Shooting an Elephant

Eric Arthur Blair

(George Orwell)
George Orwell
Here are some of the themes that Orwell explored in his works:

* Totalitarianism: Orwell was deeply concerned about the rise of

totalitarianism in the 20th century. He saw it as a threat to individual
freedom and democracy.
* Communism: Orwell was a socialist, but he was critical of the
Soviet Union. He saw it as a totalitarian state that had betrayed the
ideals of socialism.
* The individual vs. the state: Orwell believed that the individual
should be protected from the power of the state. He saw the state as a
potential threat to individual freedom and liberty.
* The importance of language: Orwell was a master of the English
language. He believed that language could be used to manipulate and
control people. He was also concerned about the decline of the
English language.
What “Elephant” may suggest/imply

* The wild, savage & brute (like Burmans/natives)

* The Uncivilized – needs to be civilized or tamed

* The Fear – needs to be confronted with

* The Memory of Past Humiliation – that score

needs to be settled

* The Inner Demon – that needs to be shot dead

* The Memory of Past
Humiliation – that score needs to
be settled

- West’s previous attempts to

conquer the Indian sub-continent
failed because of the fear of War-
Elephants.

- Now the “Shooting” reverses

that humiliation – signaling the
authority and might of the West
specially Britain.
 British Rule in Burma
British rule in Burma lasted from 1824 to 1948. The British first invaded Burma in 1824, after
the Burmese king refused to allow the British East India Company to trade in his country. The
British won the war and annexed the coastal provinces of Arakan and Tenasserim.

In 1852, the British invaded Burma again, after a Burmese ship was seized by the British. This
time, the British annexed the entire lower part of Burma, including the capital, Rangoon.

The British continued to expand their control over Burma in the late 19th century. In 1885, they
invaded the upper part of Burma and annexed it as well.

The British ruled Burma as a colony for over 60 years. During this time, they made a number of
changes to the country's economy and society. They built railroads and roads, developed the rice
industry, and introduced Western education.
 British Rule in Burma
However, British rule was also marked by oppression and exploitation. The British taxed the
Burmese people heavily, and they took control of the country's natural resources. This led to
widespread poverty and resentment among the Burmese people.

In the early 20th century, there was growing resistance to British rule in Burma. In 1930, a
major uprising broke out, which was brutally suppressed by the British.

After World War II, the British granted Burma independence in 1948. However, the country has
been plagued by conflict and instability ever since.

The British rule in Burma had a profound impact on the country. It changed the country's
economy, society, and culture. It also left a legacy of resentment and distrust that continues to
this day.
 British Rule in Burma
Some of the key impacts of British rule in Burma:

Economic development: The British built railroads and roads, developed the rice industry,
and introduced Western education. This led to economic growth in some areas, but it also led to
the exploitation of the Burmese people.
Social change: The British introduced Western laws and customs, which had a major impact
on Burmese society. They also promoted Christianity, which led to the conversion of many
Burmese people.
Political change: The British ruled Burma as a colony, which meant that the Burmese people
had no say in their own government. This led to resentment and resistance among the Burmese
people.
Cultural change: The British introduced Western culture to Burma, which had a major
impact on Burmese culture. This led to the loss of some traditional Burmese customs and
practices.
 Themes
The power of imperialism: The story is set in British-occupied Burma, and Orwell
shows how the British imperial power can be both oppressive and absurd. The narrator, a
British colonial policeman, is forced to shoot an elephant that has gone berserk, even
though he knows it is not necessary. He does so because he is afraid of what will happen
to him if he does not. This shows how the British colonial system can make people act in
ways that they would not normally act.
 Themes
The nature of violence: The story also explores the nature of violence. The narrator is
initially reluctant to shoot the elephant, but he eventually does so. This shows how
violence can be both necessary and unnecessary, and how it can be difficult to know
when it is justified.
 Themes
The power of the crowd: The crowd of Burmese people who watch the narrator shoot
the elephant also plays an important role in the story. They are initially excited and
cheering, but they become silent and ashamed when the narrator shoots the elephant. This
shows how the crowd can both influence and be influenced by violence.
 Themes
The individual vs. the system: The story can also be seen as a conflict between the
individual and the system. The narrator is an individual who is caught up in a system that
he does not agree with. He is forced to shoot the elephant even though he knows it is
wrong. This shows how the individual can be powerless to resist the system.
 Symbols
* The elephant: The elephant is a symbol of power and authority. It is also a symbol of
the British colonial power in Burma. The narrator's shooting of the elephant can be
seen as a symbolic act of violence against the colonial power.

* The gun: The gun is a symbol of violence and oppression. It is also a symbol of the
power that the British colonial police have over the Burmese people. The narrator's use
of the gun to shoot the elephant can be seen as a symbolic act of oppression.
 Symbols
* The crowd: The crowd is a symbol of the Burmese people. They are initially excited
and cheering when the narrator shoots the elephant, but they become silent and
ashamed when they realize what he has done. This shows how the Burmese people are
powerless to resist the British colonial power.

* The narrator: The narrator is a symbol of the individual caught up in a system that
he does not agree with. He is forced to shoot the elephant even though he knows it is
wrong. This shows how the individual can be powerless to resist the system.
 Imperialism
- The urge to expand

- The urge to control

- The urge to conquer

- The urge to compete

- The urge to exploit

 Imperialism
The practice, theory or attitude -
of maintaining or extending power over foreign nations, -
through expansionism, employing hard power and soft power.
- Military - Cultural
- Economic - Ideological
- Diplomacy - Hegemony
Causes of imperialism. Some of the most common theories:

Economic theories: These theories argue that imperialism is motivated by the desire to gain
access to resources, markets, and cheap labor.
Political theories: These theories argue that imperialism is motivated by the desire to increase
national power and prestige.
Social Darwinist theories: These theories argue that imperialism is a natural process of evolution,
in which the stronger nations dominate the weaker ones.
Cultural theories: These theories argue that imperialism is motivated by the desire to spread a
particular culture or ideology.
 Inter-texuality (reference of other texts inside a text)
“… as I stood there with the rifle in my hands, that I first grasped the hollowness, the
futility of the white man's dominion in the East. ...”

The Hollow Men – T.S. Elliot The White Man’s Burden – Rudyard Kipling

We are the hollow men Take up the White man's burden --

We are the stuffed men Send forth the best ye breed --
Leaning together Go bind your sons to exile
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas! To serve your captives' need;
… To wait in heavy harness
… On fluttered folk and wild --
This is the way the world ends Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
This is the way the world ends Half devil and half child.
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
 Question to ponder over

* What are the different perspectives on the event of the elephant being shot?
* What are the different factors contributed to the narrator's decision to shoot the elephant?
* What is the role of colonialism in the story?
* How does the narrator's narration of the event reveal his own biases and assumptions?
* What are the ethical implications of the narrator's actions?
* What is the significance of the elephant in the story?
* How does the story reflect the colonial experience?
* What is the author's message in the story?
* What is the significance of the setting of the story?
* What is the symbolism of the elephant?
* How does the story reflect the values of the time period in which it was written?