Being a white man, Orwell “mustn't be frightened in front of the natives” because he is part of the imperialistic empire that needs to prove its superiority to justify its colonization of other countries. ... Orwell shoots the elephant for the sake of holding up the white man's image, not for the reason of safety.
What is the main point of the essay Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell?
The main point, the theme, of “Shooting an Elephant” is to expose the conflict between the law and one's moral conscience as this pertains to British imperialism specifically, but by extension any imperialism .
Why did Orwell not shoot the elephant?
George Orwell Shooting The Elephant Analysis
Thinking that he needs to do some sort of action to protect the Burmese people. As we all know, he personally does not want to shoot the elephant because it is no harmful no more and it is a working elephant that just got away from its mahout.
What did the elephant symbolize in Shooting an Elephant?
The elephant is the central symbol of the story. Orwell uses it to represent the effect of colonialism on both the colonizer and the colonized . The elephant, like a colonized populace, has its liberty restricted, and it becomes violently rebellious only as a response to being shackled.
What is the theme of Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell?
The main themes of “Shooting an Elephant” include conscience, culture clash, and order and disorder . Conscience: In the essay, colonial law contrasts with the conscience of the narrator both in his killing of the elephant and his treatment of the Burmese.
To educate people on how they can help stop the decline of the language .
What is the major episode in Shooting an Elephant and why?
“Shooting an Elephant”, one of Orwell's most celebrated and significance of the elephant episode essays, describes the execution of a tame . beast, which has run ‘must' and Orwell's simultaneous realisation of “the hollowness, the futility of the white men's dominion in the East”.
Why does the narrator decide to shoot the elephant choose the best answer?
Why does the narrator decide he must kill the elephant? He can't risk the elephant hurting anyone else. He feels pressured by the crowd's expectations. He wants to prove to himself that he's brave .
What are two 2 reasons for not shooting the elephant?
The two “reasons” Orwell gives are 1) working elephants are extremely valuable; shooting one would be like “destroying a huge and costly piece of machinery” and 2) to avoid being laughed at by the Burmese in the town . But there are other reasons for his reluctance to kill the elephant.
What is the value of the elephant?
In their report, iworry estimated the raw-ivory value of a poached elephant to be $21,000. In contrast, a living elephant is worth more than $1.6 million over its lifetime , largely because of its eco-tourism draw.
What does Orwell say is true of stories in the East?
How does Orwell describe stories in the East? A story sounds clear enough at a distance, but when you get closer to the scene it becomes vaguer. Who were the women screaming at? Some naked children .
Why does Orwell use Latin phrases What purpose do they have?
Orwell uses a few words and phrases in the story which he leaves untranslated and in Latin. ... His use of Latin delineates the class system that is in place in Burma due to the European imperialists that are tyrannizing the region .
What does the elephant symbolize?
What do elephants symbolise? Elephants represent strength and good fortune . They also symbolise health and happiness and are thought to promote spiritual wellbeing in our daily lives. Elephants are strong and nurturing, they are loyal to their family and are determined and protective.
What damage had the elephant already done before Orwell saw him?
Answer: The elephant caused a lot of destruction in the town. He broke branches, fences and smashed stalls .
How does the narrator of shooting an elephant feel about his role in the story?
The narrator reveals that he hated this job and sees himself as anti-imperialist . This creates tension between the way the world perceives him and the way he perceives himself, which could suggest that the narrator has limitations of self-awareness.
What problems is Orwell asked to solve?
- In Orwell's “Shooting an Elephant,” Orwell is asked to solve the problem of having an elephant on the loose.
- The problem that runs deeper than that, however, is the issue of the government's management of the town and how the townspeople expect Orwell to react to such a situation.
Why does Orwell at first think he should not shoot the elephant quizlet?
Why does Orwell at first think he should not shoot the elephant? Orwell finds himself angry at whom or what in his situation? Why does Orwell kill the elephant? The people expect him to kill the elephant and he didn't want them to laugh at him if he didn't succeed.
How much is an elephant worth meet the ecologists doing the sums?
The services of forest elephants are worth $1.75m for each animal , the International Monetary Fund's Ralph Chamihas estimated; more than the $40,000 a poacher might get for shooting the mammal for ivory.
Why does Orwell object to the Burmans prejudice against him?
Why does Orwell object to the Burmese's prejudice against him? He isn't important emough to worry about him. The Burmese injure him whenever they can. He opposes British imperialism.
Which part of the elephant is valuable?
Despite the ivory ban imposed by the Chinese government earlier this year, ivory is still the most valuable part of the elephant.
What is the aesthetic value of elephants?
“Elephants have aesthetic value, the pleasure of seeing and talking about this animal is immense , so beautiful that one will come back here and see it again and again.
What do elephants with their trunks up symbolize?
An upward pointed elephant trunk dispenses energy, luck, prosperity and kindness . It is a movement elephants use to greet friends and express sheer delight. To bring compassion and to shower good fortune plae the upward trunk elephant around you.
Are elephant figurines good luck?
In many cultures, an elephant symbolizes good luck, power, wisdom and fertility . ... An elephant statue in the foyer facing away from the door brings luck into the home.
Why are elephants so special?
They are highly intelligent animals with complex emotions, feelings, compassion and self-awareness (elephants are one of very few species to recognize themselves in a mirror!). The gestation period of an elephant is 22 months. That's almost 2 years, the longest pregnancy of any mammal!
What is the main problem of the narrator in Shooting an Elephant and specifically why is it a problem?
A main conflict in “Shooting an Elephant” is between the narrator's hatred of the colonial and imperialist system he is part of and his concomitant hatred of the Burmese people .
What annoyed the narrator in shooting an elephant?
In the end, the Burmese hate the British because they want to be independent from the Empire, and the narrator hates the Burmese because he is part of the Empire (if not exactly an imperialist).
How does shooting an elephant end?
The death itself is sustained in excruciating detail. After three shots, the elephant still does not die. Orwell fires his two remaining shots into the elephant's heart . He sends someone to get his small rifle, then pours “shot after shot into his heart and down his throat.” Still, the elephant does not die.
How does Orwell use imagery in the first two paragraphs to create a contrast between the people of Burma and the narrator What is the effect on the reader?
In the first paragraph, Orwell creates imagery by describing the way the Burmese show hatred for him . ... Imagery hits us emotionally, and we feel for the emotional predicament that the narrator is in and that the Burmese are in.
