Being Accepted

     In George Orwell’s short story, “Shooting an Elephant,” Orwell does not only tell the way he shoots the elephant but why he shoots it.

     Orwell is an English police officer in Moulmein, Lower Burma. The Burmese disliked anything European and since Orwell is European, no one respected him. He wanted to be accepted so Orwell did whatever it took to impress the Burmese.

     When a tame elephant made a change of character into a wild animal the townspeople were in need of the European police officer. Because the elephant’s trainer, or mahout, was not around it was up to Orwell to take care of the loose animal.

     With an elephant rifle in hand, the Burmese expected to see an elephant killed. Orwell knew there was no reason to kill the animal as he looked at it, calmly eating, but he desperately wanted accepted and shooting that gun would guarantee him a sure chance. He made up his mind and shot the animal. The elephant did not die right away but suffered as Orwell tried to put it out of its misery. The Burmese cheered when the shot was fired though and soon were tearing the animal apart.

     Shooting the elephant was the only way Orwell knew that he would be accepted by the Burmese. To his delight, he was, but killing the animal was not the way he wanted to be liked.