Shooting an Elephant

Narration: “Shooting an Elephant” To narrate is to describe an experience or a story that is linked in time. An effective narration “usually relates a sequence of events that led to new knowledge or had a notable outcome” (Aaron 60). George Orwell uses narration in “Shooting an Elephant” to support his thesis that imperialism is an immoral relationship of power because it compels the oppressor to act immorally to keep up appearances that he is right, just like his experience of shooting an elephant.

Orwell was called to the market after a working elephant escaped his handler and killed a man. (Rule#2)By the time he arrived the scene, the elephant was calm and has wandered into an open area away from the market. Orwell did not want to kill the elephant because it was calm and caused no threat. (Rule#1)He had never intended to hurt the elephant, but with everyone watching, he felt as if he could not let them down. Orwell states, “They [the crowd] did not like me, but with the magical rifle in my hands I was momentarily worth watching” (86).

Therefore, he pulled the trigger and killed the elephant. He was regarded as a wise ruler, but on the other hand, he knew that he was wrong in what he did. As a result, he finds himself doing whatever he must do, which in this case is to kill the elephant, to “avoid looking a fool”(89). (Rule#4)Orwell symbolizes himself as the British imperialists, who were the ruling authority in Burma, and the Burmese people as the elephant. Shooting the elephant is a symbolic of the English government’s relationship with the Burmese people.

By narrating the experience of killing an elephant, George Orwell presents a good model of narration. His narration brings out a notable outcome, which is his thesis that imperialist have to control their indentured servant by showing their power.

Work Cited Aaron, Jane E. , ed. 40 Model Essays. New York: Bedford/ St. Matins, 2005. Orwell, George. “Shooting an Elephant. ” 40 Model Essays. Ed. Jane E. Aaron. New York: Bedford/ St. Martins, 2005. 82-89.

George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant George Orwell writes of his experience in British-ruled India in the early twentieth century as a sub-divisional police officer in the sovereign Southeast Asia state of Burma. His essay presents a powerful theme of inner conflict. Orwell’s strong inner conflict lies between what he believes as a human being and what he should do as an imperial police officer. Orwell immediately claims his perspective on British imperialism saying that it is evil and that he is fully against the British oppressors, even though he himself is a symbol of foreign oppression to the Burmese.

His conflict ultimately results from the fact that he hates the British Empire, which should make him pity the Burmese people, but he does not. This is made clear when he says: “All I knew that I was stuck between my hatred of the empire I served and my rage against the evil-spirited beasts who tried to make my job impossible” (Orwell 1). In his story Orwell writes not only about his personal experience with the “wild” elephant but how the elephant’s rampaging spree is a metaphor exhibiting the destructive power of imperialism; the elephant destroys homes and even kills a man.

Orwell’s hostile feelings toward the British, imperialism, and the Burmese people are further revealed when sets the mood of the story by illustrating the setting in Burma to be a “cloudy, stuffy morning at the beginning of the rains” (Orwell 2). Orwell then establishes himself as a “weak” character when he introduces the Burma people and how they completely disrespect the British officer by constantly laughing and mocking him. When Orwell finally finds the elephant, he admits that, “I knew with perfect certainty that I ought not to shoot him”… nd that he “did not want to shoot the elephant” (Orwell 2). He ultimately falls into the expectations of the Burmese when he decides to shoot the elephant, despite the many reasons not to shoot it such as how it is worth more alive rather than dead. When he kills the elephant he goes against his will and moral belief, and Orwell uses the death of the elephant as another metaphor of British imperialism in Burma. The elephant is a symbol of Burma and its struggle to remain alive after three Anglo-Burmese wars starting in 1824 between the British oppressors and the Burmese.

Even after a third shot, the elephant survives, symbolizing how the Burmese are still alive but with less power, strength and hope than before the wars. Even though Orwell tries to justify his killing the elephant by stating, “legally I did the right thing, a mad elephant has to be killed,” he knows that the elephant could have been saved without unnecessary harm and this exemplifies the final collapse of his morals (Orwell 4). As the story develops, it becomes progressively evident that the natives have control over the white man who is supposed to be in power.

