He hated his job because he worked for the government. He despises imperialism and wants to quite but has not. This essay is an account of a controversial decision he made while living there. He is called about an elephant that has gone “must” and is loose in the village. “Must” is when male elephant is sexually active and extremely violent, so it is dangerous for it to be around people.
English 101 George Orwell Report October 8, 2013 Civil Duties A Closer look at George Orwell’s “ Shooting an Elephant” Growing up in a third world country is quite difficult. Since you do not have much of anything, you will have to find happiness in the little things so to speak. For an example seeing an elephant around can bring some joy to you. You will never expect to seeing one of these gentle giant to go on a murderous rampage. If you ever see an elephant kill someone from your community and then the death of the majestic beast it will always be a black day in your past.
George was a British sub-divisional police officer in the town of Lower Burma, Moulmein. George was against imperialism; he believed it was an evil thing and the sooner he got rid of his job the better. One day he was asked by the sub-inspector to take care of a crazed elephant at the other end of town. It’s unfortunate that when he got there he decided, by pressure of a group, to shoot the elephant instead of letting it live. I have been in situations such as this and, over time, I have taught myself how to not give into the complications of life.
“Overzealous officials” grill suspicious foreigners “to the point of near panic” (Khan 559). In worst cases, death has occurred Haitians seeking refuge, a man was not allowed to keep his medication while he was put in Krome (Danticant 569). The profiling does not only happen with officials, but many Americans often profile foreigners. Americans heightened suspicion on not only non-Americans, but on Americans with Middle Eastern traits. Americans know “racial profiling is both morally wrong and ineffective”, but they rather be safe than sorry (Chavez 563).
In the case of’’Shooting an elephant ‘’ we find the main character to be trapped in a dilemma which is that he hates the British Empire yet he represents it in Burma . This is ironic because he represents the oppressor ,The British Empire .This is exemplified when the main
The mayor was offended by most of the catalogue which includes dead animals, a human statue made of blood, and, the one he found most offensive, the Virgin Mary depicted using a piece of elephant manure on a cloth. Mayor Giuliani says, ‘You do not have the right to government subsidy for desecrating somebody else’s religion. (561)’ What he means is that the government is not going to pay the museum to have this portrait stained with elephant compost in its exhibit when so many people have a strong religious belief in the Virgin Mary and see this as defiling their beliefs. With a $23 million annual budget, the museum receives close to $7 million annually in operating cost from the city. The city provides more than 30 percent of the annual cost and has set aside almost $20 million more to do work on the museum.
That wasn’t to reassuring. Then I’m already upset about the trial, because I already know how its going to end. I really don’t want Jem and Scout to see how the people in this town really are. Here I am busting my tail to keep a innocent man alive and out of jail while everyone else wants him there just because he is black and a white woman cried wolf. BLOG 4 After court today Bob Ewell came and spit right in my face.
Why don’t you come and be saved? Oh, Lamb of God! Why don’t you come? (180).” In “Shooting an Elephant” Orwell illustrates the peer-pressure put on him by explaining the number of people following him. He first starts by saying: “As I started forward practically the whole population of the quarter flocked out of the houses and followed me (287).” The crowd misunderstood him when he was holding the gun.
Sadly, the pressures and expectations that the boy in “Greasy Lake” tries to live up to not only disturb him emotionally but lead to devastation for others as well. For the woman in “Hills like White Elephants” she is compliant and willing to lose everything she is worth to be brought in by a group of nomads, and commit her life to someone who does not love her as much as she loves him. Unfortunately, the themes displayed in these short stories can be transcribed to reality and many people have fallen to the pressures they face in society. Some pressures throughout history have been disastrous and lead to deaths, irrevocable mistakes, disease, and remorse. It is important for people to love who they are and embrace themselves first.
The Roles of Social Pressure Individuals in today's culture will face social pressures daily as it has become almost inevitable to avoid. George Orwell’s story "Shooting an Elephant" is based on an British Policeman in occupied Burma that is forced to do a job that the individual dislikes and while doing so he is faced with social pressure by the natives to shoot the elephant on the rampage. John Updike’s story "A & P" is based on three inappropriately dressed young girls entering an A & P supermarket and a young man named Sammy. Facing social pressure the character stands up for the girls as they are verbally harassed by the manager, walks off the well needed job to prove a point. These stories are reflections of the roles social pressure plays in today's culture.