George Orwell had to decide on whether he would kill the elephant in front of the people or whether he would not kill it and be embarrassed by his inability to kill the elephant. So his pride was in question throughout the essay. George Orwell was hated by the people of Burma. He was unhappy with the imperial government that he was working for. He did not like that the government that he is working for is suppressing people that have done nothing wrong for the purpose of financial gain. George Orwell starts off the essay immediately by stating his views on the Imperial ways British Empire. He stated that this type of government is evil and is against the oppression that they are causing on the people. Even though he is officer himself he has hatred and guilt towards himself for being part of what he sees as the evil. Also there is hatred towards what he called "little beasts," the people of Burma. In the essay Orwell does not only write about his experience in Burma with the elephant but also how he compares the experience with the elephant to imperialism and the British Empire. The mood of the essay is entirely set when he describes the day as "cloudy, stuffy at the beginning of the rains." This is done to set an uncomfortable mood for the reader. He has already said that he is weak when he talks about the people of Burma and how they mock him and laugh at him. The way he uses the elephants' rampage as a metaphor for imperialism when the elephant goes on a rampage. Even killing a man. When Orwell finally saw the elephant he said, "I knew with perfect certainty that I ought not to shoot him". But then he looked behind him and saw the mass group of people that have gathered behind them to see Orwell shoot the elephant. Which then made him change his view to "...But I did not want to shoot the elephant." He then repeatedly says how immoral and guilty it is to shoot the other. Despite the many reasons not to shoot the elephant such as