But beyond both practical reasons—to shoot the elephant is to destroy a valuable piece of property—and humane reasons (the thick-hided elephant would die slowly and painfully) the narrator doesn't want to shoot the elephant because in doing so he is acknowledging his powerlessness .
But beyond both practical reasons—to shoot the elephant is to destroy a valuable piece of property—and humane reasons (the thick-hided elephant would die slowly and painfully) the narrator doesn't want to shoot the elephant because in doing so he is acknowledging his powerlessness .
Why was the George Orwell reluctant to kill the elephant?
Because the locals expect him to do the job, he does so against his better judgment, his anguish increased by the elephant's slow and painful death . ... It would be an economic waste to kill such a valuable animal, it would be cruel to the animal, which would die slowly, and overall, there is no reason to destroy it.
What is the overall effect on the elephant of being shot?
As the officer continues to fire shots at the elephant, Orwell writes that it was “powerless to move and yet powerless to die.” The overall effect of Orwell's vivid description of the elephant's death is both disturbing and jarring to the reader , who experiences a sense of sympathy for the defenseless creature.
What is the first thing Orwell hears when he pulls the trigger and shoots the elephant?
When I pulled the trigger I did not hear the bang or feel the kick—one never does when a shot goes home—but I heard the devilish roar of glee that went up from the crowd .
Did Orwell actually shoot an elephant?
In his biography of Orwell, George Orwell: A Life, Bernard Crick cast doubt on the idea that Orwell himself actually shot an elephant. No independent account of Orwell's actions has been found, and there was no official record of the incident, which was unusual because of the destruction of valuable property.
What does the elephant symbolize?
Elephants are traditionally considered a symbol of good luck, wisdom, fertility, and protection . Wearing or placing the image of the elephant with its trunk raised in your home is thought to attract good fortune, as it showers its positive energy out of the trunk and into all surrounding beings and spaces.
Where to shoot an elephant to kill it?
With a side shot, aim for the area between the eye and the ear hole or directly in front of the ear hole where the hairy knob juts out. A heart shot is a better bet when it is difficult to get in close to the elephant, placed lower down, directly behind the shoulder.
Why is Orwell asked to do something about the elephant?
Why is Orwell asked to do something about the elephant? ... He has experience handling elephants . The Burmese refuse to control the elephant.
What does shooting the elephant symbolize?
The unjust shooting of an elephant in Orwell's story is the central focus from which Orwell builds his argument through the two dominant characters, the elephant and its executioner. The British officer, the executioner, acts as a symbol of the imperial country, while the elephant symbolizes the victim of imperialism.
What is the value of the elephant?
Anti-Poaching Teams with seized ivory. Photo courtesy of The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. 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 steps does Orwell take as soon as he sees the dead man?
After seeing the dead man, what does Orwell do next? He sends his pony away so it doesn't go mad over fear of the elephant, and sent an orderly to get an elephant rifle .
What damage has the elephant already done before Orwell saw him?
Answer: Most of the corpses I have seen looked devilish.) The friction of the great beast's foot had stripped the skin from his back as neatly as one skins a rabbit . As soon as I saw the dead man I sent an orderly to a friend's house nearby to borrow an elephant rifle.
How does Orwell feel about the elephant when he sees it?
Shooting the elephant for Orwell is symbolic of his role as a colonial police officer . He doesn't want to be there; he doesn't want to act the part of an agent of imperialism, but he has no choice; he's merely a mere cog in a gigantic machine of order and control.
What is an elephant trainer called?
Mahout | elephant trainer | Britannica.
Why does the narrator shoot the elephant three times?
He shoots the elephant three times because he wants to ensure a quick death . Neither the first nor the second shot kills the elephant, and Orwell observes how much the animal suffers. To put it out of its misery, therefore, he fires for a third and final time.
