Both authors began their essays with their job description and their reasoning for entering into their respected fields. Orwell's job was a police officer and Hardy's was of a factory worker. But they believed in contributing to society's expectations of a high-quality performance.
In Orwell's, Shooting an Elephant,? he took on the position of a British police officer in Burma although he, theoretically - and secretly, of course- I was all for the Burmese and all against there oppressors, the British.?.
(Orwell 132). He took this job from the beginning of his manhood because he was young and ill-educated as to the ramifications of imperialism. As a boy, he was taught that this is the norm. .
In Hardy's, What Did You Do in the War, Grandma,? she left her family in eastern Iowa to go to of Omaha to provide for what she thought would help out the war effort. She even affirmed,? I wanted to go where something REAL was being done to end this bitter war.? (Hardy 139). Hardy started out at a factory, which built B-29 bombers, working in the Reproductions Department and eventually got promoted .
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to a desk job involving blueprints.
Equally, Orwell's and Hardy's work incentive was to become a productive part of society. Believing in one's ability to perform their functions successfully does not necessarily fulfill one's moral obligations. Deciding on a vocation is not always essentially a conscious decision. Some enter into their fields due to passion while others sometimes unknowingly work for the expectations of others. Passion justifies ones belief in deriving happiness, contentment and pride while conforming to what society dictates can sometimes have the opposite effect. .
Orwell's disdain for imperialism made him question his motives for working under the British Empire. He sided with the Burmese after witnessing the oppression imposed by imperialism. This strengthened his socialist values even though he lived life in a contradictory manner.