George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant is one of those essays that starts off sounding like a straightforward story—an elephant on the loose, a British colonial officer, and a rifle—but quickly turns into a deep dive into the messy world of power, peer pressure, and the absurd lengths we go to in order to save face. And let me tell you, if you’ve ever felt the crushing weight of trying to live up to other people’s expectations (whether it’s your boss, your kids, or society in general), then you’ll recognize yourself in Orwell’s story.
In this essay, Orwell, writing about his time as a colonial officer in Burma, is faced with a very literal dilemma: an elephant has gone rogue, and the local people expect him to deal with it. The thing is, by the time Orwell gets there, the elephant has calmed down. It’s no longer a threat. But the crowd is watching, and Orwell feels this intense pressure to shoot the elephant anyway—because, well, that’s what a colonial officer is supposed to do, right?
What follows is a heart-wrenching scene in which Orwell shoots the elephant, not because it’s necessary or even what he wants to do, but because the expectations of others trap him in a situation where he feels like he has no choice. It’s a powerful commentary on the nature of power and the way we often find ourselves doing things we don’t want to do just to live up to the roles we’ve been given.
The Crushing Weight of Expectations
Orwell’s situation might sound specific to colonial Burma, but let’s be real—haven’t we all found ourselves in situations where we did something just because it was expected of us, even though every part of us screamed “This isn’t right”? Maybe you didn’t shoot an elephant (I sure hope not), but perhaps you agreed to take on one more work project even though you were already drowning in deadlines. Or maybe you bought into a parenting trend you weren’t sold on because everyone in your mom group was doing it, and you didn’t want to be the odd one out.
The pressure to conform and live up to expectations is real, folks. Orwell’s elephant might have been a symbol of colonial power and control, but we’ve all got our own “elephants”—those situations where we feel trapped by what’s expected of us, even when our gut is telling us to do the opposite.
In Shooting an Elephant, Orwell feels the crushing gaze of the crowd, knowing that if he doesn’t shoot the elephant, he’ll be seen as weak or incompetent. It’s a familiar feeling, isn’t it? It’s that moment when you know the right thing to do, but the weight of what others will think presses down on you so heavily that you cave. And once you give in, you’re left dealing with the aftermath—the guilt, the regret, and the knowledge that you acted against your own better judgment.
The Modern-Day Elephant: Social Media and the Pressure to Perform
Orwell’s essay might have been written in the 1930s, but the same pressures he faced are alive and well today—only now, they’ve got a shiny new platform: social media. I mean, who hasn’t felt the unspoken pressure to post that perfect Instagram photo or share the “right” opinion just because everyone else is doing it? It’s the modern version of Orwell’s crowd, watching your every move, ready to judge you if you don’t live up to the unspoken expectations.
Social media is full of people “shooting elephants” every day—making choices, not because they believe in them, but because they feel like they have to in order to maintain their image. Maybe it’s posting about a cause you don’t fully understand because you don’t want to seem out of touch, or agreeing with the popular opinion just to avoid backlash.
We all want to fit in, to be accepted, and sometimes that means doing things that don’t align with who we really are. The problem is, just like Orwell, we end up feeling trapped by those choices. And much like shooting the elephant, those decisions can have lasting consequences—not just for us, but for those around us.
Power: It’s Not All It’s Cracked Up to Be
One of the most striking things about Orwell’s essay is his realization that power isn’t as glamorous as it seems. Sure, he’s the colonial officer, technically in charge, but in reality, he feels powerless. The crowd has more control over him than he does over the situation, and in the end, he’s left performing an act of violence he doesn’t want to carry out just to avoid looking foolish.
This is a powerful lesson for anyone who’s ever been in a position of authority—whether you’re a manager, a parent, or even just the one in charge of organizing the school bake sale. Power isn’t about being in control all the time. In fact, it’s often the opposite. Sometimes, the expectations and pressure that come with power make you feel more trapped than free.
Orwell’s experience speaks to the hidden weight of leadership—the pressure to make the “right” decision, not just for yourself but for the people watching you. It’s a reminder that power and authority come with their own set of challenges, and sometimes the hardest part is standing your ground when every instinct is telling you to do otherwise.
What Can We Learn from Orwell?
Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant isn’t just a historical essay about colonialism; it’s a universal story about the struggles we all face when dealing with power, expectations, and our own moral compass. It’s about the choices we make under pressure and the impact those choices have on our sense of self.
The lesson here? Don’t let the crowd—or the pressures of society, social media, or even your own inner expectations—force you into decisions that go against your values. It’s easy to feel like you have to “shoot the elephant” to avoid judgment or embarrassment, but in the long run, staying true to yourself will always leave you feeling more empowered.
Action Steps:
- Pause Before Reacting to Pressure: When you feel pressured to make a decision you’re not comfortable with, take a moment to pause and ask yourself if you’re acting out of fear of judgment or because it’s truly the right thing to do.
- Stay True to Your Values: Identify one area of your life where you feel like you’ve been “shooting elephants”—making decisions based on outside expectations rather than your own values—and make a conscious effort to change course.
- Recognize the Burden of Power: If you’re in a leadership position, be mindful of the hidden pressures that come with authority. Remember that staying true to your principles, even when it’s hard, is the real mark of strength.