Shooting An Elephant By George Orwell Ap Language Essay

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Orwell also uses the technique of imagery to the strongest extent to further his argument.In the moment that the narrator looks back on the crowd of natives behind him, he depicts the people as a “sea of yellow faces”, hungry for action and excitement. The image of a rumblingsea, tossing and turning with excitement, creates a sense of power behind the façade of the oncehelpless natives. Indeed, during the course of the next few scenes, Orwell feels this power as anunyielding force pressuring him to shoot the elephant. As Orwell mulls over the critical decision,he comes upon the realization that the “white man” must display strength and authority when the people demand it. Ironically, Orwell juxtaposes the role of the ever-powerful “white man”against an “absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the will of [the] yellow faces…” Although, he …show more content…
His humiliation and sense of defeatare conveyed through his compelling words. He shows the audience that through this incident, hereceives a “better glimpse than [he] had had before of the real nature of imperialism — the realmotives for which despotic governments act” (Orwell).The whole essay, with its appeals of ethosand pathos, uses of imagery, and satirical techniques, boils down to the irony between theoutward and inward appearances of a British authority figure in Burma, or any other state withinthe British sphere of influence. This irony shows how imperialism ruins everyone involved— starting from the inner core.Orwell, George. "Shooting an Elephant." Shooting an Elephant and Other Essays. London:Secker and Warburg, 1950.

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