British Imperialism
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.
Shooting An Elephant is a work of creative non-fiction, so while the details likely come from Orwell's imagination rather than an uncanny ability to recall details, the story is, on the whole, factual. Recreational elephant hunting was not unheard of in India during the time the story takes place.
Orwell's purpose in giving details about the elephant's slow death was to emphasize how unnecessary it was to have killed the elephant. George Orwell was an English writer.
The crowd following Orwell in his story "Shooting an Elephant" is described as being large and growing as they gather to witness the potential shooting of the elephant. The crowd consists of a mix of locals and curious onlookers.
The subinspector asks Orwell to put the Indian elephant, which has gone rogue, out of its misery by shooting it.
he liked elephants...
George Orwell uses Latin phrases in "Shooting an Elephant" to evoke a sense of colonial authority and formality. By including Latin phrases, he underscores the oppressive nature of imperialism and the disconnect between the colonizers and the colonized. This use of language serves to highlight the power dynamics at play in the narrative.
Orwell, Shooting an elephant
The Burmese crowd becomes excited and anticipates the shooting of the elephant. They are eager to see how Orwell will handle the situation and are curious about the outcome.
The narrator leaves before the elephant is dead because he feels increasing pressure and scrutiny from the crowd to act decisively. He is conscious of the expectations placed upon him as a representative of the British Empire and feels compelled to maintain his authority and status, even though he is conflicted about shooting the elephant.
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.