SOAPSTone: Shooting an Elephant

Subject:

The subject of George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” is that pressure and fear of embarrassment can lead us to make choices that we do not agree with but that are looked at as the right or legal choice. The influence of pressure in making decisions is illustrated by the police officer who was summoned to do something about a ravaging elephant in the bazaar. He took a rifle but had no intention of shooting the elephant, however the natives believed that he was going to shoot it so they followed him. In order to avoid looking like a fool in front of thousands of natives, the officer shot the elephant, even though he didn’t really want to. Legally, shooting the elephant was the right thing to do because a mad elephant had to be killed. However, the officer did not have any desire to shoot the elephant.

Occasion:

The time of George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” is the 1920s. This is illustrated by the statement that it took place in Moulmein, Burma, because at this time Burma was still a province of India, and still called Burma (as opposed to modern-day Myanmar). The time is also illustrated by the descriptions of what was happening, such as the imperialism, the natives’ lifestyle, and oppression against Britain. These things illustrate the 1920s because they are relative to this time period.

The place of George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” is Moulmein, Burma. This is illustrated by the essay directly stating that this was the setting. The descriptions of culture also support that this was in Burma, a province of India. 

Audience:

George Orwell’s specific audience for “Shooting an Elephant” is the British public. The author’s target audience is identified by the constant mention of imperialism and his oppression towards Britain. The author’s general audience for the essay is Western civilization because he constantly criticizes imperialism and some people would say that the Western civilizations are imperialistic. 

Purpose:

George Orwell’s purpose in “Shooting an Elephant” is to inform the reader that what is legal and what is ethically acceptable are not always equivalent, and being pressured into making decisions may cause bad decisions. The variability of decisions is illustrated by the lines “Besides, legally I had done the right thing, for a mad elephant has to be killed, like a mad dog, if its owner fails to control it,” “But I did not want to shoot the elephant,” and, “I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool.” These various quotes prove the purpose because the police officer did not want to shoot the elephant and had no intention to, however legally it was okay, and he didn’t want to look like a fool in front of the thousands who were expecting him to shoot the elephant. The pressure led him against his morals, and he let the legality justify his decision, even though it went against his own beliefs.

Speaker:

George Orwell, who wrote Animal Farm, believes that “imperialism was an evil thing.” This value is illustrated by this quote in the essay, and also how he goes on to prove that government or legal control is not the best choice. Killing the elephant was not the best choice but it was the legal choice. This directly influences the purpose.

George Orwell also believes that group pressure influences people to make bad decisions. This is illustrated in the quote “I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool.” He made a bad decision because of the pressure and not wanting to look stupid in front of so many other people.  This is shown in the part of the purpose about how pressure influences bad decisions.

Tone:

George Orwell exhibits a powerless and critical attitude about imperialism and pressure. An example of this powerlessness is where he says “There was only one alternative,” and then goes on to shoot the elephant. This tone conveys his view that imperialism is negative and causes people to make bad decisions.