How does Orwell feel about the British Empire?
Imperialism. An anti-imperialist writer, Orwell promotes the idea that through imperialism, both conqueror and conquered are destroyed. Orwell clearly states his displeasure with colonial Britain: “I had already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing….
What does the situation with the elephant make Orwell realize about the British imperialist mission in Burma?
Orwell feels that the presence of the British in Burma (now Myramar) is not right. The ambivalent feelings of the protagonist in “Shooting an Elephant” reflect his own experience of being subject to, but not approving of, the Imperial presence.
How does Orwell present British imperialism?
Orwell’s self-consciousness as the face of British imperialism is central to his internal conflict as he tries to uphold the image of the impenetrable empire while going against his personal inclination, and killing an elephant that he doesn’t want to kill.
What does the elephant’s slow death symbolize?
The fact that the elephant does not immediately die but remains paralyzed after being shot could symbolically represent the oppressed nature of the native Burmese citizens. Either way, the elephant’s slow, agonizing death symbolically represents the destructive, debilitating nature of colonialism.
What does Orwell’s word choice reveal about the situation and setting?
What does Orwell’s word choice reveal about the situation and setting? He lets us know that the people of the town hated the British and that it was located in Moulmein, lower Burman. He does this to explain how the people of the felt towards him. You just studied 11 terms!
What is the value of the elephant?
Photo courtesy of The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. In their report, iworry estimated the raw-ivory value of a poached elephant to be $21,000. In contrast, a living elephant is worth more than $1.6 million over its lifetime, largely because of its eco-tourism draw.
What is the main conflict in shooting an elephant?
The most obvious conflict in “Shooting an Elephant ” is the narrator’s unwillingness to shoot the elephant that went on a rampage. This conflicts with the perceived need for him to do so as a display of colonial strength and resolution.