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An Analysis Of Orwell's "Shooting An Elephant" - Term Papers

An Analysis Of Orwell's "Shooting An Elephant"

In “Shooting an Elephant,” George Orwell finds himself in a difficult
situation involving an elephant. The fate of the elephant lies in his
hands. Only he can make the final decision. In the end, due to Orwell's
decision, the elephant lay dying in a pool of blood. Orwell wins the
sympathy of readers by expressing the pressure he feels as an Anglo-Indian
in Burma, struggling with his morals, and showing a sense of compassion for
the dying animal.

Readers sympathize with Orwell because they can relate to his emotions in
the moments before the shooting. Being the white “leader,” he should have
been able to make an independent decision, but was influenced by the “
natives” (Orwell 101). ...

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In this case, Orwell was pictured as a leader because he was
British and he worked for the British Empire. Readers are able to relate
to the fact that he does not want to be humiliated in front of the Burmese.
He declares, “Every white man's life in the East, was one long struggle not
to be laughed at” (101). Orwell compares the elephant to the huge British
Empire, and just as the elephant has lost control, he feels that when the
white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys (100).
Secretly he hates the British Empire and is on the side of the Burmese (97).
The elephant is equivalent to the British Empire ravaging through Burma
and disrupting the little bit of peace that they have. So in that instant
he felt that he had to kill the elephant.

Another aspect that wins reader's sympathy is Orwell's struggle with what
he thought was right and what the Burmese wanted him to do. The readers
have a sense that he did not have ill-intent to kill the elephant. ...

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An Analysis Of Orwell's "Shooting An Elephant". (2005, March 13). Retrieved November 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/An-Analysis-Of-Orwells-Shooting-Elephant/23649

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"An Analysis Of Orwell's "Shooting An Elephant"." Essayworld.com. March 13, 2005. Accessed November 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/An-Analysis-Of-Orwells-Shooting-Elephant/23649.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 3/13/2005 01:28:29 PM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 763
Pages: 3

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