"shooting an elephant"

Ironically, tyrants must often make decisions to please those they are suppressing. In George Orwell’s essay, “Shooting an Elephant,” the author creates a metaphor for “The real motives for which despotic governments act.” Orwell suggests that in becoming a tyrant of an imperialized nation, the ruler becomes a puppet of the people. They, like the narrator of Orwell’s essay, are driven to show no mercy or fear, make choices to please the people, and to act against their morals and better judgement to conform with their government.
In “Shooting an Elephant,” the narrator describes his feelings while approaching the elephant. Even armed with a rifle, a shadow of doubt crosses his mind. He could miss his target, in which case he would have no time to reload before being crushed by the elephant. He pushes his apprehension aside, however, because of the two thousand natives watching, judging him. He musters up false courage and shoots the elephant to the joy of the nat...