Shooting An Elephant By George Orwell

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Shahinda Ghaly LAH 100 Professor Kiwanuka Nsereko November 12th, 2015 Shooting an Elephant-Critical thinking George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” unveils the hypocrisy and abhorrence of British imperialism through the eyes of a British policeman. Set in Burma during the British occupation, the story depicts Orwell’s pursuit and experience in killing a rogue elephant. He is caught in a conflict between satisfying the expectations of the natives and violating his own moral conscience. Though at first glance it seems no more than a reminiscent anecdote of the author’s vivid recall of the event, the story contains woven elements of irony that illuminates its central theme. Orwell and the elephant tell a much deeper story: Orwell’s inner conflict reveals the secret evils of empire while the elephant represents the Burmese people.…show more content…
In addition, he is also mocked and tormented by the natives of the city he is patrolling. Orwell struggles to reconcile his hatred of the tormenting Burmese with his simultaneous hatred of the imperial occupation, abounding with the impoverishment and torture that it imposed upon the natives. Although he had already made up his mind that imperialism was an evil thing, he still resents his suffering at the hands of the brazen natives. He is unable to decipher whether the empire or the Burmese people deserve his disgust more due to his experiences with both parties. Orwell is called upon to control an elephant which has gone on a rampaging spree. It is at this point that he discovers the answer to his plaguing
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