Although sometimes confusing, the use of a contradiction strongly establishes and emphasizes a point and often inspires an emotional response. In George Orwell's essay, “Shooting an Elephant,” Orwell effectively expresses these contradictions, or paradoxes, in a way that defines human nature in political situations and illustrates the problems with such responses. These rhetorical devices add depth to Orwell's argument and better convince the reader to consider his position on human nature in political situations. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Arguing that "...when the white man becomes tyrant it is his own liberty that he destroys," Orwell implies that, in the context of the period of British imperialism, any leader who sweeps his country is destined to sacrificing his own freedom as well as pulverizing the freedom of others he desperately seeks to control. In the essay, Orwell describes himself as "...stuck between [his] hatred of the empire [he] served and [his] anger against the evil-spirited little beasts who tried to make [his] work impossible ". His job as an Imperial Indian Police officer makes him loyal to imperialist Britain, but he wants to help the oppressed Indians, no matter how badly they treat him. This is an example of how the white man destroys his own freedom when he tries to brutally control or expand into other countries, as Britain was doing in this era. Orwell later argues with himself about whether to shoot the elephant before realizing that he must do so with the crowd. looking at him. This is his loss of freedom based on his loyalty to the British Empire that had been tyrant. It is human nature, in political situations, to consciously or unconsciously sacrifice something personal for the good of the whole. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also demonstrates this instinct in his description of the few white Americans, saying in “A Letter from Birmingham Jail”: “I suppose I should have realized that few of the oppressing race can understand the deep groans and passionate longings of the oppressed race, and even fewer have the vision to see that injustice must be eradicated by strong, persistent and determined action.” This hesitation and resistance that King faced was the result of the oppressive government that, when he was loyal to that government, that person's freedom was erased for the sake of suppressing another's because his or her choices had to follow the strict guidelines that had been given to him. For this reason, the paradox that Orwell uses to emphasize the way people react when faced with hardened and harsh government officials who impose rules and restrictions on them is effective, as it shows how it is human nature to follow orders and avoid being singled out for daring. speak openly. Orwell insists on the question of human instinct in times of racial and social segregation by saying that the white man "...wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it", addressing the reality that, when oppressive governments or leaders, generally speaking, they push for something hard enough, the citizens under their government will comply with their wishes and at least pretend to stick to the status quo. Citizens adopt a persona, a “mask” that does not reflect their true feelings and thoughts for the sake of conformity. In the end, however, the fantasy fades and what remains is only reality. The citizens' faces "grow to fit the mask" and, in turn, become their characters. The racist and controversial ideas that people.