George Orwell's essay "Shooting an Elephant" reflects his critical attitude toward British Imperialism by highlighting the ethical and moral dilemmas faced by an imperialist officer. In the story, Orwell describes how he is compelled to shoot an elephant that has gone on a rampage, killing a man. Orwell admits that he only shot the elephant to avoid looking like a fool in front of the local people who were pressuring him to take action. This act of violence against a helpless animal symbolizes the brutal and senseless nature of imperialism. Moreover, the essay highlights how imperialism undermines the morality of the colonizers who are forced to act against their conscience and perpetrate violence on innocent people. Orwell's essay is a critique of British Imperialism and argues that it not only harms the colonized people but also corrupts and dehumanizes the colonizers.
