Shooting An Elephant

Kaz Kim
Nov. 7th 2010
WR97
Analytical Summary

Analytical Summary: Shooting an Elephant

In Shooting an Elephant, by George Orwell, Orwell recounts an event from his life when he was nigh twenty years old during which he had to choose the lesser of two aversions. Many years later, the episode seems to still repair him. The story takes place at some time during the basketball team unhappy years Orwell spends as a British constabulary officer in Burma. He detests his situation in life, and when he is faced with a moral dilemma, a valuable gain animal has to die to save his pride.
Orwell begins to show his inner engagement by stating how he feels about being a European imperial policeman. Orwell is an unhappy young policeman who lives in rational isolation. He hates British imperialism, he hates Burmese natives, and he hates his job. He is completely alone with his thoughts since he cannot make out his idea that imperialism was an evil thing(pg.10) with his countrymen. Orwell sees the British rule as an unbreakable tyranny, as something clamped down. . . upon the will of prostate peoples(pg.11) because he observes firsthand the cruel imprisonments and whippings that the British use to enforce their control. Nor can he talk to the Burmese because of the utter silence that is imposed on either Englishman in the East.



(pg.10) This utter silence results from the reasoning behind imperialism that says, Our enculturations are different. My culture has more power than your culture. Therefore, my culture is superior in every way, and it will rule yours. If one is a member of a superior culture, one must not make jokes, share confidences, or indicate in any way that a member of the inferior culture is ones equal. A wall, invisible only if impenetrable, stands between the British and the Burmese. His hatred for the Burmese is caused by their harsh feelings against the oppressive Europeans. Orwell says, . . . I was an obvious target and was baited,(pg.10) and when he is tripped during a soccer...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com



If you want to get a full essay, wisit our page: write my paper