Shooting an Elephant

Interesting Facts

• The essay is based on George Orwell's personal experience while serving as a police officer in Burma, then a British colony.
• The main theme of the essay is the conflict between personal morality and societal expectations, making it relevant even today.
• Orwell describes the internal struggle and pressure he felt when forced to shoot the elephant to maintain his authority in front of the locals.
• The essay also touches on the theme of imperialism and its impact on both the oppressors and the oppressed.
• The work is a vivid example of Orwell's style, combining autobiographical elements with political and social analysis.