Critical Analysis of an Essay “Shooting an Elephant”
| ← Critical Analysis of James Q. WilsonРІР‚в„ўs Article “Against the Legalization of Drugs” |
“Shooting an Elephant” is an essay by George Orwell written in 1936. Sometimes, it is referred to as a short story. The story unfolds in 1920s in Burma, in a town of Moulmein. Burma of those times is not sovereign; it is a part of India obeying the conqueror only in broad daylight. The author describes petty jeers of the natives who despise “sahibs” in reality. Astonishingly, the author himself being a part of the imperialistic apparatus supports the oppressed Burmese. Orwell describes an accident with an elephant (supposedly autobiographical). The elephant is in the “must” and goes crazy damaging property and killing people. The author murders the elephant supported by numerous natives. The character acts against his common sense and is not willing to kill the elephant. Shooting does not kill the animal right away and the elephant lies suffering in agony and dying for another half an hour.
Emotional bond with the reader is created through the heart-wrenching story of the kill. “Somehow, it always seems worse to kill a large animal” (Orwell). The picture of the dead Dravidian (lower-caste Indian) is even crueler, but this villager is only a collateral damage of taming wild animals and using them as domestic labor. The willful homicide of an unsuspecting animal, on the other hand, is a different thing. “I did not want to shoot the elephant. I watched him beating his bunch of grass against his knees, with that preoccupied grandmotherly air that elephants have” (Orwell). Ethical conflict of the writer with himself after the shot is more obvious than the conflict with the imperialistic regime. Moral and legal justification of the author is only superficial. He does not feel guiltless at all.
The overall mood of the essay is sullen and stuffy as the air of the village where the action takes place. The main character is weak among the weak. He is the same slave of the British regime, but an outsider for the Burmese. In contrast to these weak, we see the one, who is strong: the elephant. This strong one will be stabbed in the back. In the portrayal of this scene, Orwell foreknows the death of the British Empire illustrating his prophecy with the symbol of the dying elephant. No suspense can be hold up to the end, even though, the main character hesitates. The author has scarcely taken the rifle when we know it will shoot. The story reaches its climax as soon as the soldier has “pulled the trigger.”
Metaphors are numerous all over the essay. The author speaks of himself as “an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the will of those yellow faces behind,” “hollow, posing dummy.” Similes are not less figurative than metaphors. The blood of the elephant “welled out of him like red velvet.” The elephant himself “looked no more dangerous than a cow” and “seemed to tower upward like a huge rock toppling, his trunk reaching skyward like a tree.” Applied techniques make us feel present at the specific period of time. Author controls reader’s compassion and loathing.
Persuasive images of the shot elephant and a man shooting him successfully depict the conflicts that are topical for time and place. The dying elephant struggles for his life (as does the Empire) even though he is doomed to die. The British does not want to shoot, it is against his moral values, but he has to do it because of his spinelessness. The downtrodden Burman makes us see “the dirty work of Empire at close quarters.” The strategies of the author are image-bearing and convincing. The ways of convincing are probably debatable. The World Wildlife Fund would possibly sign a petition against this essay if “Shooting an Elephant” were published this year. However, it will not change the fact that the British Empire perished only in 1997. Apparently, “the elephant” was dying much longer than Orwell had ever expected or foreseen.
- Critical Analysis of James Q. Wilson’s Article “Against the Legalization of Drugs”
- An Analysis of “Shooting Dad”
|
Lonnie K.
Falcon Crest, MA
|
|
|
I work very long hours. Therefore, I sometimes run behind in my school assignments. This is especially true for the long written assignments. It is so great to know that I can always count on EssaysEmpire.com to help me out. The papers that I buy from you are excellent, without fail. I really appreciate your help . Thanks for everything. |
||
|
Celeste H.
San Francisco, CA
|
|
|
EssaysEmpire.com always gives me a plagiarism report to prove that the work they wrote for me is authentic. I appreciate this. It helps eliminate worry. |
||
|
Hannah B.
Tulsa, OK
|
|
|
I am happy. I am happy because I got an A+ on my research paper. I did this by hiring the professional writers at EssaysEmpire.com to write it for me. It was everything I had hoped it would be. Thanks, EssaysEmpire.com! |
||
|
Stephanie K.
Stowe, VT
|
|
|
Dear Sirs: Just a quick note to let you know that I appreciate your working on my paper so quickly. I did get it in time to turn it in for the deadline, even though I hadn’t given you much notice. I made a very good grade on it and was much relieved. Thanks again. You rock. |
||
|
Tricia A.
Calabasas, CA
|
|
|
Thanks for everything. I like your writing service a lot. Your staff is friendly and they’re always open. The papers that you’ve written for me have been very good. |
||
|
Ohjasi O.
