Burmese Days Essay -- essays research papers

George Orwell&8217s novel Burmese Days is set in 1920&8217s Burma under British colonialism. It focuses on the imperialism of the British and its effects on the relationships between the British, the British and Indians, and between the Indians themselves. The novel concentrates on the town of Kyauktada in stop number Burma.Kyauktada is describe as hot and sultry. It is a small town of rough four thousand. The elicit majority of the inhabitants argon Burmese, but there ar also a hundred Indians, two Eurasians, sixty Chinese, and Seven Europeans. (Pg. 16) It is heartfelt the jungle and the Irrawaddy River. There are many trees and flowers, including honeysuckle. Though the side subscribe to jobs to perform often of their time is consumed with drinking whiskey in the Club, retreating from the &8220prickly heat, napping, and at times playing tennis or hunting. Though there is not much physical activity by the English, they do not complain intimately it. They do complain incess antly about the heat and about the contingent acceptance of natives into their exclusively European Club.In Burmese Days the oerwhelming majority of British held themselves superior to the Burmese. They feel that it is their duty to rule over the less intelligent &8220niggers of Burma. Through the description of the characteristics of both the British and Burmese, Orwell helps us understand the cling to system through which the British have get by to the conclusion that they must rule over the Burmese. An example of such a description is that of Maxwell, them acting Divisional Forest Officer. Maxwell is depicted as a &8220fresh-coloured blond youth of not more than twenty-five or six &8211 very young for the post he held. (Pg. 22) This description lends value to the light skinned and fair-haired British, though some, like Flory, have dark-skinned hair. Maxwell is also very young for his post, giving the impression that he is intelligent. Mr. Lackersteen, the manger of a timber f irm, though forty and slightly bloated, it described a &8220fine-looking with an ingenuous face. (Pg. 20- 21) This description leads us to believe British are good looking and honest.Orwell offers us numerous descriptions of favorable characteristics of the British, but he clearly distinguishes &8220bad British from &am... ...sire to become a member of the Club is in earnest discussed. However, U Po Kyin succeeds in his quest for the membership to the Club by ruining Flory&8217s relationship with Elizabeth, which results in Flory killing Flo, his dog, and committing suicide. The prestige that Dr. Veraswami had feature died with Flory. This ruined Flory, making a membership in the Club impossible. quite U Po Kyin was elected into the Club, and became and agreeable, yet largely absent, member.Any gap for understanding between Englishmen and Indians dies with Flory. This is because no other Englishmen could see beyond the emboss of Indians as conniving, lazy, uncivilized &8220nig gers. Though Mr. Macgregor did not dislike the Indians he provided found them pleasing when they had no freedoms. None of these opinions held by the Englishmen are causative to a reciprocal, understanding relationship between the British and the Burmese. Even if the English had overcome these barriers, the natives held stereotypes of the British as power-hungry, mean, degrading, and nave. The feelings of the natives toward the British would also submit to be overcome if an understanding were to be reached.