Shooting An Elephant Symbolism

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In ‘shooting an elephant’ by George Orwell, the author recalls an incident from his days as an English imperial officer in Burma where he finds himself at the mercy of a hooting crowd of Burmese villagers eager to see him shoot an elephant gone ‘must’. In this essay I will be describing how the Elephant, Orwell, and the rifle are symbolism of an ever changing idea of the righteous and discriminated. Most would see the big creature that an elephant depicts as a careful and compassionate animal. For an elephant to completely show opposite characteristics, truly heightens the problematic issues within this symbolic example. In this narrative, this beautiful creature is symbolized to be the horrific overtaking by the British imperialism. The elephant is …show more content…
In the Burma village, only the British owned and possessed guns. It was this entitlement that made them appear as demi gods to the natives and rule over the villagers. Orwell symbolically narrates how cruelly he used It to kill a helpless animal not to protect the villagers from harm, but only to emphasize his superior status over them. A riffle makes a stifling sound, and Orwell did this to this village thorough his unsound actions and overtaking hand. He shot the elephant, unknowing of the time that the death would take, and this symbolizes the hand that the British have upon Orwell’s life. Some of the actions he was upheld as honor to do, weren’t in Orwell’s book of moral guidance. He wanted to help his country, but he didn’t know that he was un-building his moral compass, brick by brick. In this essay “Shooting an elephant” Orwell not only tells you a chaotic story, but a richly symbolic one. He gives you symbols throughout the essay such as the elephant, Orwell, and the rifle. Injustices can be spoken with words, but to actually put them through symbolic depiction, truly brings to life the voice of the

Shooting An Elephant Symbolism Essay

Symbolically, ‘Shooting an Elephant’ by English novelist George Orwell, can come about a person's heart in many ways. When reading this story, many fail to realize Orwell's use of symbols through his experience contributed by the evils of imperialism. The elephant, the Burmese people, Orwell himself were three major symbols in ‘Shooting An Elephant’ used in order for readers to understand his veil message. When the elephant was first introduced, he symbolized a large power. As Orwell stated, “The…

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Analysis of George Orwell's 'Shooting an Elephant' Essay

Analysis of ‘Shooting an elephant’ Written by George Orwell Essay by Arthur Diennet In 1936, George Orwell published his short story ‘Shooting an elephant’ in an English magazine. Since then, it has been republished dozens of times and holds a place as a definitive anti-colonial piece of literature, in an era where the British Empire was at its peak and covered almost 1/3 of the Earth’s surface. George Orwell believed that “…imperialism was an evil thing...” and uses much themes, symbolism and irony…

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Imperialism In Shooting An Elephant

people who are completely incapable of helping themselves.After reading "Shooting An Elephant", by the fascinating George Orwell, many things caught my attention. The main focus point for me was the theme of Imperialism. Throughout the story Orwell gives many signs that he is against it and sees it as an unjust act. Looking at Orwell's side of things I completely agree. Imperialism is evil. I feel through Orwell's symbolism imperialism humiliates the occupied people. It seemingly lowers the people…

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Summary Of Shooting An Elephant By George Orwell

Summary of “Shooting an Elephant” The narrator of “Shooting an Elephant”, George Orwell, works as a sub-divisional police officer in the British colony. He was often besieged because he was European. However, the citizens always kept their distance. Even though the townspeople loathed him, he felt that imperialism was malicious. He once stated that he was cheering for the Burmese against the British. Despite Orwell’s obvious disgust at the European’s actions, he still wanted to kill a Buddhist priest…

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Shooting An Elephant Analysis Essay

goes well into the future. The main idea George Orwell wants readers to learn from “Shooting an Elephant” is that we can’t change the past – what we do is permanent and will stick with us forever. Orwell uses exceptional literary tools such as descriptive, detailed scenes so that we remember the story well, and he uses the tone of the story to reflect a person’s ever-swaying emotions; moreover, he uses symbolism to make small details in the work have different effects on the overall view of the…

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