Orwell’s View on Gandhi

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In this passage of George Orwell’s perspective on Gandhi, he believed that human being should avoid striving for “sainthood” as it only gives one the pretense that they are perfect. Humans are all different; therefore, none can be flawless as there is no such definition for beings so completely diverse. No individual should strive for something that is so impossible to reach as perfection is. Orwell criticizes Gandhi by discussing all of unfair things that are not usually mentioned when learning about him. He describes it “inhumane” that Gandhi would be willing to stand idly while his wife and children die instead of permitting them to eat animal food prescribed by a doctor. Apparently by eating it and staying alive, one would have committed a sin according to Gandhi. Being loyal to a close friend was not suggested by him, seeing as how it could evidently lead to making poor decisions and thus, committing a sin. Although Orwell agreed on this, he also thought that as social beings, humans must have precious people in their lives. Orwell then stresses the point that humans should not seek for perfection. As Marilyn Monroe once said, “Imperfection is beauty.” This quote coincides with Orwell’s argument because he believes that humans should embrace our faults and be unlike someone like Gandhi whose goal is to be immaculate and progress into sainthood. He believed, “Saints should always be judged guilty until they are proved innocent . . .” Orwell like to think that perfection and sainthood was far too much for one to handle seeing as how no being is perfect. George Orwell’s reflection on Gandhi opened eyes and showed how something as achieving perfection in only wishful thinking and that even if perfection is reached, a human could not possibly handle it. Saints and anyone in general have faults and despite trying, can never fully achieve the status as a diamond

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