Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell is a tragic short essay about the Burman’s and the control that the British Empire brought upon them called imperialism. The Burmese reside in Southeast Asia which seems to be a world away from Europe, and the British Empire. But the thing about imperialism is that it is a power that is extended far beyond the country’s borders, the country’s power and influence can be enforced through diplomacy or military style. The Burman are unhappy, in fact, they are devastated about this new control in their lives. The poverty and helplessness is at an all-time high, and they can’t do anything about it. An elephant, a gun, and a dead coolie; all symbols to represent the British Empire during this time of great imperialism.
In this time period, elephants were very important to survival of the Burman. They never killed one in captivity, only wild ones. The used them for a wide variety of things, they ate the meat, sold the tusks, used the hair on the tails for brooms. But these animals are very powerful and can control almost any environment around them, which is why when they are angry everyone is in danger. …show more content…
The elephant even killed someone, in all honesty no one cares because he’s just a poor coolie that is living in poverty. It wasn’t the elephants fault. But nevertheless, the coolie was dead. His inability to get away from the raging elephant represents the helplessness these Burman are feeling from the British Empire. There is nothing they can do but try and get away, and there’s no way to even do that. He represents the poverty that is the Burman, that really is all of Southeast Asia. The whole community is I agony of this terrible time they are going through, the dead coolie represents these times
In this time period, elephants were very important to survival of the Burman. They never killed one in captivity, only wild ones. The used them for a wide variety of things, they ate the meat, sold the tusks, used the hair on the tails for brooms. But these animals are very powerful and can control almost any environment around them, which is why when they are angry everyone is in danger. …show more content…
The elephant even killed someone, in all honesty no one cares because he’s just a poor coolie that is living in poverty. It wasn’t the elephants fault. But nevertheless, the coolie was dead. His inability to get away from the raging elephant represents the helplessness these Burman are feeling from the British Empire. There is nothing they can do but try and get away, and there’s no way to even do that. He represents the poverty that is the Burman, that really is all of Southeast Asia. The whole community is I agony of this terrible time they are going through, the dead coolie represents these times