Sergey Gardner
Professor Dollieslager
English 111
April 28 2015

George Orwell (Eric Blair)

 

          George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair) son of British civil servant born in Bengal India, but educated in England. Being a sick child at early age Orwell developed a desire to write. He wrote his first poem at age four and at age eleven had wrote a poem that waspublished in the local newspaper. At early age Orwell notice an unfair system where rich children at "St. Cyprian's boarding school" were treated better then the poorer once. The boarding school gave George Orwell partial scholarship so that he could earn the rest. Beating was a regular training technique for disciplining "dirty little boys", like himself, but the rich kids were exempt for such punishments.  Orwell wrote his experience in St. Cyprian's boarding school in a book "Such, Such were the Joys" but did not published it until the headmasters death to avoid libel suits. OrwellAfterfinishing boarding school received King's Scholarship to attend Eton College, but unable to keep up with peer, Orwell left College to join Indian Imperial Police. During his years in service for the British Empire George wrote one of his well known works "Shooting an Elephant".

          "Shooting an Elephant" is a first person narrative written by famous writer George Orwell.  The story begin in Burma India where Mr. Orwell was stationed as police officer for British Empire. He was hated throughout Burma not because the color of his skin but what he represents: oppression, imperialism, and unbreakable tyranny.  In part, he wanted nothing less but pain to those who disrespected him, but kept his composure for there were the voices of the oppressed. Orwell was already decide imperialism is unnecessary evil, so he did not consider to staying in service too long. The narrative starts with a distress call from town bazaar. An elephant had gone crazy looking for a mate, and ravaging the bazaar while at it. When Orwell arrived at the bazaar, the elephant long time gone. The people near the market did not know where the elephant went. Some natives said he went one way and some completely another. As Orwell was considering to go back to the police station he heard someone yelling "Go away." That was where Orwell found an Indian, black Dravidian coolie, lying dead in the mud. It seemed like some big mass had pressed him into the mud, a high likely hood it was the elephant's deed. This was the point when Orwell decided to send an orderly to fetch the elephant rifle. He still did not wish to shoot the elephant but if it came to looking like a dead Dravidian coolie or a dead elephant, the elephant must die. Orwell got report from natives that the elephant was grazing at the bottom of the hill. Orwell hung the elephant rifle on his shoulder and started his journey. The closer he got to the destination, the greater the number of natives followed him.  Through Orwell's view all of the natives were expecting him to shoot the elephant.  "They were going to have their fun after all" Orwell thinks as he loads the cortege in to the elephant rifle.  He shot three time at the elephant without completely killing it. The next day the owner was not happy of Orwell decision, but he was just an Indian man. The natives told Orwell that it took the elephant half an hour to die. Natives spend no peace of elephant to spare, only bones where left at his place. Every European in Burma had their opinion but thanks to the legal system that gave the right to kill an elephant when the owner has no control of it gave Orwell legal justification for his action.

 

          In the Politics and English Language George Orwell consorting that when people accept manipulation of words in order to mellow the meaning the fault is sorely theirs. Language is a tool and how we use it is up to us, but at the same time he cautions us to not fall into the trap of "Habitual writer".  One of the most important part of the essay he write how to avoid making this mistakes with simple six steps."Never use metaphor, simile or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print, never use a long words where a short word would do, If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out, Never use the passive where you can use the active, Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent, break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous. George does say this step sound simple but they have profound impact because if only one start using them others will follow.

The Animal Farm was George Orwell book inspired by Spanish Civil were Between Republicans against Nationals. The story starts in the Farm were Old Boar by the name of Old Major giving his last speech before death. "Comrades, you have heard already about the strange dream that I had last night. But I will come to the dream later." Old major said as he prepared to tell the ugly truth of the humans’ deeds. The Old Major told to animals in the farm that while all of them have to work hard for the farm Mr. Jones the Farmer Owner reaps the benefits. Old Major stressed to animals that Mr. Jones uses until they able and when they become unable he kills them. Revolution is the only way to animals to get what they deserve but cautioned them not become like human. Three days later the old Major passed away the preparation for revolution have begin. One night animal had enough with drunk Mr. Jones so they drove him and his men off the farm. One first animals did is renaming the farm for Mr. Jones' farm to Animal Farm. Pigs already started reading so they wrote the first seven rules for all of the animals to follow. The rules stated: "whatever goes on two legs is an enemy, whatever goes upon four legs, or has wings, is a friend, no animal shall wear cloths, no animal shall sleep in a bed, no animal shall drink alcohol, no animal shall kill any other animal, and at the end all animals are equal."

          All of the animals accepted that pigs ran the show sense they were the smart once. Snowball was the brains and always was trying to make all of the animals’ day easer. Napoleon was the leading big always dismay Snowball for his charm with the rest of the animals. The Squealer was Napoleon's Propagandist.

The first months of animal controlling their own destiny was a great success. The farm had the biggest harvest they ever seen, but something interesting start to develop. Because of pigs reading skill they did not contributed in the farm harvest work, but taken an abundance of food. The first challenge came to the farm as Mr. Jones with the help of his neighbors tried to retake the farm by force at the "Battle of the Cowshed" where animals were successfully defended the farm with Snowball tactics. Napoleon did not took this lightly. First He driven Snowball of the farm with nine dogs who he trained secretly to follow his order then He steels Snowball windmill plans that was supposed to make animals life easier. With help of Squealer he trick the rest of the animals to think snowball stole Napoleon windmill plans and Napoleon only opposed it because of the tactics. The first attempt to build the windmill Storm took it down. The second attempt was blown up by Neighbor Form Own Mr. Frederick who stole wood with paying to the animals with fake money. At the end pigs completely changed the seven laws to benefit them. The third attempt in building the windmill was a success, but only one how benefits was the pigs. Boxer when he no longer able to work was sold to the slaughter house. The pigs were just like human and the rest of the animals could not see the difference.

          Orwell gave me a lot to think, as a boy form a low middle class he has accomplish great thing rather than sit back and submit to his situation. As oppressed as a child Orwell understood what natives were going through even though he could not truly express to them verbally. Language is a powerful tool as I learn from Animal Farm where pigs manipulated to their favor. Every just causes go uncheck never provide good fruit. This was Orwell did not just stalk about he died for this so other would not need to.

 

 

Work Cited

Orwell, George. Animal Farm. 1945. online. <http://msxnet.org/orwell/print/animal_farm.pdf>

Orwell, George. Politics and English Language. 1946.online

            <http://www.npr.org/blogs/ombudsman/Politics_and_the_English_Language-1.pdf>

Orwell, George. " Shooting an Elephant." George Orwell 1903-1950. K1 Internet Publishing. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.                                     <http://www.k-1.com/Orwell/site/work/essays/elephant.html>.

Woodlock, George. "George Orwell Biography." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia         Britannica, 16 Apr. 2015.             Web. 30 Apr. 2015.       <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/433643/George-Orwell>.