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Social Pressure - Papers Online

Social Pressure

Social Pressure

The short story “Shooting an Elephant”, by George Orwell, is a narration that subtly discusses Orwell’s motives for killing an escaped elephant. As a sub-division officer for imperialist Britain in 1936, Orwell attempts to keep the favor of the native townspeople where he is stationed and to avoid humiliation. The townspeople of Burma neither favored nor respected Orwell until an event occurred that would allow a character opinion to be made. The event was shooting an elephant for the alleged safety of the public. Orwell is not motivated to kill the elephant for the safety of the public, but by his fear of his own insecurities that plague him. Orwell takes the ridicule ...

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in general, he isn't frightened. The sole thought in my mind was that if anything went wrong those two thousand Burmans would see me pursued, caught, trampled on and reduced to a grinning corpse… And if that happened it was quite probable that some of them would laugh. That would never do” (129). The duality of suggesting that humility and insecurity is the combined single attribute to Orwell’s decision in surrendering his judgment to others under social pressure.
In this essay Orwell knows what is right and how he should handle the situation but he is persuaded by the townspeople to do what he feels is wrong. Orwell says how he had no intentions of shooting the elephant and that doing so would be just like murder. He knew with “perfect certainty” that he ought not to shoot the elephant, but Orwell fell victim to social pressure. His reasons for doing so, however, were not as clear-cut. He said his ultimate decision was to not look bad in front of the villagers; that gave him a ...

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Social Pressure. (2012, October 4). Retrieved February 2, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Social-Pressure/101594

"Social Pressure." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 4 Oct. 2012. Web. 2 Feb. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Social-Pressure/101594>

"Social Pressure." Essayworld.com. October 4, 2012. Accessed February 2, 2026. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Social-Pressure/101594.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 10/4/2012 10:32:13 PM
Submitted By: jassu
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1187
Pages: 5

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