Imperialism In Shooting An Elephant

“With great power comes great responsibility”. In one’s lifetime, this quote is found to be true in almost all aspects of life. However, this saying fails to comprehend the views of society towards those with power. It is human nature to not welcome authority, despite the fact that it is necessary in the balance of life. George Orwell states that he was once “hated by large numbers of people--the only time in my life that I have been important enough for this to happen to me.” This quote goes to show how being in a position of power leads to hate from those who were the subjects of this power. English novelist, essayist, and critic most famous for Animal Farm and 1984, George Orwell, wrote a personal narrative Shooting an Elephant as a medium to discuss his views on imperialism during his time in Burma. By analyzing George Orwell’s personal narrative Shooting an Elephant one can see how the author uses analogy to convey how imperialism has a negative impact on those governed and twists their perception to a point of hostility towards the superiors. Orwell uses the Elephant and its death to …show more content…
At first, Orwell directly points out that “imperialism is an evil thing.” However, by sharing his experiences in Burma, he is able to convey not only his own personal thoughts towards the matter, but the feelings of the subjects in Burma. His writing style is inclusive of many analogies that help incorporate many different levels to a seemingly simple object. The elephant itself can stand not only as a character, but represent innocence, British rule, and the power (of the British) over the Burmese people all at the same time, but on different analytical levels of the essay. This complex style helps the reader understand Imperialism from many different perspectives but also how it can affect a particular country, such as