Similarities Between Baldwin And Orwell
Second Part
Baldwin and Orwell found themselves in foreign countries surrounded by strangers in a time of personal crisis. How did these experiences help transform their views of themselves and where they came from? Baldwin left America on an identity search. Baldwin didn’t want to be subjected to American labeling by color. Instead he stated that he wanted to find out in what way the specialness of his experience could be made to connect him with other people instead of dividing him from them. Baldwin was trapped in the illusion that he hated America. For him to be free from this illusion he had to be separated from America. He states “I do not think that I could have made this reconciliation here. Once I was able to accept my role---- as distinguished …-- in the extraordinary drama which is America.” (138). As he is in Europe he realizes a certain freedom that may be because of the lack of what may roughly be called …show more content…
Orwell hated the British Empire but sympathized with the Burmans because of how they are being treated by them. After killing the elephant Orwell’s thoughts seemed to be like that of the British. He was selfish in decision to kill the elephant. Orwell did not want to kill the elephant at first but there were many opposing forces that made him do it. He was faced with obligation. The Burmese population’s expectation of him to follow through, fear of acceptance, the repercussions of going against his own feelings and will. In the end he states “that [he] was very glad that the coolie had been killed because it put [him] legally in the right and gave him a sufficient pretext for shooting the elephant” (4). He also states “... i had done it solely to avoid looking a fool” (4). Orwell was a product of where he came from. He acted upon his feeling, on what he felt compelled to do with no remorse
Baldwin and Orwell found themselves in foreign countries surrounded by strangers in a time of personal crisis. How did these experiences help transform their views of themselves and where they came from? Baldwin left America on an identity search. Baldwin didn’t want to be subjected to American labeling by color. Instead he stated that he wanted to find out in what way the specialness of his experience could be made to connect him with other people instead of dividing him from them. Baldwin was trapped in the illusion that he hated America. For him to be free from this illusion he had to be separated from America. He states “I do not think that I could have made this reconciliation here. Once I was able to accept my role---- as distinguished …-- in the extraordinary drama which is America.” (138). As he is in Europe he realizes a certain freedom that may be because of the lack of what may roughly be called …show more content…
Orwell hated the British Empire but sympathized with the Burmans because of how they are being treated by them. After killing the elephant Orwell’s thoughts seemed to be like that of the British. He was selfish in decision to kill the elephant. Orwell did not want to kill the elephant at first but there were many opposing forces that made him do it. He was faced with obligation. The Burmese population’s expectation of him to follow through, fear of acceptance, the repercussions of going against his own feelings and will. In the end he states “that [he] was very glad that the coolie had been killed because it put [him] legally in the right and gave him a sufficient pretext for shooting the elephant” (4). He also states “... i had done it solely to avoid looking a fool” (4). Orwell was a product of where he came from. He acted upon his feeling, on what he felt compelled to do with no remorse