Analyzing European Imperialism in Orwell's Shooting an Elephant Essay

This essay explores the nature of European imperialism through George Orwell's 'Shooting an Elephant.' The essay equates the elephant to the British Empire, highlighting the detrimental effects of colonialism on both the colonizers and the colonized. It delves into Orwell's internal conflict before shooting the elephant, representing the futility experienced by imperial powers. The author's decision to shoot the elephant under local pressure depicts the challenges and moral compromises inherent in imperialism. Ultimately, the essay sheds light on the corrosive impact of European imperialism on Burmese society and the psychological burden it imposed on those enforcing it.

Running head: GLOBAL HISTORY - IMPERIALISM
GLOBAL HISTORY - IMPERIALISM
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1GLOBAL HISTORY - IMPERIALISM
What do you think is the most important lesson about the nature of European imperialism
that Orwell is trying to tell us in his story about shooting an elephant in Burma?
“Shooting An Elephant” is a well-known essay by George Orwell. The essay was
published in the New Writing, a well-known literary magazine in the year 1936 (Orwell). The
author equates the elephant to the massive British empire. The essay attempts to shed light on the
comparison as drawn by the essayist and the depiction of the Imperialism through the given
essay. The following paper aims to discuss the nature of the European Imperialism as is depicted
within the essay by the eminent writer, George Orwell.
The essay “Shooting An Elephant” as composed by George Orwell is one of the
compositions that are related to the European Imperialism in a close manner. the essay also
points out the effects that were implemented by the colonialism not only on the colonized but
also on the colonizers of the area. The story opens with the detrimental nature of the colonialism
and the way in which the colonialism has its corrosive effects on the both the colonizers and the
colonized. The essay in discussion revolves around the killing of an elephant in the country of
Burma. The elephant in this essay as opined by Akter represents the British Colonial Empire.
The death of the elephant at the hands of Orwell represents the abolishment of the Empire at the
hands of the officials that they have appointed on their own. The attack of the “must” as is
demonstrated within the essay is a representative of the routine that is followed by the British
Empire. Mullen opines that this generally refers to the routine of the enforcement of the power
and the dominance over the area that they have colonized, the Burmese in this context. The essay
in discussion “Shooting An Elephant” is one of the compositions of Orwell where he is observed

2GLOBAL HISTORY - IMPERIALISM
to have been raising a voice in opposition to the imperialism as is exercised by the European
colonizers.
The description of the elephant as is provided by the concerned author reveals that the
animal is in a state of distress yet it oozes out the aura of terror in the minds of the people who
have been viewing the animal. The animal, as is found in the essay by Orwell is known to have
been baring its teeth at its onlookers in pure excruciating agony. The author further states that the
elephant in the wild might instill terror in the psyche of the viewer as is the same with the
implementation of the imperialism on the Burmese. The essay in discussion, “Shooting An
Elephant” sheds light on the fact that prior to the shooting of the elephant the author experiences
an internal conflict just before shooting the elephant. Pordzik opines that the decision on the part
of the author to shoot the voiceless elephant is known to clearly depict the futility that is
experienced by the Imperial power in the Eastern countries that they have colonized. The author
had to shoot the elephant as he gave in to the pressures of the local people despite the fact that
the killing was not necessary in terms of the safety concerns of the people residing in the area.
Thus, from the above discussion it might be concluded that the essay exudes the proper
situations of the imperialism and its effects on the Burmese people. The author focusses on the
issues that demonstrate the effect of the European Imperialism on the colonized country of
Burma.

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References
Akter, Shammi. "Shooting an Elephant: A study of Hypocrisy; not Heroics." Journal of English
Language and Literature 8.1 (2017): 595-597.
Mullen, Lisa. "Orwell’s Tattoos: Skin, Guilt, and Magic in ‘Shooting an
Elephant’(1936)." Humanities 7.4 (2018): 124.
Orwell, George. "Shooting an elephant." New Writing 2 (1936): 501-06.
Pordzik, Ralph. "George Orwell’s Imperial Bestiary: Totemism, Animal Agency and Cross-
Species Interaction in “Shooting an Elephant”, Burmese Days and
“Marrakech”." Anglia 135.3 (2017): 440-466.