Shooting an Elephant

Orwell's first impression is that the elephant is subdued..... peaceful. This description is ironic in view of the descriptions of the elephant that preceded it.

I had halted on the road. As soon as I saw the elephant I knew with perfect certainty that I ought not to shoot him. It is a serious matter to shoot a working elephant – it is comparable to destroying a huge and costly piece of machinery – and obviously one ought not to do it if it can possibly be avoided. And at that distance, peacefully eating, the elephant looked no more dangerous than a cow.