Shooting an Elephant

what does the mud represent/symbolize?

In the story it describes what Orwell sees when he goes around the hut and sees the man spread out in the mud dead. What does it mean?

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Last updated by Aslan
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The dead coolie represents the inciting action that will lead to the elephant's death. The indifferent description of his dead body represents the lack of concern, at least British concern, over the native. As far as the mud goes, I'm not sure there is too much to read into it other than it might represent how the natives are treated by the British.