Final answer:
In 'Shooting an Elephant,' Orwell learns that power is not simply about making decisions, but also about the pressures to conform, which can lead to personal moral conflicts and the sense of being powerless despite being in authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Shooting an Elephant, George Orwell learns about the complex nature of power and ultimate authority, which can be as much of a burden as it is a tool for control. He discovers that the expectations of those he rules force him into actions that contradict his personal morals and the realities of power dynamics. Orwell's experience demonstrates that power is not simply about having the ability to make decisions but also about the pressure to conform to the will of the masses.
Philosophers such as Pittacus and Lord Acton have theorized that the nature of power is inherently linked to one's moral compass and that it has the potential to corrupt absolutely. Orwell's anecdote serves as a real-life example of these principles at work. Moreover, Orwell's thoughts reflect Nietzsche's ideas on morality and power, where the ideology of morality is an expression of the powerless to challenge those in control.
The resolution of Orwell's story is enveloped in a sense of continuing humiliation, indicating that the exercise of power often comes with personal consequences, emphasizing the paradox that those in power can simultaneously feel powerless.