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Power. What encompasses power? Is a malicious Tyrant considered powerful if he has the capacity to oppress a population; or is power merely a term used to describe the physical strength of an individual? Regardless, the process through which power is earned requires confidence to retain morality and strength to forfeit freedom. Authority on the other hand, requires a title (that is bestowed) to provide some sort of recognition, but the possession of authority does not indicate that one has power. In George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant", the discrepancy between power and authority is illustrated through the main character.
The British officer is a prominent authoritative figure but due to his lack of confidence, he is unable to retain his morality and is ultimately rendered powerless. The setting of this story is thematic in a sense that it is used to enhance the officer's state of powerlessness. The author effectively coveys the motif of the story through the distinct use of symbolism, where the symbols represent the opposite of their traditional themes. The interaction of the main character with the central issue is the most effective in portraying his feeble and powerless disposition. Therefore, it is evident that setting, symbolic presentation and character design are used to illustrate the officer's lack of power in a position of authority. The setting of the story provides insight on the officer's state of mind, and helps to establish the position from which the action is perceived.
The fact that this story is set in Burma at a time of British rule emphasizes the condition of authority and supremacy the colonists would have over the Burmese. The officer is a colonist within that colony and is therefore bestowed with an influential position of authority. As a part of the white police force, the officer has a strict obligation to his country and the British Empire situated in Burma; however, he rejects the political injustices of imperial life and despises the "real motives for which despotic governments act. " (p 144). Despite his involvement with the British Raj, the officer is powerless as he lacks the confidence and the ability to exercise control. "Theoretically - and secretly, of course - I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British. " (p 144) It is through his animosity towards the British that he tries to gain acceptance by the natives. The latter unfortunately mock his attempts, and ridicule his feeble authoritative position. The fact that the officer is affiliated with the opposing minority is reason enough for the Burmese to despise him, "The crowd would laugh at me.
And my whole life, every white man's life in the East, was one long struggle not to be laughed at. " (p 147). Racial segregation contributes to his lack of power as he is constantly surrounded by a "sea of yellow faces" (p 146). The officer is primarily concerned about his reputation among the natives, and is therefore reluctant to exert power by maintaining his morality. Furthermore, the Burmese population considerably exceeds that of the British so he is especially cautious not to jeopardize his reputation among the majority. He realizes that if the people fail to acknowledge him, societal rejection will perpetuate his isolation. The officer is already detached from family and friends in a foreign land thousands of miles away from Britain, "I had had to think out my problems in the utter silence that is imposed on every Englishman in the East. " (p 144).
The "utter silence" refers to his isolation in Burma, the same isolation that plagues every British officer in the natives' country. Unlike the other colonists, the officer contributes to his isolation on account of his hatred towards the ruling elite. "For at that time I had already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing and the sooner I chucked up my job and got out of it the better. " (p 144) He not only loathes his occupation but he describes imperialism as an "evil thing", a corrupted form of oppression. The officer's abhorrence towards his job and the "despotic government" (p 144) promotes his isolation and diminishes his power. His lack of confidence and inability to exercise control is depicted through the setting, as well as through another element of cognitive design. The subject and theme of the story is conveyed through the effective use of symbolism. George Orwell manipulates symbols to signify the opposite of their traditional themes, whereby increasing their relevance to the story and ultimately to the plight of the character.
The author uses a gun to symbolize power, but the possession of this weapon does necessarily make one powerful. "Here was I, the white man with his gun, standing in front of the unarmed native crowd - seemingly the leading actor of the piece; but in reality I was only an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the will of those yellow faces behind. " (p 146) Despite the fact that the officer grips the gun with his own hands, it is the "yellow faces" who pressure him to forfeit his morality and pull the trigger. He degrades himself among the natives by implying that he is merely a "puppet", unable to neglect their desires and therefore powerless. The officer, a "hollow, posing dummy" (146), lacks the confidence to control the situation and therefore allows himself to be influenced by the persuasive masses. His powerlessness is ironic because an Officer not only symbolizes authority, but also epitomizes power. A police uniform and an identification badge carry respect as they represent power; however, the natives are oblivious to this material countenance. "As a police officer I was an obvious target and was baited whenever it seemed safe to do so. When a nimble Burman tripped me up on the football field and the referee (another Burman) looked the other way, the crowd yelled with hideous laughter. " (p 144) The natives take pleasure in humiliating him whenever he attempts to gain their acceptance.
As an officer, the Burmese should technically respect him but they do not because they are aware of his powerless disposition. Bibliography:
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