Sergey Gardner
Professor Dollieslager
English 111
22 April 2015
 

Summary of "Shooting an Elephant"
By George Orwell

          "Shooting an Elephant" is a first person narrative written by famous writer George Orwell.  The story begin in Burma India where Mr. Orwell was stationed as police officer for British empire. He was hated throughout Burma not because the color of his skin but what herepresents: oppression, imperialism, and unbreakable tyranny.  In part, he wanted nothing less but pain to those who disrespected him, but kept his composure for there was the voice of the oppressed. Orwell  was already decide imperialism is unnecessary evil, so he did not consider to staying in service too long. that The narrative starts with a distress call from town bazaar. An elephant had gone crazy looking for a mate, and ravaging the bazaar while at it. When Orwell arrived at the bazaar, the elephant long time gone. The people near the market did not know where the elephant went. Some natives said he went one way and some completely another. As Orwell was considering to go back to the police station he heard someone yelling "Go away." That was where Orwell found an Indian, black Dravidian coolie, lying dead in the mud. It seemed like some big mass had pressed him into the mud, a high likely hood it was the elephant's deed. This was the point when Orwell decided to send an orderly to fetch the elephant rifle. He still did not wish to shoot the elephant but if it came to looking like a dead Dravidian coolie or a dead elephant, the elephant must die. Orwell got report from natives that the elephant was grazing at the bottom of the hill. Orwell hung the elephant rifle on his shoulder and started his journey. The closer he got to the destination, the greater the number of natives followed him.  Through Orwell's view all of the natives were expecting him to shoot the elephant.  "They were going to have their fun after all" Orwell thinks as he loads the cortege in to the elephant rifle.  He shot three time at the elephant without completely killing it. The next day the owner was not happy of Orwell decision, but he was just an Indian man. The natives told Orwell that it took the elephant half an hour to die. Natives spend no peace of elephant to spare, only bones where left at his place.Every European in Burma had their opinion but thanks to the legal system that gave the right to kill an elephant when the owner has no control of it gave Orwell legal justification for his action.

 

Work Cited

Orwell, George. " Shooting an Elephant." George Orwell 1903-1950. K1 Internet Publishing. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.                                   <http://www.k-1.com/Orwell/site/work/essays/elephant.html>.