imperial police officer and face of the British Empire.
Is it a serious matter to shoot a working elephant?
“It is a serious matter to shoot a working elephant—it is comparable to destroying a huge and costly piece of machinery—and obviously one ought not to do it if it can possibly be avoided.” This quote effectively conveys the size, power, complexity and life force of the elephant, and places it in the context of the elephant’s usefulness in Burma.
Why did Orwell think the attack of elephants had passed?
Elephants did most of the heavy work in that period and losing an elephant meant losing 50 or 100 workers. Orwell thought that the attack of ‘Must’ had passed and the elephant would mean no harm anymore. He thought it could be peacefully brought under control by the mahout. However, the crowd around him had grown.