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Shooting an Elephant

by George Orwell

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Themes: Moral Cowardice

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In the first paragraph of “Shooting an Elephant,” Orwell remarks that none of the Burmese people in Moulmein “had the guts to raise a riot.” They showed their hatred of him in various petty and cowardly ways and only had a little temporary respect for him when he was killing a harmless elephant. Orwell clearly depicts his shooting of the elephant as an act of moral cowardice. He did not want to kill the elephant, and he only did so because he felt the will of the crowd bullying him into this course of action against his better judgment.

The alternative course, walking up to the elephant to test his behavior, would have taken more physical courage than shooting him from a distance. Nonetheless, when Orwell rejects this course of action, it is again a matter of moral rather than physical cowardice. He does not mind dying, but he cannot bear to lose his temporary fragile authority over the crowd by dying in an absurd manner, at which some of them might laugh. His greatest fear is that of looking a fool, and he is prepared to sacrifice any principles or compassion he has in order to avoid this fate.

Expert Q&A

What does the decision to shoot the elephant reveal about the narrator's character?

The narrator's decision to shoot the elephant reveals his internal conflict and lack of self-awareness. Despite identifying as anti-imperialist, he succumbs to the pressure of conforming to colonial expectations, fearing ridicule more than moral conviction. This action highlights his nervousness under pressure, desire to appear "tough," and paradoxical alignment with the oppressive role he criticizes. His respect for the elephant suggests some decency, but his decision ultimately prioritizes social expectations over personal ethics.

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Themes: Colonial Guilt and Tyranny

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Themes: Crowds and Power

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