Burmese Days by George Orwell - 1125 Words

Introduction: Britain’s connections to Burma go a long way back, all the way back to the first Anglo-Burmese war which was fought in the mid-1820s. It was then and there that Burma was subjected to the colonial rule of the British, and the lives of its people were forever changed. The rich became poorer, the middle class became poorer and the poor, needless to say became the poorest. The British intruded and forced themselves into the Burmese people’s lives with clear intent, they wanted to give the people of Burma something to look forward to by spreading their message of Hope, Civilization and Modernization. If one were to look at Burma as a whole from the outside, the British colonial powers helped the Burmese massively as the country experienced an economic boom, but once glanced upon from a different perspective one would realize how troubling the British rule was for the Burmese people. As time passed people just happened to be enslaved and the lives of the Burmese just happened to be getting shorter and shorter; this phenomena was completely irrelevant and had nothing to do with the new order and work requirements the British imposed on them. The Burmese people failed to reap the rewards their country was experiencing, and that left the British’s promise of civilization and education unfulfilled. The British troops had orders, and carried them out without much fuss, whatever was instructed was done with no question asked whatsoever, but George Orwell, a policeShow MoreRelatedGeorge Orwell s Burmese Days Essay1445 Words   |  6 PagesWith this one sentence author George Orwell depicts colonialism and racism in the novel perfectly. Burmese Days by George Orwell tells the tale of white Englishmen, and women, ruling over the native Indian population during the early 20th century. This was during an era of colonialization in which native Indians had next to no rights and all laws were made by the British in power. This created tension on both sides and racism became the norm between the two races. Orwell blended racism with the ideaRead MoreRacial Boundaries in Burmese Days by George Orwell1471 Words   |  6 Pagesboundary that had the Burmese dealing with white European supremacy since day one. It is evident throughout George Orwell’s novel, Burmese Days, that the main theme is the superiority of the white Europeans over the non-white Burmese. The white Europeans are extremely racist, sexist, and self centered. The social class system in this novel seems to be a two-tier system. The top tier being the white European elite, while the bottom tier seems to be the rest. The non-white Burmese people constituted theRead MoreShooting an Elephant938 Words   |  4 PagesGeorge Orwell’s â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† is an essay written by George Orwell and published in 1936 (Orwell 66). Orwell was born June 25, 1903, as Eric Arthur Blair and passed away January 21, 1950, in India (â€Å"George Orwell Biography†). Orwell was known for his journals, novels, and essays published about his own political views (â€Å"George Orwell Biography†). Orwell traveled to Burma after not doing good enough in school to earn a scholarship and decided to join the imperialRead MoreBritish Imperialism In George Orwells Shooting An Elephant1042 Words   |  5 Pages Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell portrays the fictional life of Orwell during his time as sub-divisional police officer in Moulmein, Lower Burma. The essay unveils the identity crisis as a British man, where rising imperialism of British in Burma is becoming more dominant. The essay started off identifying who George Orwell was. A sub-divisional police officer of Moulmein, who developed a feeling of being anti-European towards the Burmese people. By claiming that no one is courageous enoughRead MoreShooting An Elephant By George Orwell867 Words   |  4 Pagesan Elephant† by George Orwell describes Orwell’s experience as a police officer of a town in the British colony of Burma. George Orwell, a military occupier in the Burmese land is much hated by the civilians. The hatred he receives from the locals makes him despise the British Empires mistreatment on the Burmese people. However, he also resents the locals in the village for revolting against him, for he is only a worker of the British Empire. â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† by George Orwell discusses the author’sRead MoreEssay about Burmese Days Review893 Words   |  4 PagesI. Orwell, George. 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The unjust shooting of an elephant in Orwells story is the central focus from which Orwell builds his argument through the two dominant characters, the elephant and its executioner. The British officer, theRead MoreCritical Analysis Of Shooting An Elephant1165 Words   |  5 PagesIn George Orwell’s story ‘Shooting an Elephant’, insight is given into the life of an oppressor in the British Empire. Orwell, having undergone a significant personal experience, illustrates his experience of imperialism and the resounding effects is has on the ethical conduct and ideals of man, not only of the oppressed but also in regards of the oppressor. Orwell’s ‘Shooting an Elephant’ attempts to convey the sacrifice of one’s morality in service of imperia lism. Through the spread of the BritishRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwell s Shooting An Elephant 1265 Words   |  6 Pages  Shooting an Elephant is an essay by George Orwell, first published in the literary magazine New Writing in the autumn of 1936 and broadcast by the BBC Home Service on October 12, 1948. The essay describes the experience of the English narrator, possibly Orwell himself, called upon to shoot an aggressive elephant while working as a police officer in Burma. Because the locals expect him to do the job, he does so against his better judgment, his anguish increased by the elephant s slow and painfulRead MoreBurmese Days: an Example of Imperialism Essay772 Words   |  4 PagesBurmese Days: An Example of Imperialism Nineteenth century industrialization brought new riches and power to Western Europe, driving the expansion of opportunities and the building of empires in undeveloped territories. Although the developed countries brought many modern technologies to under-developed nations, they also brought fierce racism and European arrogance. Burmese Days by George Orwell was written in 1834 as a satirical view of English imperial life in Burma. Orwell provides a realistic