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Shooting an Elephant

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Shooting an Elephant
Shooting an Elephant

In the short story by George Orwell "Shooting an Elephant" the author unveiled to his audience the bureaucracy and his struggled with himself. As in so many other countries, bureaucracy and prejudice maybe found. However, in East Burma those days it was regiment. it appeared to be do as one says or pay the consequences of not doing the preferred choice. In this story, George Orwell, served in a top position in Britain as a police official. Throughout his years in his position he learned the hard regiments of British along with its bureaucracy which although he hated it, he must helped to substained at whatever the cost. the double standard and as race played part in the bureaucratic town of Burma. The author unfolds the story that should he not kill the elephant, that had gone mad and killed a coolie, he must forfeit his authority with the local Burmese. As Orwell stated "only time in his life" he was hated, by large number of people because of his position" ...(P. 173) Furthermore, if bureaucracy was not enough Orwell's inner turmoil with himself, goes on for many years. He constantly debates with himself about the morals of the British Burmese laws and rules. Orwell was overly concerned about what others though of him. "I often wonder whether any of the others ... soley to avoid looking a fool. (Orwell, P.179) Nevertheless, Orwell was deeply disturbed, as he was in a postion he did not like, and was caught in the middle where he ought to make the decision of killing the mad elephant. He was indirectly force to do this in front thousands who hated him not knowing or care that he did not want to kill the elphant but the imperialism was evil. He seem to have become a hypocrite to himself, not liking treatment of his prisoners or the smelly cages, he was uneducated felt he could do nothing even in the position he held. After reading Orwell's story, where he was deeply disturbed about the bureaucracy and his own feelings

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