Page 2: The Situation and Its Interpretation

This page delves deeper into the complex situation faced by the narrator and the various reactions to the elephant incident.

The narrator's predicament:

• Hated by the Burmese due to his role as a police officer
• Experiencing an inner conflict about his deployment in Burma
• Expected to kill the elephant once he approaches with a gun, despite his reluctance

Quote: "Leading actor of piece but also a dummy pushed by the will of many."

The local people's reaction:

• Mock and disrespect the narrator
• Excited by the prospect of seeing an elephant shot
• Want the meat and follow the narrator

The elephant as a symbol:

• Represents the British Empire
• Huge and strong, yet can be aggressive and unpredictable
• Mostly calm and peaceful, but hard to control

Analysis: The elephant serves as a powerful symbol in the story, representing the British Empire's strength and unpredictability.

The narrator's thoughts:

• Believes "imperialism was an evil thing"
• Secretly supports the Burmese against British oppressors
• Hates his job and has no intention of shooting the elephant
• Feels pressured by "two thousand wills pressing him forward"

Highlight: The narrator's internal struggle reflects the broader conflict between individual morality and societal expectations under colonial rule.

The aftermath:

• The elephant's owner is angry about its death
• Older Europeans agree with killing the elephant, while younger ones think it unnecessary

Example: The differing opinions on the elephant's death mirror the changing attitudes towards imperialism across generations.

Page 1: Introduction to "Shooting an Elephant" and Its Characters

George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" introduces us to the main characters and themes of this thought-provoking short story. The narrator, a British police officer in Burma, finds himself in a complex situation that highlights the tensions of colonial rule.

The narrator is described as:

• A privileged individual with a higher position in the social hierarchy
• Wealthier than the local Burmese people
• Experiencing an inner conflict between his duty and personal beliefs
• Feeling like a puppet of the imperial system

Highlight: The narrator's internal struggle is encapsulated in the conflict between "I don't want to shoot the elephant" and "The people expect me to shoot the elephant."

George Orwell's background is relevant to the story:

• Born in 1903 in India
• His grandfather served in the Indian Army under British rule
• Belonged to the "lower-upper middle class"
• Served in the Burma police force, feeling like "the hand of the oppressor"

The Burmese people are portrayed as:

• Living in poor conditions
• Oppressed by British rule
• Harboring a negative attitude towards imperialism

Quote: "I was hated by a large number of people"

Key themes explored in the story include:

• Identity and expectations
• Imperialism and its consequences
• Power relations and oppression
• Guilt and moral responsibility

Vocabulary: Imperialism - The policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization or other means.