An Analysis Of Orwell's "Shooting An Elephant"

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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. When ...

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