Shooting an Elephant - George Orwell

This is an extremely strong statement that Orwell makes here. The many uses of the word "hate" coupled with both the Burmese and Orwell's hatred for one another, show the perverse hard feelings between them. There is so much hate from both sides that they refuse to agree on anything. When an order is issued and not obeyed immediately it goes to show how ineffective the government really functions. When every law and order that is passed is either ignored, violated or both, something is wrong in Burma. Throughout all of this, Orwell shows how Imperialism has simultaneously made him hate the Burmese and understand why they despise him.
             When Orwell is finally confronted with the decision of whether or not to shoot the elephant, he further comes to realize the ineffectiveness of an Imperialistic government. Orwell realizes that it is not the commanding country that has the power but rather the commanded. This concept of taking over another country and the country actually loses power that takes over it is summed up best by Orwell when he says, "When the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom he destroys." It is quite ironic that you would think that a country that assumes control over another country would actually lose control. This proves Orwell's theory again that the British should not lose their freedom when they took control of Burma. In a utopian imperialistic government, the commanding government should hold the power not the commanded. Orwell states another major fault of imperialism when he says that you cannot rule a country peacefully and happily when the oppressed people don't wish to be ruled.
             By considering the elephant's fate, Orwell is able to show another side of Imperialism that is quite flawed and strays from its utopian ideology. Orwell is faced with the choice of having to shoot or not shoot the elephant. On one hand, is worth a lot more to its owner alive than dead.