Imperialism: A State of Powerlessness George Orwell’s essay “Shooting an Elephant” shows how imperialism makes the Burmese and the British powerless. In “Shooting an Elephant” the British have colonized India. The Europeans’ powerlessness is seen through George Orwell, a sub-divisional police officer, and the Indians’ powerlessness is seen through their lack of control in political and economic aspects. Countries in an imperial relationship do not have as much power as they believe. The British lack of power is seen through Europeans living among the Burmese. Orwell notes that “ . . . if a European woman went through the bazaars alone somebody would probably sp