George Orwell’s, “Shooting an Elephant” is a well written essay that clearly portrays Orwell’s attitude toward himself and his position in Burma. In the first two paragraphs specifically, George Orwell uses various forms and methods of writing strategies in an effort to achieve this. Diction, usage of irony, and the usage of qualifications are all techniques that Orwell included and designed in an effort to convey his feelings for himself and his position in Burma.
George Orwell used diction to describe how he felt while in Burma towards himself and his position while there. A myriad of words are included in which most contain negative connotations, leading the reader to infer what Orwell might have felt while in the imperialistic and oppressive country. For instance, in lines one and two, Orwell writes, “In Moulmein, in lower Burma, I was hated by large numbers of people - the only time in my life that I have been important enough for this to happen to me.” Not only does this quote provide a qualification, but it…show more content… As mentioned numerous times previously, Orwell writes that he was hated by many while in Burma - “the only time in my life that I have been important enough for this to happen to me,” A qualification of this significance was incorporated solely to allow the reader to grasp a sense that Orwell is an average man, of little importance, with no dominant reason to yield hate. Furthermore, writing, “theoretically - and secretly, of course,” in line 17, exhibits the oppression of imperialism upon Orwell at the time, and therefore qualifies his negative tone and feelings. Throughout his essay, “Shooting an Elephant,” George Orwell includes numerous qualifications and thus administers readers with the understanding of the overall negativity that he felt in
