Shooting an Elephant Response Questions

1.) How is this a story about two disparate major themes? How are these themes intertwined? 

The two major themes expressed in this essay are imperialism and peer pressure.  The two major themes are seen through the officer shooting the elephant due to peer pressure and imperialism is seen through the officers being there to keep the people in order.  They are both prevalent in the story.  Peer pressure is felt by the officers.  They feel as if they have to please the people in order to keep peace.  Imperialism is seen in the story because due to imperialism the officers were kept there, even if they did not believe in the beliefs.  They had to try and please the people to protect themselves.  They conformed under peer pressure and did things they may not have done if others were around.  The prime example is when the officer shot the elephant.  He comes out and says he would not have shot the elephant if others were not around.  He felt like he had to. That is how peer pressure affected the officer.

The two themes are intertwined by the role the officer has to live to.  As an officer there is a certain persona already given to him.  The people do not like them, and because of this some of them changed how they acted when on duty to try and fit in better.  

2.) What tactics does Orwell employ when revealing unflattering aspects of himself?

Orwell reveals the unflattering aspect that he fell under peer pressure when describing the forces that led him to shoot the elephant.  He states that he would not have shot the elephant if the people were not around him.  He felt as if he had to shoot the elephant so those around him would not grow angry or make fun of him.  He fell under peer pressure.  That is one unflattering aspect about Orwell.  He also reveals this aspect when he speaks of how the people mock and tease him and other officers.  It plays a role in his decision making and the final outcome of the story.  He does not dance around the facts and goes straight towards admitting what he did and why he did it.