Tokyo, JP
|
|
|
The essay that your writers turned out for me far exceeded what I was expecting. It even came with a plagiarism report to prove that it was original. The customer service center was the picture of perfection, too. I loved everything about using EssaysEmpire.com and plan to use your services again. You are one class act! |
||
|
Steve P.
Portland, OR
|
|
|
I am beginning to understand why your writing service was recommended to me so highly. Everything you do is a cut above your competition. You’re really great! |
||
|
Zola R.
Salulita, MX
|
|
|
The paper that I bought from EssaysEmpire.com was a whole lot better than I thought it would be. Thank you for the excellent service and product. I will be happy to recommend you to my friends. |
||
|
Ramona R.
Sparks, NV
|
|
|
Thank you for doing such stellar work on my paper. How anyone could write a paper this well on a subject this boring, is beyond me. When I tried to write it myself, I thought it would have put my professor to sleep! Your writers made it sound so interesting! I really appreciate that. Thanks a million! |
||
|
Brianne H.
Tampa, FL
|
|
|
The paper that I purchased from EssaysEmpire.com was well written. Thank you. I will have another order for you soon. Since I was so happy with the way things went, I see no reason to use any other writing service. Your service delivers the goods, just like you say you will. |
||
|
Philipa W.
Rome, ITALY
|
|
|
The paper that your writers did for me on the topic of, The Psychological Effects of Fluorescent Lighting in the Workplace,” was right on the money! They included my long list of customizations and did not charge extra for them. The formatting was just right. There were no grammatical errors. The length was what it was supposed to be. I am so happy that I chose to let the EssaysEmpire.com writers take care of my paper for me. I will choose this writing service again without hesitation. |
||
|
Ren B.
Sparks, NV
|
|
|
I ordered two papers from you at once. Both of them had strict deadlines and not that much time left. Your writers managed to get both papers to me on time, and both of them received high marks. I am so happy about this! |
||
|
Sanjaya K.
Calcutta, INDIA
|
|
|
I am fully satisfied with my research paper. It cannot have been easy for your writers to compose! The topic is called, "PARALLEL ALGORITHM FOR MULTI-DIMENSIONAL MATRIX MULTIPLICATION OPERATIONS REPRESENTATION USING KARNAUGH MAP”. That is a very difficult topic! However, your writers developed an algorithm, included a diagram and a graph and related multi-dimensional matrix multiplication perfectly. I am thrilled with the work I received and will be using your company again in the near future. Thank you for all of your hard work on this project. I love it! |
||
|
Benjamin P.
Beaumont, TX
|
|
|
Thank you for your diligence! Your writers got it right down to the last word! I appreciate how closely they paid attention. |
||
|
Greg C.
Atlanta, GA
|
|
|
Your writing service is phenomenal. I love the fact that EssaysEmpire.com is even open on Christmas day. You never close, and that tells me that you are dedicated to students like me who might need help over the holidays or any time. The work you do is superior to that of other writing services. I’d say that overall, one simply can’t beat EssaysEmpire.com. Thanks for all that you do for students like me. |
||
|
James C.
New Orleans, LA
|
|
|
I am required to do more writing this semester that I possibly have time for. Right after class, I have to go straight to my job. It’s a good thing I have EssaysEmpire.com to help me out with the writing. You guys always do such excellent work. Thanks! |
||
|
Tommy Davids
Singapore, CH
|
|
| EssaysEmpire.com knows how to do the things that it takes to instill confidence in their customers. They can be counted on every time, to deliver high quality service and high quality writing at prices that we can afford. I would never use any other writing company. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” It ain’t broke! | ||
|
Phoebe K.
Madison, CT
|
|
|
I find your writing company to be professional, proficient and perfect. Your papers are always so good! They make good reading, in addition to being well written assignments. I can tell your writers really know their stuff! |
||
|
Langley R.
Los Angeles, CA
|
|
|
One of the things that I appreciate most about EssaysEmpire.com, is that they don’t resell your paper. Only you own it, if you hire them to write something. Other writing services that I have used, just circulate the same paper over and over, and if you get caught turning one in, too bad. You are expelled. EssaysEmpire.com will even give you a plagiarism report after they run it through their anti-plagiarism check. Such details set EssaysEmpire.com above the rest. |
||
|
Terry M.
Sparta, NJ
|
|
|
I got an A+ on the paper that you guys wrote for me. I can’t believe it! THANKS!!!! Many, many thanks! This A+ added those few extra points that I needed to stay on the Dean’s Honor List. You’re the greatest, EssaysEmpire.com! |
||