Topic > Orientalism in Burma times

George Orwell was a police officer in Burma for five years, so he witnessed real life in Burma and the strict management of Britain. However, he gave up this well-paid job because he opposed British colonization and racial discrimination. Later, he wrote the novel Burmese Days to satirize British colonial rule and imperialism. In the story, Orwell shapes a character named Flory, who is obsessed with oriental culture and hates racial discrimination. It also reflects Orwell's personal experience and characteristics. Furthermore, Orwell also creates two typical Burmese, Ma Hla May and Dr. Veraswami. In the article “Kipling, the Orient, and Orientals: 'Orientalism,'” author David Scott argues that some European writers may hold an assumption of the unknown Orient, which is called orientalism (Scott 300). Although many people believe that Burmese Days opposes imperialism, I will show that Orwell cannot completely evade the worldview of orientalism in Burmese Days, especially in the description of the characters. This can be seen in the negative images of Ma Hla May and Dr. Veraswami, and the contradictory behaviors of Flory in Burmese Days. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. For example, when Orwell represents Ma Hla May, he portrays her as a lewd and servile woman. First of all, the author describes the Burmese woman as erotic. Once Flory loses his temper and abuses her, she does not get angry: “She lies back and lets him do what he wanted with her, quite passive but pleased and slightly smiling, like a cat letting itself be stroked” (Orwell 53). . If she is Flory's lover, she may be the white man's wife. Flory's wifely status is an honor for her. To get “love” from Flory, she satisfies the man through sex. Moreover, according to the description of its appearance: its tiny, straight and slender body is outlineless, like a bas-relief carved on a tree. She is like a doll, with an oval face, still the color of new copper, and narrow eyes; a whimsical yet grotesquely beautiful doll (Orwell 51). The author describes her as a typical "oriental". It resembles a doll that can be played with and controlled. Furthermore, she promises that “she may be his slave or less than his slave,” as long as Flory lets her stay (Orwell 160). He begs to stay here, which definitely shows his servility. But Hla May admits that his status and position are lower than that of the white man, because he has to rely on the Western man. Furthermore, “she has wrapped her arms around his ankles, she is actually kissing his shoes” (Orwell 160). Not only can she be a slave, but she is also able to shed her own dignity. To some extent, it is equal to a docile animal. In the words of Ghaforian Ahmad and Gholi Ahmad, when Orwell mentions the Burmese people, he applies the signal stereotype and Clich? to represent Asiatic (Ahmad and Ahmad 1366). Orwell forges a low and degrading image of the Burmese woman. In Orwell's depiction, serving the man is the duty of the Burmese woman who is an accessory of the man. Referring to another Burmese in the text, Dr. Veraswami is an Anglophile who cannot be ignored. Unlike U Po Kyin who loyally works for the British for his own good, Dr. Veraswami definitely possesses the Eurocentrist thought that Europe is unique and exceptional (Sinha 492). He is not as rich as U Po Kyin, but shows a positive attitude towards British management. First of all, he never criticizes Great Britain and the English, because he believes that Westerners aremore intelligent than orientals. He says that “the English are the salt of the earth” (Orwell 36). Despite his respect for Britain, Veraswami despises his own race. For example, he believes that “it underlies half our bestiality towards the natives” (Orwell 37). From his point of view, the colonizers save their country from a backward situation. Apparently, Orwell tells a positive Burmese character, so Flory would like to get along with the doctor. In reality, Dr. Veraswami has turned into a slave of the empire. Even though he is framed by U Po Kyin, his ideas of excellent Britain never fade. Orwell never subjectively judges Veraswami's words and behaviors, but it is evident that Veraswami loves Britain. According to Sinha, Eurocentrism means that Europe differs from other areas, which is the result of its modern civilization (Sinha 492). Although Orwell criticizes the European social club, he indirectly shows the superiority of Europe. This superiority is based on the thoughts of an "oriental". Regardless of the negative images of the Burmese, Orwell characterizes Flory as impartial like himself, but Flory's behaviors reflect white supremacy. At first Flory treats the Burmese woman like a lover, because he never chooses to marry her. Ahmad and Ahmad also argue that duplicity is a common problem in Orwell's works, and the conflict is that he sympathizes with the colonialists because of their race or culture, while treating them inhumanely at the same time (Ahmad and Ahmad 1362). Flory sympathizes with the Burmese, while abruptly chasing away his Burmese lover due to white identity. When Elizabeth arrives, he is determined to marry her. In fact, there are numerous divergences between them. Elizabeth is sick of the Burmese people and India, while Flory is passionate about oriental customs. Despite the many arguments, Flory needs her to meet his emptiness. At least she can share the common denominator of nationality with him. Marrying a white girl is the only way to forget his loneliness. Flory thinks that “she has brought back to him the air of England – dear England” (Orwell 156). He doesn't completely forget his white identity. As for him, England is an unforgettable homeland forever. Although Flory does his best to enjoy life in Burma, it is impossible to eliminate the border between India and England, so Orwell does. As Flory says, if he marries Elizabeth, “there is one way to live: civilized, dignified” (Orwell 289). At the end of the story, he can't wait to get married, no matter if she loves him or not. To be honest, Flory doesn't pay attention to whether true love is true or not. The reason why he is eager to get married is that it is difficult to meet a white girl in Burmese. White men are supposed to marry white women, which is common sense among Westerners. Martínez points out that, starting in the mid-1800s, new historical development served to reinforce the concept of whiteness, particularly westward expansion (Martínez 3). Flory is considered a narrative substitute for Orwell, so even Orwell is unable to eliminate white superiority in his mind. Despite some of his moments of enlightenment, George Orwell still represents the worldview of Orientalism in Burmese Days; molds the Burmese with negative characteristics and Flory cannot radically abandon the idea of ​​white superiority. Ahmad and Ahmad argued that Orwell simultaneously criticizes and sympathizes with both the colonizer and the colonialist (Ahmad and Ahmad1366). I am convinced that George Orwell is a humanist who has a tendency to support colonialism for the sake of humanity. Edward Said believes that Orientalism refers to different ontological and epistemological differences (Said 2). Undoubtedly influenced by culture, 2009..