British Empire was one of the largest empires to ever exist on the face of the world. The region expanded for almost a century before its downfall in 1947. George Orwell, one of the most famous advocates for socialism and a profound writer, wrote Burmese Days in 1934; his first novel emphasised the living conditions of the Britishers in the Burma region of the empire.
The story follows a typical British officer named Flory, who was a resident of the Burma region for a long time. He was a pretty average guy who had insecurity about a scar on his face. He had a doctor friend, a servant and a Burmese mistress. Flory’s life was pretty average considering the living standards of Burmese people under colonial rule, but still, he was part of an English club in the city. At the end of the story, he shoots himself and his dog, and this turn of events captures the core of the level of Burmese Days.
Bad Guys on Both Ends
The reign of the British Empire is one of the most impactful events of the last two centuries. Throughout this empire, many significant events have significantly impacted the world today. Now, it’s clearly understood that in a corrupt society, there will be corruption and abusing power was not limited to Englishmen. In Burmese Days, a man named U Po Kyin was a villainous character who was a magistrate and a purely evil person in quest of power. He was ultimately successful but met the same fate and died like everyone.
Greed for Power
There is a chance that good guys will turn evil in the quest for power. It took work for an ordinary Burman to get into the club. U Po Kyin wanted to sit between the British people, and Doctor Veraswami was his opponent. U Po Kyin went to extreme limits to make his dream come true, and what cost he was willing to pay makes him the perfect evil guy in a place where he was the only judge.
Flory: A Lost Man Even in Win
Flory is the character of the Burmese Days; his friendly relationship with the Burmese people and anti-colonial views on the empire makes him exceptional in the story. He was getting old and had no family. It was the same for all the British guys living in Burma; there were not many European women roaming the streets of Burma. But one day, Elizabeth arrived, the niece of Mrs Lackersteen from the club.
Flory knew that she was the one to tie the knot in marriage. The beginning of their relationship was positive. Even though Elizabeth didn’t like or agree with most of Flory’s views on subjects, she was impressed by his polite stories of hunting and being an experienced hunter. She was about to agree to marry Flory, but in a turn of events and some planning from U Po Kyin, Elizabeth left Flory, and he lost hope for his future. In hopes of escaping the brutality of the present situation, Flory committed suicide and joined the graves of lonely Englohsment in Burma.
Nothing Mattered At the End
Burmese Days is a brilliant story; it talks about the differences, sufferings and lost values of people during the times. The Englishmen were troublesome and mean, while the ordinary people of Burma were wild and ferocious. Everyone had a motive, from Flory to U Po Kyin, but in the end, everyone met the same fate, which was significant as far as the writing of George Orwell is concerned.
The ability of this book to capture the genuine way of life during colonial times is spectacular. It doesn’t label right or wrong; it makes readers feel for the people. It was a tough time for everyone. The story started from a bright spot, but nothing mattered. People die, and life continues; that’s the bitter truth, especially in a fallen world.
Conclusion
The British Empire was one of the largest empires to ever exist on the face of the world, and George Orwell wrote Burmese Days in 1934. The story follows a typical British officer named Flory, who was a resident of the Burma region for a long time. Flory’s life was average, but he was part of an English club in the city. U Po Kyin was a villainous character who was a magistrate and a purely evil person in quest of power. He was ultimately successful but met the same fate and died like everyone.
The reign of the British Empire is one of the most impactful events of the last two centuries, and many significant events have significantly impacted the world today. Burmese Days is a brilliant story about the differences, sufferings and lost values of people during colonial times. Elizabeth and Flory’s relationship was initially cheerful, but Elizabeth left Flory, and he lost hope for his future. He committed suicide and joined the graves of lonely Englohsment in Burma. The book captures the genuine way of life during colonial times and makes the reader feel for the people. It was a tough time for everyone, even the privileged, and nothing mattered.
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