Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is a dangerous form of persuasion. People see the effects of peer pressure throughout their daily lives at school, work, television, etc... It's all around us, even if we don't feel it or realize it. George Orwell's essay entitled "Shooting an Elephant" is a perfect example of peer pressure. In this essay Orwell is convinced to shoot an elephant which he didn't want to shoot in the first place. Nevertheless, the power of peer pressure forced him to act out the will of others around him. This is an influential demonstration of how peer pressure can make a person neglect their own morals and consciousness just to please those around them. In the beginning of the essay, Orwell talks
Peer pressure is without doubt something that is not given as much thought as it should be. It can bring about bad things that wouldn't have happened in the first place if there wasn't the feeling of "needing" to do something. Later Orwell realizes that he is unable to make choices according to his own beliefs. Peer pressure had put him in the situation where he knew the result would be appreciated by everyone else, but would be a burden on his conscious. about how he and the Burmese have a shared hate for each other. This makes one wonder why he would go through such lengths to please people who despise him. Orwell felt no obligation to and wouldn't have shot the elephant had he went out alone. Orwell didn't have the willpower to stand up for what he thought was right. When he set out to find the elephant he had no intention of shooting it. He even stated that he "was glad that the coolie had been killed" as it put him legally in the right position to shoot the elephant. And thus is "an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the will of those yellow faces behind. Which is a great example of the fact that everyone can be persuaded to doing what the "crowd" wants them to do. Some people might argue that only the weak-willed will buckle down to peep pressure, but this essay shows how a man with no intention of shooting an elephant quickly feels the need to shoot it. Orwell said "I could feel their two thousand wills pressing me forward, irresistibly. It's obvious that he felt obligated to do what everyone expected him to do; shoot the elephant.
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