Orwell's Personal Narrative

George Orwell’s personal narrative, “Shooting an Elephant,” invites readers to experience his powerful story of conflicting ideas and harsh decisions. “Shooting an Elephant,” tells the tale of George Orwell, and imperial police officer in Burma, and the choices he needs to make about an elephant that has gone must. Orwell’s choice of wether or not to shoot the elephant is a battle of morality and could potentially risk his position and respect as an imperial officer. Orwell’s personal narrative recounts his struggle of making a decision for himself, society, and the push and pull of British Imperialism. Upon seeing the elephant that has gone must, Orwell knows he does not want to shoot the elephant; however, the Burmese people are expecting Orwell to

Orwell was “all for the Burmese and against their oppressors, the British,” despite being a British Imperial office. Orwell’s struggle with shooting the elephant is an accurate symbol for an even bigger battle of simply being a member of the Imperial force. The Burmese people symbol Britain 's rule, and the elephant symbols the people of Burma. Orwell was on the side of the Burmese people and did not want to ‘shoot the elephant,’ or be the authority over the Burmese. Orwell was “an absurd puppet being pushed to and fro,” by the British rule, despite his morality, loyalty and heart being with both the Burmese and the British rule. This makes his decision ultimately more difficult. Orwell’s conflict with society and himself represented a larger conflict that he has wth British Imperialism. “Shooting an Elephant,” is a struggle of choice that Orwell has to make that challenges his moral judgement, and his effort to save face. The struggles Orwell experiences can be applied to his struggle with the opinion and morality or British Imperialism in its