Shooting an Elephant 1936
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Relying on your own actions and thoughts is a selfish way of life that can lead to a downfall in ones own life and generations to come.
Individualism has had its affects on our society today and in the past. Childrens lives have become more different today then in the past. For example, excessive competition in school and sports, individual accolades among groups and teams and more pressure to own material things. This individualistic behavior has produced faulty discord and conflict.
George Orwell portrayed as a colonial policeman in his essay, “Shooting an Elephant” was first published in 1936 from New Writing in GB, London.
Peoples view of an individual may have an effect on their self esteem and conduct.
When a nimble Burman tripped me up on the football field and the referee (another Burman) looked the other way, the crowd yelled with hideous laughter. In the end the sneering yellow faces of young men that met me everywhere, the insults hooted after me when I was at a safe distance, got badly on my nerves.
As a colonial police officer, duty should have kept thoughts and feelings separated from actions. The people had seen the rifle and were shouting excitedly that I should shoot the elephant; this made me feel very uneasy. Here was I, this white man with this rifle, with two thousand people marching at my heels, then to trail feeble away was not something I wanted to do.
It was a serious offense to shoot a working elephant and it was something I did not want to do.
I was not comfortable with the people and what they thought of me.
I was hated because I was European and having the rifle in my hand changed their outlook of me for just a moment. I already made up my mind that Imperialism was an evil thing and the sooner I chucked up my job and got out of it the better.
The problems of oppression I received were thought of in utter silence.
Shooting the elephant was a decision that had an affect on him and the owner.
The owner was furious, but he was only an Indian and could do nothing. I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had shot the elephant solely to avoid looking like a fool.
Legally, I had done the right thing for a mad elephant had to be killed.
Ralph Waldo Emerson portrays his beliefs in his essay; “Self Reliance” that was published in a series of essays entitled Essays in 1841.
Taking pride in ones own individuality and expression is not the only way of life for all people.
To believe your own thought, to believe what is true for you in your private heart is true for