Shooting an Elephant Group

Question:

awaran
awaran
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is George Orwells views on imperialism as revealed in the essay "Shooting an Elephant?"

My homeowrk ? is a compare and contrast on Joseph conrads views on imperialism in his heart of darkness to George orewells views in shoting an elephant. I think i have a good idea on joseph but im haven trouble determining georges. Can anyone help me?

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Posted by awaran on Saturday August 1, 2009 at 12:44 PM and tagged with imperialism, themes.

Answers:

  1. herappleness
    herappleness Teacher
    Graduate School

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    George Orwell’s essay “Shooting an Elephant” was written in 1936. He was working at the time for the Police force (*imperial Indian police). The elements that he presents in the story include the resentment and tension that he feels regarding the way this department had supremacy over the rest of the Indian natives and exploited, abused, and mistreated the citizens. In turn he, as a non-native, was also resented not only because he was part of this huge, abusive apparatus, but because he was a European.

    The elephant in question was a real animal that was causing havoc in a village. As a white officer, he was supposed to take charge of the situation and was pressed to shoot it. He did it, grudgingly and against his moral nature, and killed it. The problem with this was that he realized that no matter  his position or status, he was in no way in control of himself and was coerced into committing an act that goes completely against his nature: The same happens with the imperialists bullying colonists into doing as they say. He was no different: He succumbed his external weaknesses and forfeited his inner strengths over the opression of the majority, and he acted just like the Imperialists he hated so much.

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/shooting-elephant/themes

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    Posted by herappleness on Saturday August 1, 2009 at 1:13 PM