Analytical Summary Shooting an ElephantShooting an Elephant, written by George Orwell, is a short autobiographical essay about an incident that occurred during his time serving as a police officer in Burma. The essay centers on an event in which Orwell was forced to shoot an elephant against his own will. Using this episode that led to the clash between his personal beliefs and the expectations of those around him, Orwell sends the message that imperialism is a losing game that hurts the oppressed, as well as the oppressor. Furthermore, he indirectly advises readers to act according to their own personal desires, not those of others. The essay begins with the description that the narrator, Orwell, is a police officer from a subdivision of Burma. Orwell is hated by the natives amidst anti-European sentiment, and faces constant ridicule and insults from the Burmese people. This is a real shame because internally he feels solidarity with them and declares that imperialism is evil. This is because during his many years of service he witnessed the inhumane treatment of prisoners and numerous other dirty works carried out by the British Empire. However, like every other Eastern Englishman, he can do nothing as he is stuck in the middle between the empire he hates and the natives who hate him. One day, an accident disrupts his monotonous life. Orwell receives a desperate call from a Burmese sub-inspector across town, asking for immediate help in caring for a mad elephant. Orwell takes an old Winchester .44 rifle and heads towards the region where the elephant was last reported. Along the way, he feels that the e...... middle of paper ...... a puppet lacking in stubbornness and confidence. Although he may appear to be the one who holds power in Burma, he has simply become a puppet of power itself. All in all, Orwell's essay is a remarkable piece of writing that combines a personal anecdote with a political opinion. Using the elephant's death as a metaphor, he conveys the message that excessive power ruins a person's better judgment and morals by making him a puppet easily manipulated by others. In life we ​​will face dilemmas where our personal beliefs clash with the expectations of others. Using this essay as a constant reminder, we must ensure that we make the decision we will not regret by following our heart and conscience. After all, as Ralph Emerson once said, “To be yourself in a world that constantly tries to make you into something else is the greatest achievement”..”