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Doing what is right or looking like a fool

I

George Orwell's essay, "Shooting an Elephant," is about an event that changed his life forever.  While serving as a police officer, in Burma, the station phone rang.  Orwell was notified that a male elephant was on the hunt for a female because he was in “must.”  During this rampage, a townsman was trampled by the elephant.  As an authority figure, it was Orwell's duty to regain order in the small town.  For his protection, he asked for a rifle.  As he slowly approached the elephant, it was obvious that the elephant had calmed down and was eating his food.  However, Orwell felt the pressure from the two thousand individuals following his every move.  It was up to Orwell to decide the fate of the elephant and he felt pressured.  He was torn between looking foolish in front of the towns’ people and making his countrymen proud.  For this reason, Orwell felt as if killing the elephant was his only option. "I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool" (Orwell).  For the remainder of his time in Burma, Orwell continuously tried to convience himself that he made the right choice.

                In his essay, he describes how this particular event had changed his outlook on not only the British government, but government as a whole.  The British government sent him to Burma where he was stationed for five years as a police officer.  While there, Orwell noticed how the locals had a strong dislike for the British oppressors.  It was obvious to Orwell where this hatred had come from.  In Burma, he observed how his government treated outside territories with force.  

 

Work Cited

 

Orwell, George. "Shooting an Elephant." George Qrwell 1903-1950.Web.23 Apr.2015<http://www.k-1.com/Orwell/site/work/eassys/elephant.html>.

 

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