Brennan Counts

College English 101/102

Ms. Gordon

27 November 2017

Shooting an Elephant

In George Orwells essay, Shooting an Elephant, Orwell recalls on a time where he was

a police officer for the British Raj in Burma. The essay exposes his conflict with imperialism and

the the internal conflict between law and his moral conscience. Throughout the essay, Orwell

conveys that the imperialistic government is ineffective, abusive, and oppressive through the use

of complex and strong diction.

Imperialism to Orwell is ineffective because it only oppresses others and creates violence.

He describes it as, As for the job I was doing, I hated it more bitterly than I can perhaps make

clear. In a job like that you see the dirty work of the Empire at close quarters. (Orwell 1) then

continues to explain the dirty work as the wretched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages

of the lock-ups, the grey, cowed faces of the long-term convicts, the scarred buttocks of the men

who had been bogged with bamboos (Orwell 1) Obviously he feel very strong about the

abuse and violence that comes from imperialism, and he conveys this through diction that has a

harsh and negative connotation. Not only does his choice of words denote emotions to the reader,

but they also serve to provide metal pictures of the results of imperialism.

Although Orwell does not directly say it, but his complex choice of words, or diction,

convey that he not only dislikes the imperialism, but that he believes that it is hurtful to the

Burmese. Early in the essay, Orwell establishes his stance when he says, For at that time I had

already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing and the sooner I chucked up my job
and got out of it the better. (Orwell 1) where he calls imperialism evil implying that it does no

good.

Orwells opinion on imperialism is already established, but when he encounters the

incident with the elephant, he gains a true insight about imperialism. The rogue elephant had

became unrestrained when his mahout, or handler, was away. The elephant symbolizes

colonialism and specifically Burma, because the elephant is a peaceful animal, but was driven to

destruction and rebellion by its oppression and mistreatment from his handler. Similar to how the

Burmese are being controlled by the British. Orwell conveys this opinion through the use of

phrases like, theoretically--and secretly, of course--I was all for the Burmese and all against

their oppressors (Orwell 1). His attitude is direct, and fore evil showing who he sides with.

The essay proves to be an example on how complex diction can convey a strong tone, and

in this case opinion. Orwell feels strongly against imperialism and the involuntary action of

being oppressed. He expresses his feelings with a angry attitude through his choice of words, and

they convey the three main conflicts with imperialism, ineffectiveness, abusive, and oppressive.