Daru Imperialism

In The Guest by Albert Camus and Shooting An Elephant by George Orwell, both authors explore colonialism and its effect on the oppressed and the oppressors. In Shooting an Elephant, Orwell recounts his experience in Burma as a police officer. Despite Orwell’s contempt towards imperialism and support for the Burmese, he is often caught between his hatred towards the British Empire and personal resentment of the Burmese. Similarly, in The Guest, Daru, a French-Algerian school teacher, is often in conflict between his allegiance to France and his own personal morals. Despite Daru’s best attempt to disassociate himself from the colonial powers and act on his morals, respect and equality, he inadvertently reinforces the colonial power structure …show more content…
Daru, who has isolated himself from much of society, teaches French history to his students yet he himself doesn’t identify with as French. Although Daru believes society is inherently cruel, his kindness and morality play a central role. In the story, Daru’s ability to form a human connection between him and the Arab enables the Arab to learn of his own humanity and choice. This connection is first formed when Daru delivers the tea. "He started to get to his feet. But Daru, setting the glass on the floor, had knelt beside the Arab. Without saying anything, the Arab watched him with his feverish eyes.” (Pg. 9) Daru’s behavior suggests that he is equal if not below the status of the Arab prisoner. The imagery of Daru kneeling besides the Arab prisoner can only be interpreted as two humans who view each other as equals. By placing himself in equal footing with the Arab they’re able to immediately form a relationship. In addition, the tea, often a symbol of healing, represents the healing of the relationship between the colonizer and the colonized. By treating the Arab with kindness and decency he is able to discover his humanity which he has been deprived of in this colonial relationship. Their relationship continues to develop as Daru contemplates the effect of sharing a room with the Arab. “But it bothered him also by imposing on him a …show more content…
Although Orwell detests imperialism, his personal grudge against the Burmese often blinds him from making rational decisions causing him to ultimately align with the British. Initially Orwell separates himself from the British colonials stating, “When the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys” (Pg. 4) In this statement Orwell clearly dissociates himself from the tyranny of the British. Here Orwell identifies the inherent flaw of imperialism, appearing immune to the consequences of imperialism. However, despite Orwell’s recognition of the true victim of imperialism, the oppressors, he himself yields to the expectations of the Burmese. Orwell’s dilemma is highlighted when he states, “With on part of my mind I thought of the British Raj as an unbreakable tyranny…with another part I thought that the greatest joy in the world would be to drive a bayonet into a Buddhist priest’s guts.” (Pg.1) Orwell’s hatred towards the British and the Burmese are both competing in Orwell’s mind. Although he believes the colonial system is unjust his hate towards the Burmese causes him to reinforce the very system he hates. However, Orwell’s hate is rooted in his fear of being humiliated in front of the natives. This fear is explored in the passage stating, “For it is the condition of his rule that he shall