Final answer:
In 'Shooting an Elephant', the narrator feels pressured by the crowd's expectations to shoot the elephant, showing the conflict between his role as an authority figure and his personal morals.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the essay Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell, the crowd's presence greatly influences the narrator's response to the crisis surrounding the loose elephant. The narrator feels immense pressure from the expectations of the crowd, knowing that they expect him to assert his authority and shoot the elephant. This external pressure conflicts with his internal moral compass, which tells him that killing the elephant is wrong since the animal appears to have calmed down. The tension between his role as a colonial police officer and his personal beliefs leads to a feeling of being trapped, as he can neither appease the crowd nor act in accordance with his morals without facing consequences. Ultimately, the narrator gives in to the crowd's implicit demands, sacrificing his own conscience in the process in order to maintain his authority and control over the situation. This tension illustrates the complexities of colonial power dynamics and the struggle between personal ethics and social expectations.