Comparing "Death Men's Path" and "Shooting an Elephant"

This page compares themes in Chinua Achebe's "Death Men's Path" and George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant", highlighting their shared critique of colonialism.

Common Themes:

1. Impact of colonialism on native populations
2. Destruction of traditional cultures
3. Forced assimilation to Western culture and beliefs
4. Psychological effects on colonizers

Highlight: Both stories demonstrate how colonialism had profound and lasting impacts on both the colonized and the colonizers.

In "Death Men's Path", a young, Western-educated Nigerian headmaster clashes with local traditions when he blocks a sacred path running through his school compound. This action leads to conflict and ultimately, destruction.

Example: The headmaster's dismissal of local beliefs represents the broader colonial attitude of superiority over indigenous cultures.

"Shooting an Elephant" similarly explores the tension between colonial authority and local customs, with the narrator forced to act against his better judgment to maintain the illusion of imperial control.

Both stories illustrate how colonialism created impossible situations for individuals caught between different cultural worlds, often leading to tragic consequences.

Quote: From "Death Men's Path": "The big men in the clan have decided to close down your school. They don't want our children to be spoiled by your new teaching."

This comparison underscores the universal themes of cultural conflict and the destructive nature of colonialism across different African and Asian contexts.

The Decline of the British Empire

This final page explores the factors that led to the collapse of the British Empire and its lasting legacy on the modern world.

Key Factors in the Empire's Decline:

1. Economic strain of World War I and II
2. Rise of nationalist movements in colonies
3. Changing global power dynamics
4. Shift in British public opinion

Timeline: The process of decolonization accelerated after World War II, with most British colonies gaining independence by the 1960s.

Economic Factors:

• The cost of maintaining a global empire became unsustainable
• Loss of economic monopolies in former colonies
• Rise of the United States and Soviet Union as new superpowers

Example: India, often called the "jewel in the crown" of the British Empire, gained independence in 1947, marking a significant turning point in the empire's decline.

Political and Social Factors:

• Growing resistance movements in colonies (e.g., Indian National Congress, Mau Mau in Kenya)
• Changing international attitudes towards colonialism
• Pressure from the United Nations for decolonization

Quote: British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan in 1960: "The wind of change is blowing through this continent, and whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact."

Legacy of the British Empire:

• Commonwealth of Nations
• Widespread use of English language
• British legal and educational systems in former colonies
• Ongoing debates about reparations and addressing historical injustices

Highlight: The impact of the British Empire continues to shape global politics, economics, and culture in the 21st century.

The story "Shooting an Elephant" serves as a microcosm of the larger forces at work in the decline of the British Empire, illustrating the unsustainability of colonial rule and the moral compromises it demanded of those who enforced it.