Orwell realizes that as the symbol of British oppression, he is actually the victim of the Burmese, and it is their expectations of how he should use his power that force him to do what they want. As I mentioned earlier, Orwell makes many comparisons throughout the story that demonstrate his weakness in character; he equates himself to a puppet being controlled with the Burman crowd behind him as the audience, as well as how he feels forced to wear a mask constantly and play the role of a white man.

Orwell does a great job at shedding light on the fact that humans can be influenced so easily as well as how the influences of imperialism produce harmful effects on both the victims and oppressors. Orwell is supposed to be the higher power as an imperial police officer but because he is subjected to the evils of imperialism he becomes the victim. Orwell leaves readers with a powerful ending implication that human beings will do almost anything and act in unimaginable ways just to “avoid looking a fool” (Orwell 4).

It is my opinion that Orwell’s essay succeeds in conveying its message because it combines personal experience and political opinion into a smooth reading story. Source Orwell, George. “George Orwell: ‘Shooting an Elephant'” George Orwell’s Library. New Writing. –GB, London. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. http://orwell. ru/library/articles/elephant/english/e_eleph

In the poem “White Man’s Burden” and essay “Shooting an Elephant” is talk about the two white men has a different point of views about imperialism and how the white treat the natives. “White Man’s Burden” by Rudyard Kipling is talk about how does white man sacrifice for the native during the imperialism. “Shooting an elephant” by George Orwell is talk about how does the white treat the natives by reflect the way shooting an elephant. “White Man’s Burden” by Rudyard Kipling, the first identity of the white man is sacrifice for the natives, he was one believed in the virtues of imperialism in that period.

As the text proof “send forth the best ye breed-go bind your sons to exile, to serve your captives need; to wait in heavy harness”. The white man try to make difference to the natives, educated them was white man’s job and the cast it as their goal. The second identity of the white man is racial and cultural stereotype, as the text proof “Ye dare not stoop to less-nor call too loud on freedom to cloak your weariness, by all ye cry or whisper, by all ye leave or do. The white man have to be open mind about different culture and to think about the way of white man teaching the native, be open mind to accept the natives culture as well too. “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell, Through the essay Orwell reflects the social condition at Burma as a result of British Imperialism and his own view on imperialism. The first identity of the white police officer was sub-divisional police officer of the town, an in an aimless. Second identity of the white police officer as he expresses is great sympathy for the oppressed Burmese.

White police officer reflects the way he Killed the elephant, emotionally. As the text proof “as soon as I saw the elephant I knew with perfect certainty that I ought not to shoot him. I did not in the least want to shoot him, I decide I could watch him a little bit make sure he did not turn savage again, and then go home. With the magical rifle in my hands I was momentarily worth watching. Suddenly I realized that I should have shot the elephant after all……” and finally he shot the elephant.

In the essay the police officer feels truly stuck between his loyalty to Britain and his sincere distaste of imperialism. The police officer was kind open mind about the time of imperialism. Ironically “he shoot the elephant” in order to maintain the integrity o the system of imperialism, In Orwell opinion imperialism take away peoples think, doing whatever to the expectation of other. “The White man’s burden” compare to the “Shooting an elephant” they are both white, and the winner of the imperialism. But they have different view and thought about the imperialism.

In the poem “The white man’s burden” the white man to bring civilization to the natives, by educate them and take responsible to the native, and white man sacrifice a lot to the natives . In the essay “shooting an elephant” the white police officer think that the imperialism was an evil thing to the natives, his sympathy for the oppressed native, but in other hand he can’t do anything about it. In conclusion the poem and essay was written during the Imperialism period, causing many mix feelings between what is good and what is bad?

But I feel so bad about the natives, why should white people have to care about native? Because if you want to control over a country you need to know their culture and respect their culture this is call winner. Why is important? Because we are human and we have to try everyone equally the way they should be treat. In shooting an elephant, the white police know that imperialism is evil thing to the native, at the time he couldn’t do anything about. But today is different and we all equal respect each other, and live in freedom country.