ppression. He demonstrates that this oppression perhaps goes deeper than the average man would imagine, noticeably hindering even the lives of the oppressors. The elephants controlling force over Orwell is compared to that of an imperialist. Orwell’s extraordinary style is never displayed better than through the metaphors he uses in this essay. He expresses his conflicting views regarding imperialism through three examples of oppression: by his country, by the Burmese, and by himself on the Burmese. Oppression is shown by Orwell through the burden of servitude placed upon him by England: Orwell himself, against his will, has oppressed many. British Imperialism dominated not only Burma, but also other countries that did not belong to England. At the time it may appear, from the outside, he shows us that the officers were helping the Burmese because they too were against oppressors; however, from the inside he demonstrates that they too were trying to annex other countries. Though Orwell’s handling of this subject is detailed, in the end, he subtly condemns imperialism. Orwell finds himself in a moral predicament no different than the ones placed on the white men in the East. He justifies his actions, driven by the instigation of the Burmese. Orwell also feels forced by the natives to kill the elephant, hindering his intentions and thrusting upon him their own. In Orwell’s essay he implies that the coolie killed by the elephant represents the invasion of Burma by the British and just as no one can predict the next victim of the elephant, also no one can predict the next victim of the British. Since the coolie is killed he is demonstrating to us a justifiable reason to kill the elephant. He tells us how the natives take on the role of imperialists as they stand in a big crowd behind him waiting for him to shoot the elephant wanting only to use him in order to attain the elephants meat and tusks. Orwell plays a distincti...
