SOAPSTone: September 6, 2011

Subject
The subject of George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" is that we shouldn't allow society to influence our actions because we don't want to disappoint them. Giving in to societal pressure is illustrated with Orwell shooting the elephant because the people that had followed him to find the elephant expected him to even though he did not want to. Orwell did not feel the need to shoot the elephant because the elephant was no longer mad, it was keeping to itself, but all the people who had followed Orwell expected him to shoot the elephant. Orwell couldn't have turned around and walked away because of his position in the society.
Occasion
"Shooting an Elephant" was written during the 1930's. The essays' time of creation is conveyed by the fact that people were still having elephants as pets. Now a days people don't have elephants as pets because of laws against it. The probable place of the essay's creation is Lower Burma because that is where the essay takes place. The time and place of the essay's creation influence the essay by the way he described his job and the people around him and their attitudes toward him. When Orwell says "I was hated by large numbers of people," it shows that during that time period in that place, any form of law enforcement was not respected, which influenced the way the essay was written because instead of loving his life and job, Orwell was at a crossroads, just like he was with whether to shoot the elephant or not.
Audience
George Orwell's specific audience for "Shooting an Elephant" is people in a social crossroad. The author's target audience is exhibited by the fact that he doesn't agree with imperialism and is conflicted with his job. People who can identify with the way Orwell feels with benefit more from this piece than people who don't. The author's general audience for the essay is anyone who has been torn on what to do in a situation. The author's general audience is communicated by the society pressure to shoot the elephant. A wider group of people can identify with having the deal with societal pressure to do something we don't necessarily want to do.
Purpose
George Orwell's purpose in "Shooting an Elephant" is to show how societal pressure brings people to make bad choices that they know are bad. People give in to social pressure even when they know they are making the wrong choice is revealed by Orwell shooting the elephant even when he knows it is unnecessary to. Orwell knew the elephant was no longer mad, but he didn't want to face the group of people behind him so he shot the elephant. The purpose is further revealed by Orwell continually shooting the elephant to make it die and not have to die painfully. Orwell did not want the elephant to suffer while the villagers skinned it.
Speaker
George Orwell, born on June 25, 1903, believes imperialism is evil. This value is illustrated by Orwell talking about how he is against imperialism and how he agrees with everything imperialism is against. Orwell ultimately is in agreement with everything imperialism goes against. Orwell used imperialism in his purpose because he is in an imperialistic society and he doesn't agree with their views but he gets out numbered and gives in to them. George Orwell's use of imagery is evident in his description of him shooting the elephant. he describes how he felt when he was shooting the elephant which shows us how much he didn't want to shoot the elephant but did because he felt pressured into it. This enhanced the effectiveness of the purpose by further proving the pressure Orwell felt to shoot the elephant.
Tone
George Orwell shows a defeated and unwilling attitude about giving in to societal pressure in "Shooting an Elephant."These attitudes are expressed by the "devilish roar" when he shot the elephant. He was against the roar because he felt defeated because he had done something he didn't want to do. People are unwilling to give in to society pressure and generally feel defeated when they do give in to them.