The essay "Shooting an Elephant," by George Orwell, is set in time during the 1800's when the country of Burma had been conquer and put under British imperialistic rule. "Shooting an Elephant," is illustrated through the eyes of Orwell himself while working as a British Imperial Officer during this time of British rule. During his time in Burma he undergoes a life-changing event that demonstrates the true effects of imperial control. In this essay Orwell describes the horrific killing of an elephant and the emotions and frustrations he endures while deciding the initial fate of the animal. Orwell's continuous use of literary techniques aid in demonstrating the true irony and emotional state of the event, which then only further validates the impact in which imperialism held. Orwell uses the emotional appeal as the narrator and a brilliant description of the spectating crowd; to successfully convince the audience of how imperialism not only negatively effects those being governed by it, but how it also adversely effects those who exercise that power. .
George Orwell, born Eric Arthur Blair, was best known as an English author, journalist, and political satirist. Orwell's strong views on social injustice, totalitarianism, and democratic socialism had led to some of his most famous writings. Some of Orwell's most famous and infamous writings includes such works as "1984" and "Animal Farm." In these works, audiences are given great insight into Orwell's views on social and political regime. Likewise, in "Shooting an Elephant," Orwell demonstrates these views by describing his own experience with political and social injustice. Throughout the essay, Orwell continuously expresses his feelings of hatred towards the British and his support for the Burmese natives. Orwell even states "as for the job [he] was doing, [he] hated it more bitterly than [he] can perhaps make clear" (Orwell).