Sunday, October 5, 2014

"Shooting an Elephant"



You can read "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell at the following link:
"Shooting an Elephant"

What is the overall message of Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant"?  Consider the term epiphany, which is a moment of clarity and understanding.  Is there such a moment in this story?  If so, what triggers it?


I believe that the overall message of Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" directly related to the story has to do with the fission between the ruling class and peasants as well as that the imperialist power is transformed and morally corrupted by its imperialism. I believe all in all it just has to do with knowing the difference between right and wrong. Considering the term epiphany and its meaning, I believe the narrator gets to this moment in the story as he’s walking down the hill and realizes the elephant is no longer a threat. As he see’s the elephant grazing in the patty fields he comes to realize its out of its “must” phase yet with the big group forming behind him he feels pressured to kill it either way. He is not only forced to kill the elephant pointlessly, since he has to maintain his position of authority and act accordingly, but because of the way the Burman’s treat him, he actually develops hatred for them.

Leave comment's with your own responses to the questions or as a reply to my own post! Happy blogging.

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