Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell

         George Orwell’s essay depicts the experiences of an English narrator (likely to be Orwell himself) who was asked to fulfill his duties as a police officer in Burma by shooting a domesticated elephant which has strangely turned rogue. Readers would note from this point that the narrator was facing great conflict between his own resentment towards the empire that he serves and his rage towards the Burmese people who was making his job altogether impossible. Sadly, as one would deduce from the title itself, the narrator decides to give in to the Burmese’ jeers (and pressure), and proceeds with the killing.

            This story is regarded as a metaphor for British Imperialism which at the same time dwells on themes such as a loss of freedom in a colonized country, conscience, and resentment. Imperialism and loss of freedom are heavily correlated with each other; as the imperialists colonized a country, like how Britain conquered Burma, they hamper the freedom of the natives. In doing so, the imperialists also unknowingly restrict their own (freedom). With regard to the theme of conscience, however, the narrator is seen having difficulty between choosing what he believes in and what he is forced to do. He makes a claim that he is "all for the Burmese and all against the British." and continues saying "feelings like these are the normal by-products of imperialism; ask any Anglo-Indian official, if you can catch him off duty." On the other hand, the theme of resentment is made clear whenever the natives resent the British conquerors, as would any people subjected to foreign rule. The Burmese would ridicule and jeer their oppressors whenever presented by the chance

           

            Personally, I find it so sad that the Burmese at that time immediately generalized all the British officers as people who would abuse their power. They concluded without any proof that all British were mean and oppressive. Hadn’t they done this, the narrator might not have to kill the elephant.   Yes, Orwell’s reasons for acting as such were not made apparent. Although, he said his ultimate choice was to not look bad in front of the natives. Orwell was obviously in conflict with himself about his rationale, otherwise there would be none. He thought that maybe he needed to show that the natives can trust him and that he can live in harmony with them even as a man of authority. He proved such solidarity by choosing to kill the “rouge” animal.