Write a note on the death scene of the elephant.
Introduction: In George Orwell’s essay “Shooting an Elephant,” the author describes a vivid death scene of an elephant. By the act of killing the elephant, Orwell portrays the evil and hollowness of imperialism.
Killing the Elephant: The essay is set in colonial Burma. Orwell was a police officer at the time and was called upon to shoot an elephant. The elephant had gone mad, destroying a local village.
Orwell describes the elephant as a magnificent creature. It is ten feet tall with powerful muscles and a majestic trunk. The elephant’s massive size is emphasized throughout the essay. However, as the essay progresses, the elephant’s attitude changes.
Orwell’s description of the elephant’s death scene is distressful. The elephant is shot multiple times, but it takes a long time to die. The creature writhes (ছটফট করা) in agony. It tries to run away but it collapses to the ground. Orwell notes that it took the elephant thirty minutes to die. During that time, he could see its life draining away.
Read More: Orwell’s Attitude to Imperialism
Underlying Meaning: The death of the elephant is a critical moment in Orwell’s essay. It serves to illustrate the brutality of imperialism. Orwell notes that he did not want to shoot the elephant. He felt compelled to do so because of the pressure from the local population.
“I was only an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the will of those yellow faces behind.”
He describes the elephant’s death as a “tiny incident in itself” but it made him realize the hollowness of imperialism. When he found the elephant, it had already gone quiet. There was no need to kill it. Moreover, killing the large animal involved significant risks to himself. Yet, he killed the animal only to satisfy the local people. As Orwell writes,
“I perceived in this moment that when the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys. He becomes a sort of hollow, posing dummy,”
The above lines highlight the evil of imperialism. Imperialism is an evil act. It not only exploits the local people (colonized people) but also hampers the freedom of the colonizer. Imperialism is futile because it creates a loop of never-ending hatred.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the death scene of the elephant in “Shooting an Elephant” is a bitter but powerful moment in the essay. Orwell’s vivid description of the creature’s suffering portrays the moral complexity of imperialism. It serves as a reminder of the brutality that is often inherent in the exercise of power. The essay remains a powerful critique of colonialism.
Read More: What is imperialism? Discuss Orwell’s attitude toward imperialism
