Shooting an Elephant Essay Example for Free

Shooting an Elephant EssayGeorge Orwells canvass Shooting an Elephant was a first-person narration by an Indian Imperial Police military police officer. Set in British colony of Burma during the early 20th century, the officer was seen as white foreign repressive authority figure. His kind with Burmese inherents was poor. The officer sympathized with the feelings of the Burmese, but still resented them. The story revolved around an elephant that killed a Burmese human being and the officers moral dilemma roughly having to shoot it.A large crowd equanimous absent the beast dead, while the officer deliberated the elephants fate. The officer shot several times cutting the elephant. Unable to watch the elephant suffer the officer left, while the crowd stayed to watch it died slowly in agony. The officer questioned whether the powerful decision was made. Orwell effectively used rhetorical strategies to argue the guesswork by implementing response to fence views, assumpti ons, and emotional appeals. Orwell responded to opposing views by claiming the shooting was legitimate and fulfilled the wishes of the natives.Orwell argued, legally I had done the right thing, for a mad elephant has to be killed, like a mad dog, if its owners fails to control it as a exculpation for the shooting. (383) The narrator was trying to vindicate the killing of the elephant with law. He declare that the shooting had divided opinions among Europeans (Orwell 383). The elderly people felt he was right while the younger Europeans thought it was wrong to kill the carnal just because it had a slayed native (Orwell 383).The death of the native gave the officer a defense for the shooting. The narrator explained that the shooting was a necessity his own life was in danger if he did not pull the knowledgeableness because of the size of the crowd that wanted the beast dead (Orwell 382). Orwell wrote, it upchuck me legally in the right and it gave me sufficient pretext for sho oting the elephant (383). Orwell assumptions start at the beginning of the essay when the Burmese hassle the narrator. The author claimed he was hated by many of the Burmese (Orwell 378).Orwell summarized the natives despised him because he was an officer of the Imperial police As an officer I was an obvious target and was baited whenever it was safe to do so (378). The narrator was appalled at the treatment of the Burmese by the British, yet beholden to do his job. Orwell contended that imperialism was wrong (378). When it was time to shoot the elephant, the officer was in a difficult situation. He had the authority, the means, and the skill, but he did not have the will. He did not want to shoot the elephant (Orwell 380).The author compared the elephant to a piece of machinery the officer realized the importance of the elephant to the owner and the fiscal cost (Orwell 380). Assumptions were made about animal significance and worth. He believed as the Burmese did about the Empire. The assumptions facilitated Orwell acknowledgement that he would have to shoot the elephant (381). Orwells use of emotional appeal was strongly evident in this essay. Orwell showed with convincing imagery the narrators shame of the British Empire (379). Orwell appeal was reinforced by an unbearable sense of remorse (379).The officer was overwhelmed by massive burden and pressure over having to ensconce on whether or not to shoot the elephant. The writer said, The people expected it of me and I got to do it I could feel their two thousand wills pressing me forward (Orwell 381). Several times the officer repeated his feelings about not wanting to shoot the elephant (Orwell 380-381). The officer expressed the pressure he was under by the native to shoot the elephant (Orwell 381). Orwell wanted the readers to understand his position about the shooting by writing the essay.The officer had the crowning(prenominal) authority amongst the crowd to shoot the elephant however the crowds lar ge numbers essentially enjoin and forced him into compliance. One cannot forget about a mans pride being blemished, oddly in the early twentieth century. Orwell wrote, my whole life, every white mans life in the East, was one long struggle not to be laughed at (381). The emotional appeal Orwell makes is strong through the entire essay. The argument that Orwell made about having to shoot an elephant was strong. He responded to opposing views and the reasons why the elephant had to be put down.Orwell was legally justified but also provided sufficient evidence for self-perseveration. There were two thousand natives wanting the execution to happen. Orwell used assumptions to enhance the mood and perception the Burmese people had of him and of the British Empire. The author acknowledged that his assumptions of the Empire were the same. Orwell used the emotional appeals throughout the entire essay. The author cited reasons for having to shoot the elephant he denied his inner character and did the opposite. Clearly, Orwell argument for having to shoot the elephant was proven through use of the rhetorical strategies.