Concerning your question about "Shooting An Elephant," I
don't know if "received" is the correct way to think about the ideas presented in the
essay. If one is precise, a main idea is presented in the essay.
You can also think in terms of
thesis.
The main idea of the essay is
something like:
The imperialist power is transformed and
corrupted by its imperialism.
The colonized are not the
only ones damaged by colonization.
By his/her position of
power, an imperialist is morally corrupted.
The speaker is
made to do things he would not otherwise do. He not only is forced to kill the elephant
needlessly, but because of the abuse he suffers at the hands of the locals, he actually
develops prejudice and hatred against them. Because he must maintain his position of
authority, he must behave as he's expected to. Because he is in an
illigitimate position of authority, he is mistreated by those he is in charge of, and he
responds naturally.
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