In the 20th century, African and Asian territories were colonized. These territories were under the influence of European Empires and their imperialistic aims. Still, unlike other times in history where a nation had ruled over another nation, there were critics, living in the imperialist nations, who did not approved actions of the Empire. One of these writers was George Orwell, who wrote “Shooting an Elephant”. His work comments on the gloomy sides of Imperialism and the results it delivers on the colonized territories and the nations who inhabited those territories. George Orwell was one of the famous English writers and critics. His father was an influential official for the British Empire and his mother’s relatives also had a colonial influence. George Orwell once worked as a British Imperial Policeman in Burma, now it is Myanmar, for five years, but he …show more content…
What does the Elephant symbolize? The Elephant symbolizes the British Empire and its imperialistic rules. Like the Elephant, the British Empire is powerful, great and influential. In Orwell’s essay the Elephant swoops the bazaar, this action symbolizes the British Empire conquers the economy of its colonies. With killing of the coolie (a native people of south of Asia) Orwell want to show that the British Empire oppressing the natives. Death of the Elephant shows the fall of the British Empire by hands of its own officials. The incursion of “must”(a tame Elephant always are when their attack of “must” is due) is akin to the British Empire’s routine of enforcing their authority and force over the Burmese people. The tight death to shoot the elephant or not, in Orwell’s opinion, the end of the British Empire's influence and ruling in her colonies did not come speedily, but was the outcome of numerous outbursts throughout the empire. These frequent violence are represented through the Elephant which destroyed everything in its