Shooting an elephant summary. Shooting an Elephant Summary 2022-10-28
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"Shooting an Elephant" is a short story written by George Orwell, first published in 1936. The story is set in Burma, where Orwell was stationed as a member of the British Empire's Indian Imperial Police. It tells the story of a young Orwell's internal struggle as he is forced to confront his own conscience while carrying out his duties as a colonial police officer.
At the beginning of the story, Orwell is called upon to shoot an elephant that has gone rogue and is wreaking havoc in the town. As he sets off to fulfill this duty, Orwell is torn between his sense of duty to the Empire and his abhorrence of killing an innocent animal. He ultimately decides to shoot the elephant, but only after it has become clear that there is no other way to control it.
As he goes through the process of shooting the elephant, Orwell becomes increasingly aware of the absurdity of the situation. He realizes that the only reason he is shooting the elephant is to uphold the reputation of the British Empire and to avoid being seen as weak by the local Burmese people. In the end, Orwell concludes that imperialism is a corrupt and destructive force, and that he was wrong to have participated in it.
"Shooting an Elephant" is a poignant and thought-provoking story that highlights the inner conflict that can arise when an individual is asked to carry out actions that go against their conscience. It serves as a commentary on the effects of colonialism and the ways in which it can dehumanize both the colonizers and the colonized. Overall, the story is a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for one's beliefs and not allowing oneself to be swayed by the expectations of others.
A Summary and Analysis of George Orwellâs âShooting an Elephantâ
But more importantly, he feels, they expect him to uphold the performance of power that he is meant to represent as an officer of the British Empire. It also underscores the difficulty of making ethical decisions in difficult situations. It is now called Myanmar. Orwell's entire focus as a police officer thus becomes about avoiding the ridicule of the Burmese. As I would write and read, I would see his face.
Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell [Summary and Question Answer]
Blair, goes a step further, suggesting a split between the two personae reminiscent of Dr. However, the writer feels happy to have killed it because it had killed a collie 14. Despotism is the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way. He ultimately concludes that the shooting of the elephant was a futile and meaningless act, driven more by the expectations of others than by his own sense of right and wrong. He was not in control of the situation; he was the puppet of the crowd.
Shooting an elephant short story summary. Shooting an Elephant Summary & Analysis. 2022
He was always thinking that if anything went wrong, those 2000 Burmese would see him perused, caught, trampled on and changed to corpse like the Indian coolie. He is later told that the elephant took a half hour to die. The owner was angry, but powerless, since he was an Indian, and Orwell was legally justified because the elephant had killed a man. He and the crowd of over 2000 people following him found the animal peacefully eating grass. His audience are oppressed by imperialism. And my whole life, every white man's life in the East, was one long struggle not to be laughed at. Why did he really shoot the elephant? Nonetheless, when Orwell rejects this course of action, it is again a matter of moral rather than physical cowardice.
Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell Plot Summary
Ans : He has killed the elephant because it was a matter of his prestige. The public was justified to demand the animal to be since it had killed a woman. Acting like a joker can make us laugh but acting like a fool make us insulted and can harm us. The one thing that the Burmese have overĂ BritishĂ is theĂ ability to mockĂ and mockĂ them. He comes to know that two thousand people are waiting for his shooting the elephant. Although trophy hunting is bad, many people still do it. The crowd has followed him.
What is the summary of "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell?
They harass him and mock him and seek opportunities to laugh at him. Quotations In Moulmein, in Lower Burma, I was hated by large numbers of people â the only time in my life that I have been important enough for this to happen to me. The elephant acts as a symbol of imperialism. Shortly thereafter, the Burmese stripped the meat off its bones. When Orwell saw the corpse, he sent an orderly to borrow an elephant gun from a friend. Orwell does so, but as he has only a small caliber rifle, the animal dies slowly and in great agony. The essay is strongly anti-colonialist in tone.
What is the reasons Orwell considering when he tries to decide what to do? He states that he has no intention of killing the elephant. The theĂ event ofĂ each dayĂ when allĂ of thoseĂ conflicted emotions manifest themselves and Orwell faces them and understands them. Regarding the death of elephant, Europeans had duel opinions. The Europeans, Orwell writes, often find themselves in a difficult and humiliating position. Besides, they wanted its meat, too. The officer later learns that it took half an hour for the elephant to die and that the civilians eagerly harvested its body for meat. He noticed a woman trying to corral some children, and he went to investigate.
GradeSaver, 22 February 2017 Web. How Would You Compare And Contrast George Orwell's Freedom? Some Burmans told Orwell that the elephant was in a nearby paddy field, and many more followed him, eager to see the elephant shot. As we moved out from the hall, our headmaster saw us and complained to our parents. The story is told in first person, as readers learn about a traumatizing experience the narrator had in his past. He needed to show solidarity among the villagers as a man of authority. But when looks back to see the people watching, he realizes that the crowd is massiveâat least two thousand people! The narrator, probably Orwell himself, is British, with a traditional British upper class education, which focused primarily on learning the Greek and Latin classics, and utterly unprepared for his duties as an administrator and policeman. Note that for the British all of Burma was essentially a valuable piece of propertyâanother metaphorical link between the elephant and colonialism.
Documenting Fact or Fiction George Orwell's essay '' Shooting an Elephant'' was published in 1936. What is the difference between acting like a joker and acting like a fool? The townspeople have seen the gun and are excited to see the elephant shot. Nothing terrifies himĂ quiteĂ the prospect of humiliation by the Burmese crowd. Natalie Perdue Natalie has taught multiple topics for both children and adults for over two years. A crowd of several thousand civilians gathers. What does it mean to be laughed at? The officer sets his sights on his pistol, but he has to find encouragement in order to shoot.
Characters The unnamed narrator addresses himself only as ''I. The younger ones feel that it's a shame to shoot an elephant for killing a Burmese collie. This incident was followed by numerous discussions. Urged on by the crowd and not wanting to appear silly or weak, the narrator took aim and fired, but he did not know he had aimed wrong. The crowd, however, demands that Orwell kill the elephant. As I would write and read, I would see his face. How does Orwell pace the shooting of the elephant in paragraphs 11 and 12? He describes the oppressive and authoritarian nature of the British colonial government, and the tension that exists between the colonizers and the native Burmese population.
Southeast Asia was a popular destination for the natural goods that could be found there, particularly spices and textiles. If he didn't shoot the elephant, it would be matter of his shame. He recounts, ''I often wondered whether any of the others gasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool. Orwell, however, did not intend to shoot the elephant, and felt foolish as he marched towards it with a large crowd behind him. The mutilated corpse appears to have been in excruciating pain. Despotism is the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way.
