Shooting The Elephant Imperialism Essay

“We are only falsehood, duplicity, contradiction; we both conceal and disguise ourselves from ourselves, Blaise Pascal.” Individuals in today’s society, influences and pressures people to do actions that they would normally disapprove. Whether it is to smoke, steal something, or even shoot another individual; it often associates with contradiction and much aware/concern. In, Shooting the Elephant, Orwell’s usage of symbolism in the imperialism between the countries of Britain and Burma. During this period of imperialism, Britain had taken over Burma due to a more powerful government and opposing views (on land) . In the story, Orwell expresses that what Great Britain was doing to the Europeans , by taking over their government and land, was harmful and fruitless. The author says, “All this was perplexing and upsetting. For at the time I had-I chucked up my job and got out of it the better” (pg. 355). Orwell usage of symbolism here works in the personal narrative of the police officer expressing his feelings towards what is occurring in the town of Burma. The police officer was in charge of

Orwell says, “The rifle was a beautiful German thing with cross-hair sights. I aimed several inches in front of this - I sent back for my small rifle and poured shot after shot into his head and down his throat” (pgs. 360-361). Orwell's understanding for readers of the gun was that it was all of the power that Great Britain had upon the Burmans (natives). The elephant itself represented the British empire; not only did it take everything to break down the animal, it also broke down the officer in itself. More importantly, killing the animal meant the Great Britain opposed its ownself. Orwell, explained to his readers through these devices that the British essentially killed themselves. The Natives earned their meals while Britain earned hopelessness and