Shooting an Elephant :: essays research papers

A police officer in the British Raj, the supposedly unbreakable ruling force, was afraid. With his gun aimed at a elephants head, he was faced with the decision to pull the trigger. That officer was George Orwell, and he writes about his visit in his short story, Shooting an Elephant. To save face, he shrugged it off as his need to avoid looking the fool (George Orwell, 283). In truth, the atmosphere of fear and pressure overwhelmed him. His inner repugn over the guilt of being involved in the subjugation of a people added to this strain, and he made a decision he would afterwards regret enough to write this story. Early on in his essay, Orwell describes how the abuses and interference he witnessed oppressed him & international ampere8230 with an intolerable sense of guilt, (Orwell,277). This is not round minor pang, or nagging worry. The shame pressed down on his shoulders with an unbearable weight. He also describes the injustices in detail, using vivid pictures care The wr etched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages&8230 (Orwell,277). This does not come from mortal who condones such behavior. It stems from a troubled, remorseful soul.The mob, kibibytes by his description, also pressured him. I could feel their two-thousand wills insistency me forward, irresistibly, he emphasizes (Orwell, 280). It is hard to resist the peer pressure of one or two people, much less a crowd of thousands. He admits, &8230in reality I was only an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the faces behind. Thus, the desire and will of the crowd urge him on, ominously.The people despised him. He speaks of being hated by large numbers of people and the sneering yellow faces of young custody that met me everywhere..." (Orwell, 276). As one man, how could he dare to go against them? Two thousand could easily overtake one. They would not have aided him, should anything go wrong, and thirstily anticipated that eventuality. He describes his fear that they would watch h im be &8230pursued, caught, trampled on, and decreased to a grinning corpse&8230 should the elephant charge (Orwell, 281).