CSP
Shooting an Elephant is an essay by George Orwell. It is based on his experience as a British officer in Burma. Burma was under British rule at that time. Orwell did not like British rule, but he also did not like how the Burmese people treated him. The essay tells a real event where Orwell had to shoot an elephant. The story talks about power, control, and the effects of colonialism. Orwell explains how colonialism harms both the rulers and the people they rule.
Theme
One theme in the essay is imperialism. Orwell was a British officer, but he did not support British rule in Burma. He saw how British rule hurt the Burmese people. Another theme is pressure from society. Orwell did not want to shoot the elephant, but the people expected him to do it. He was afraid of looking weak. Another theme is morality. Orwell felt bad about killing the elephant. He knew it was wrong, but he still did it.
Tone
The tone of the essay is serious. Orwell talks about his real feelings and experiences. He describes the cruelty of colonialism. The tone is also sad. Orwell felt trapped by his duty. He did not want to kill the elephant, but he felt forced to do it. The tone also has irony. Orwell was supposed to be in control, but he was actually powerless.
Mood
The mood of the essay is tense. Orwell describes how the people followed him, waiting for him to kill the elephant. He felt nervous. The mood is also helpless. Orwell knew he should not kill the elephant, but he still did it. The essay makes the reader think about the problems of power and control.
Settings or Background
The essay takes place in Burma. Burma was a British colony at that time. Orwell worked there as a police officer. The people in Burma did not like British rule. They also did not like British officers. Orwell felt trapped between his job and his feelings. The story happens in a small town. The main event happens in an open field where the elephant is standing.
Style & Structure
Orwell writes the essay in first-person. He tells the story from his own experience. The language is clear and simple. Orwell gives detailed descriptions. The essay is structured like a short story. First, Orwell describes his position as a British officer. Then, he explains how he heard about the elephant. Next, he describes the events leading to the shooting. Finally, he explains his feelings about what happened.
Characters
- Narrator (George Orwell): He is the main character. He is a British officer in Burma. He does not like colonialism, but he is part of it. He is pressured to shoot the elephant. He feels guilty and helpless.
- The Burmese People: They dislike British rule. They follow Orwell and expect him to shoot the elephant. They enjoy watching the event.
- The Elephant: It is a peaceful animal. It destroys some property but does not harm anyone. It suffers a slow and painful death.
- The Owner of the Elephant: He is upset when his elephant is shot. He loses his valuable animal.
Detailed Summary
Orwell was a British police officer in Burma. He did not like British rule, but he also did not like how the Burmese people treated him. One day, he received news that an elephant was loose in a village. It had destroyed property and killed a man. Orwell took his rifle and went to find the elephant. The Burmese people followed him, expecting him to kill the animal.
When Orwell found the elephant, it was calm. It was eating in a field. He saw that it was no longer dangerous. He realized that he did not need to kill it. However, thousands of people were watching him. They expected him to shoot. He felt pressured to do what they wanted. He did not want to look weak.
Orwell shot the elephant. The elephant did not die immediately. It fell but stayed alive. Orwell shot it again and again, but it did not die quickly. The elephant suffered for a long time before it finally died. Orwell felt terrible. He knew he had killed the elephant only because of pressure from the crowd.
Later, he thought about what had happened. Some people were happy that the elephant was dead. The owner was sad because he lost a valuable animal. Orwell realized that colonialism made people behave in unnatural ways. He did not want to kill the elephant, but he had to because of his role as a colonial officer. He understood that colonial rulers were not powerful. They were controlled by the expectations of the people they ruled.
Figures of Speech or Literary Devices
- Symbolism: The elephant represents colonialism. Like the British Empire, it is powerful but also causes destruction. The elephant’s slow death represents the slow fall of colonial rule.
- Irony: Orwell was supposed to have power, but he was controlled by the Burmese people. He did not want to shoot the elephant, but he had to.
- Imagery: Orwell describes the elephant’s slow death in detail. He describes how the elephant fell, how it breathed heavily, and how it suffered.
- Metaphor: Orwell compares his situation to a puppet being controlled by the crowd.
- Alliteration: Words with the same sound appear together, such as “powerless to move” and “sagged to his knees.”
Important Quotations
- “I was hated by large numbers of people.” Orwell explains that the Burmese people disliked British officers. He felt isolated and unwanted.
- “When the white man turns tyrant, it is his own freedom that he destroys.” Orwell explains that colonial rulers are also trapped. They think they have power, but they are controlled by expectations.
- “He was dying, very slowly and in great agony.” Orwell describes the elephant’s painful death. It shows how cruel and unnecessary the killing was.