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The protagonist in "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell is the narrator, who is a British police officer in colonial Burma. The antagonist could be seen as the pressure and expectations from the local Burmese population, who are watching and goading the narrator to shoot the elephant.
Yes, "Shooting an Elephant" is a non-fiction essay written by George Orwell. It recounts Orwell's experiences as a police officer in British-controlled Burma and the moral dilemma he faced when he was called to shoot an elephant that was causing destruction.
Eton, then Burma
Shooting an Elephant is set in Burma, Afghanistan.
George Orwell disliked his job as a police officer in Burma. He experienced guilt over being part of an oppressive colonial system, which he later criticized in his writing. The experience influenced his views on imperialism and social injustice.
Orwell argues that stories in the East often contain exaggerated or false elements, which he believed was a way to entertain or deceive the audience. In the context of "Shooting an Elephant," Orwell reflects on how the narrative surrounding the event he experienced as a colonial officer in Burma became distorted and embellished over time. He explores the power dynamics and complexities of truth in storytelling in a colonial context.
Orwell did not agree with the imperialistic practices of the British, so in his heart he sided with the Burmese.
The thesis statement of "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell is that imperialism not only oppresses the colonized but also dehumanizes the colonizers themselves, leading to moral conflicts and individual struggles with identity and power. Orwell uses his personal experience as a British colonial officer in Burma to explore the destructive nature of imperialism on both the oppressor and the oppressed.
Burma, which was then still a part of the British Empire.
Because he was an English officer. English had colonized India and had occupied it for almost 300 years. At the time of the story, the nationalist movement was going on in India and an anti-British feeling was very prevalent.
The main points of Shooting an Elephant;First of all, Orwell's main aim was to prove to the reader of the negative reality of Imperialism and how the Empire has destroyed this beautiful country.The Burmese are a strong, united country despite their wicked treatment.Although the Empire are physically strong, they are mentally corrupt and weak.Orwell uses symbolism in order to illustrate these points. For example, Orwell himself symbolises the weaknesses of the Empire and the elephant symbolises the strengths of Burma.
George Orwell's mother was called Ida Mabel Blair. She grew up in Burma with her french father. I hope this helps