Shooting An Elephant

“Shooting an Elephant” is a fictitious short story by George Orwell. It is set in a predominantly Burmese village, in which an elephant has escaped. A European officer, who is already set apart due to race, succumbs to the pressure of the villagers in order to be accepted. His need to belong is brought to light when he kills the elephant. The human need to be accepted is captured through the elements of a short story.

The plot, setting, characters and title help present the human need for acceptance. A European officer in Burma is asked to deal with a wild elephant within the village. The officer must decide whether or not to shoot the elephant. He believes shooting the elephant will provide him with the acceptance of the villagers. Once he shoots the elephant, he is still not accepted. Through the plot, the human need for acceptance becomes evident. The village is primarily populated by the Burmese. The officer is disliked by the residents of the village because he is European. Due to his race, his life “was one long struggle not to be laughed at” which heightens his need for acceptance. The officer’s high ranking position also makes him disliked by the villagers due to the inherent power imbalance. The setting and characters presents …show more content…
The officer shoots the elephant, although he does not have to, in an attempt to gain the acceptance of the villagers. Afterwards he realizes that he has gained nothing. Through the irony, it is evident that humans succumb to the need for acceptance. The elephant symbolizes the means by which the officer believes he can be accepted. In order to be accepted by the villagers, the officer must shoot the elephant. Although the officer “had no intention of shooting the elephant”, his need for acceptance prevails. Despite fulfilling the villager’s request, he is still disregarded. Through irony and symbolism the human need for acceptance becomes