An Elephant's Journey to Escape Imperialism

An Elephant's Journey to Escape Imperialism

The Ottoman, French, and British Empires are a few examples throughout history of the forceful and productive character of Imperialism. Yet the same qualities that make imperialism so effective in the short term are the reasons for its ineffectiveness in the long term. This inevitable effect of imperialism is exemplified in George Orwell's short story "Shooting an Elephant." An escaped elephant is rampaging through a small Burman village and a young imperial officer, Orwell, is tasked with stopping it. The stage is set with a rifle in hand, a crowd of thousands buzzing with anticipation, and a target so large it would be impossible to miss. But for Orwell the task seems perplexing. Throughout his journey to find the elephant; he never intends to shoot the great animal. After battling with the decision, Orwell acts against his judgment, shooting the elephant several times. His struggle to do so, infers there is more to the decision then controlling a loose animal. For Orwell the elephant represents the two things he struggles with the most: the Burman people he has oppressed and his tumultuous feelings towards imperialism. Orwell uses the symbolism of the elephant's journey, from escape to death, to portray the inescapable outcome of an imperial government.

As soon as Orwell mentions the elephant, he begins to depict its deeper significance with vivid imagery and symbolism. "It was...a tame one which had gone 'must.' It had been chained up, as tame elephants always are when their attack of 'must' is due...it had broken its chain and escaped"(Orwell 304). Orwell allows the elephant, a sacred animal in Indian culture, to epitomize the Burman people. Orwell uses the image of a chained elephant breaking out as a metaphor to describe the Burman people oppressed by imperialism and his own personal sentiment toward imperialism. Each word has a deeper figurative meaning for Orwell. The chains keeping the elephant captive signify the confining dominance of an imperial government. The uncontrollable emotions, "must", impelling the elephant to escape can be described as lust or even rage. Rage towards the Imperial British Empire openly embodies the emotions of the Burman people and is too felt secretly by Orwell's hidden hatred for imperialism. Like the elephant, the Burman people also lust for the opportunity to be able to roam free, free from the shackles and chains of their oppressor. Orwell himself lusts to leave his position and be free from imperialism: "I 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 303). When mentioning the elephant's escape, Orwell uses the word "due" as to say the escape was inevitable. The symbolism of a once tame beast unexpected but imminent rebellion exhibits Orwell's thoughts on the ineffectiveness of Imperialism. An Imperial incessantly restrictive nature over its people leads to a single outcome, an utter and uncontrollable revolt against it.

The symbolism continues with the journey of the elephant. Orwell describes the loose animal tearing through the small village causing a toll of property damage and even death. The imagery of the elephant's destructive path is similar to the imagery of a riot. Orwell allows the devastating trail of the elephant