Themes: Colonial Guilt and Tyranny
Orwell is known as a democratic socialist who hated imperialism, and by the time he came to write “Shooting an Elephant,” he had reached this mature perspective. The young man he describes in this incident a decade ago, however, was a less systematic thinker, uncomfortable and confused in his role as a low-level official doing “the dirty work of empire.” He also believes that his own attitude was approximately typical of Anglo-Indian officials, since such feelings are “normal by-products of imperialism.”
Orwell felt guilty because he was an agent of tyranny, imposing the will of a cruel and corrupt foreign power on the Burmese people. At the same time, he resented these people because they would not hide their hatred. This resentment produced more guilt, as did the fact that, theoretically at least, he was in sympathy with the Burmese and had to hide this sympathy. Orwell shows that the effect of hiding his sympathy was to increase his secret anger, against the empire, the Burmese, and himself, while at the same time he was forced to be constantly on his guard against letting the mask slip and revealing his true feelings, all of which were in some way shameful.
Expert Q&A
Compare the killings of the elephant and the Indian coolie in "Shooting an Elephant."
The killings of the Indian coolie and the elephant in "Shooting an Elephant" differ in their immediacy and symbolism. The coolie dies instantly, crushed by the elephant, symbolizing the agony of colonial subjugation. In contrast, the elephant’s prolonged death, caused by Orwell’s repeated shots, represents the slow demise of the British Empire. Both deaths evoke pity, but the elephant’s death also generates disgust towards Orwell for its avoidability.
What is the meaning of the following quote from Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant"?
"It was a tiny incident in itself, but it gave me a better glimpse than I had before of the real nature of imperialism—the real motives for which despotic governments act."
The quote from Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" reflects the narrator's realization that imperialism is driven by the need to maintain an image of strength and control, even through irrational and cruel actions. The incident of shooting the elephant, though unnecessary and wasteful, illustrates how despotic governments act to uphold their power, often at the expense of innocent lives and resources.
What does the quote "It was a tiny incident in itself but it gave me a better glimpse than I had had before of the real nature of imperialism" mean?
The quote refers to the narrator's realization of the true nature of imperialism during the incident of shooting an elephant. The narrator, a British policeman in Burma, feels pressured by the expectations of the local people to shoot the elephant, despite not wanting to. This incident reveals that imperialism traps both the colonizer and colonized in a dynamic where the colonizer must act according to the colonized's expectations, illustrating the mutual constraints of imperial rule.
What does Orwell mean by "When the white man turns tyrant, it is his own freedom that he destroys"?
Orwell's statement highlights the paradox of colonial rule, where the colonizer loses personal freedom by assuming the role of a tyrant. In the context of shooting the elephant, Orwell realizes that he is compelled to act against his morals to meet the expectations of the local population, thus becoming a "puppet" of imperialism. This reflects the broader reality that colonizers must prioritize the appearance and success of colonial rule over their own ethical beliefs.
What does Orwell mean by "the real nature of imperialism" in his essay "Shooting an Elephant" and how does he illustrate it?
In "Shooting an Elephant," Orwell reveals "the real nature of imperialism" as irrational, cruel, and dehumanizing. He illustrates this through the incident where he feels compelled to shoot a calm elephant to maintain authority and avoid humiliation. This act demonstrates how imperialism forces individuals into rigid roles, stripping them of their humanity and freedom, both for the oppressors and the oppressed.
In "Shooting an Elephant," how does the police officer-elephant conflict metaphorically represent colonizer-colonized relations, and what is being "killed"?
The conflict between the police officer and the elephant symbolizes the complex dynamics of colonizer-colonized relations, where both parties are trapped by external pressures. The elephant represents the colonized, forced into servitude and rebelling against oppression. The officer's decision to shoot the elephant, despite its docility, highlights the colonizer's need to maintain authority. Metaphorically, the act of "killing" refers to the loss of freedom and autonomy for both the colonizer and the colonized.
What is the significance of the Burmese wanting the narrator to kill the elephant?
The significance of the Burmese wanting the narrator to kill the elephant lies in their desire for retributive justice and mob satisfaction, as the elephant had caused destruction and death. Additionally, the crowd manipulates the situation to challenge imperial authority, forcing the narrator to uphold "law and order" and exposing the contradictions of colonial rule.
What is the significance of the statement about the futility of the white man's dominion in "Shooting an Elephant"?
"And it was at this moment, as I stood there with the rifle in my hands, that I first grasped the hollowness, the futility of the white's man's dominion in the East."
The statement about the futility of the white man's dominion in "Shooting an Elephant" highlights the exploitative nature of imperialism. The narrator realizes that, like his forced decision to shoot the elephant to appease the crowd, imperialists must maintain authority and control, even against their will. This metaphor underscores how imperialism negatively affects both the oppressors and the oppressed, stripping authority figures of their autonomy.
What does "the real motives for which despotic government acts" mean in "Shooting an Elephant"?
In "Shooting an Elephant," "the real motives for which despotic government acts" refers to the underlying reasons why oppressive regimes behave irrationally. The narrator learns that such governments prioritize projecting strength and maintaining control over truth and humanitarian considerations. This realization occurs when he shoots an elephant to avoid appearing weak, illustrating how despotic governments act wastefully and cruelly to preserve their image, reflecting the nature of imperialism.
Orwell's Perspective on Imperialism in "Shooting an Elephant"
In "Shooting an Elephant," George Orwell critiques imperialism as a fundamentally corrupt and oppressive system affecting both the colonizers and the colonized. Orwell, through his role as a British officer in Burma, conveys his complex emotions—hatred for imperialism's cruelty and resentment towards the locals, who jeer at him. The essay's central event, shooting an elephant, symbolizes the moral and ethical dilemmas of imperial rule, illustrating how imperialism forces individuals to act against their conscience to maintain authority, highlighting its inherent futility and destructiveness.
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