Introduction: George Orwell and his Impact on Literature Learning
Eric A. Blair is well known by his pen name, George Orwell. He is a prolific writer and his texts impact literature learning with a great magnitude. Among his best-known novels includes the Animal Farm and 1984. However, in the year 1931, he wrote an eye-catching autobiographical essay titled “Shooting an Elephant”. He based the writing on a personal experience as a police officer in colonial Burma. The essay centers on imperialism and shows how power and authority have impacted both the oppressor and the oppressed. Clearly, the narrator is faced by a moral dilemma that forces him to act against his beliefs to save the image of the British empire.
Power Dynamics in Colonial Burma
From the onset of the text, the narrator manifests that the power dynamics in colonial Burma is much differentiated. There is an invisible yet impenetrable wall between the British and the Burmese. Yet, Orwell serves as a symbol of authority and military supremacy in the region. Despite, he is unable to stop the abuse that he receives from the Natives. More so, he cannot even defend an offended European woman as no British man has a voice in the far East away from home. The circumstances in his life make him an unhappy man. Clearly, he hates the British imperialism, the natives, and he far much detests his job. He admits that “I was young and ill-educated and I had had to think out my problems…” (Orwell 1). The narrator thinks that the British ruling is a form of unbreakable tyranny or as something clamped down. Such thoughts occur to him from seeing the first-hand oppressions of the natives in the prison chains. He does not seem to agree with the way the British enforce authority and power. However, Orwell has no one to share his thoughts with. He feels isolated a lost soul yearning for redemption. Although he detests the way his people show authority, he has no place among the Burmese even though he is theoretically and secretly on their side.
The Moral Dilemma and the Choices Faced
An incident occurs that forces Orwell to choose between two undesirable choices. It is through the event that we encounter power, pride, and authority instituted by the British colonialists. When Orwell receives a notice that a tame elephant has broken loose and is causing damage in the area, he takes a hand shotgun. It is too small to kill an elephant but he counts on the noise it may produce. However, when he finds a deceased victim, he has no option than to trade the small gun with a bigger rifle for self-defense. Despite his innocent intentions, the Burmese collect in a crowd expecting him to shoot the animal (Orwell 3). Orwell is the man in authority and he has a gun. He ought to shoot the elephant and be the hero of the day. People expect him to institute his authority and demonstrate power. However, Orwell thinks that the elephant is harmless unless disturbed. He understands that it is a valuable and useful creature worth more alive than dead. If he walks away and lets the elephant live, he will have to endure the ridicule of the natives. On the other hand, his conscience tells him to spare the life of the innocent animal, an act that would put at jeopardy the British’ power and authority in the region.
Symbolic Representation of Imperialism
The incident with an elephant helps the reader understand the imperialism of that era. The author metaphorically uses the animal to represent colonialism. For instance, like the Burmese who have been victims of colonization and abuse, the elephant has been provoked to become destructive. Taming it is a form of oppression and when it goes free, it cannot help but express its rage. Towards the end of the text, the Burmese subvert the colonial hierarchy when they wield power over Orwell. He is not in authority but a force of the Burmese. In other words, Orwell is no longer in control and his decision does not count in handling the matter at hand. Once again, the oppressor becomes oppressed. Orwell has to act out of his will and live with the guilt of killing an innocent animal for the rest of his life. As a result, he does a shoddy job as he lacks the experience of handling animals. After shooting it with the bigger gun, he repeats the act with the small one. His actions are excruciating as he exposes the animal to unending suffering for more than 30 minutes. Admittedly, Orwell’s actions show that the British empire’s inhumanity is not out of necessity but instead, it is out of ignorance of how its colonization acts are damaging to both the colonizer and the colonized.
Conclusion: Impacts of British Imperialism
Orwell has written a breathtaking piece that explains the situation during the colonial era. Clearly, the imperialism by the British brought notable impacts to both the Europeans and the natives. The essay shows that no one has a chance despite the label of power or authority. All people have to make decisions that enhance their survival on the land.
Works Cited
Orwell, George. Shooting an Elephant. 1936.
