Burmese Days

Burmese Days

Burmese Days is both an intriguing story about life in Burma and a negative commentary on Imperialism. Orwell delivers a futile world that includes Europeans idling and an entire native population suffering. Burma was a corrupt region ruled by money where appearance was paramount and reality could be overlooked. Strong characters like U Po Kyin and Verall flourished due to their cruelty while Flory and Dr. Veraswami withered away because of their mildness. Imperialism created an upside down world where villainy and lack of morality were rewarded, whereas good deeds and gentleness led to ones downfall. Ultimately, it was a pointless cycle in which destruction reigned and there were no victors.

In a society completely ruled by whites, the cunning U Po Kyin was able to carve out a powerful niche in Kyauktada. While he started out as a poor boy, he rose through the ranks through blackmail and deceit (6). Through extortion, taxation, and his litigation, he managed to amass a fortune which allowed him, with bribery, to secure his power (7). With it, he was able to set himself apart from his native people and brutalize them like he was the imperialist. More able and scrupulous men probably were in line for U Po Kyin's job but the Europeans in charge valued appearance more than anything. From the outside, he was a strong, judicious ruler whose misdeeds were immaterial as long as he paid his dues and kept his people in line. His wife, worried about his afterlife, stated "you have done very much evil in you life" (15). U Po Kyin knew that was the truth, but he was a man of no shame, no morals. Unfortunately, this trait was the source of his power, and allows him to manipulate weaker people for his benefit.

Consequently, U Po Kyin acquired just about anything he desired. In describing U Po Kyin to Flory, Dr. Veraswami exclaims, "The outrages he has committed, The extortions, the briberies! The girls he hass ruined, raping them before the very eyes of their mothers!" (45). It appeared as though he is impenetrable. However, he was still unsatisfied, not because of a lack or power, rather because of a lack of prestige. A plan is devised where he will ruin Dr. Veraswami, so he will be the one to be elected to The European Club, a "remote, mysterious temple, that holy of holies far harder of entry than Nirvana" (143). While he achieved almost everything he wanted, he still was not white and strove for anything that would bring him closer to being a European. If need be, U Po Kyin would take the risk of ruining the reputation of a white man, Mr. Flory. Veraswami warned Flory that "If you have a weak spot, guard itÐ'...He strikes always at the weakest point" (151). In a place like Burma, where the natives are looked at as sub-human this would be quite a task. Even his wife, his most outspoken opponent, realized the genius of such a plan (144).

Every aspect of his plan was working exactly as he had planned, in some cases better than he planned. The Doctor's reputation had been extremely tarnished. Flory was the only obstacle. He befriended Veraswami and stuck by him and that alone protected him from complete ruin (12). In a brilliant move, U Po Kyin arranged for Flory's former mistress to embarrass him in church in front of all his peers, and along with the love of his life, Elizabeth (273-4). After Flory killed himself out of shame, the Veraswami was utterly ruined and out of U Po Kyin's way (283). As always, U Po Kyin had his way and was elected to the club (286). The odd thing is, no one thought him an honorable man. Undoubtedly, the Europeans knew at least some of the treacherous actions he performed but imperialism did not seek to establish a society on moral grounds. Instead, it sought to extract whatever wealth in could from a place in a haphazard manner which will undoubtedly lead to future turmoil. In many ways, U Po Kyin was like the British imperialists in that he only sought betterment for himself and did not care about affects of his actions.

Verall, an English Military Police Officer, was a cold hearted man but commanded respect from anyone he met. He was only in Kyauktada for a short period of time, but he let his presence be known. Unhappy about being there, Verall clearly showed his disdain for the place and the Europeans in it in his first encounter with Flory. He took on an air of superiority and basically ignored him (185). All this ignoring and non-attendance at the Club made him slightly mysterious and his exclusiveness made the rest of the Europeans want to curry his favor even more. The mere title of "The Honourable" made him powerful in Burma, even though he had yet to prove the validity of the title (195). Combined with his confidence he was able to replace Flory as the most eligible bachelor. His power came from the fact that he did not care about anyone. Like U Po Kyin, he also had no shame. He did whatever he wanted and somehow always came out on top. The only things he cared about were the military, clothes, and horses; everything else was immaterial (202-3).

A scene where Verall confronts Ellis, who was known as the most aggressive of the Europeans, clearly shows his power over others. Ellis became irate over the fact that Verall was kicking the Club's butler so he angrily confronted him, full of his usual confidence. However, that confidence was soon crushed when Verall replied, "My good chap, if anyone gives me lip I kick his bottom. Do you want me to kick yours?" (208). The usually fiery Ellis was defeated and helpless; he simply could not compete with the strength of Verall. A miserable person, Verall did not depend on anyone for happiness or anything else. In this regard he was almost invulnerable because there was little anyone could do to get the better of him. To match his mental toughness he was a trained officer who kept his body in peak physical condition.

Verall was a coldhearted, conceited man who was always quick to fight and insult and late to pay any bills, "Yet the disgraces that ought to have fallen on him never did" (203). The key to his power was that he considered himself superior so nothing anyone could do could set him back. By not caring for anyone and ignoring them he kept himself out of danger. Such a character trait allowed him to steal Elizabeth from Flory even though he never intended to commit to her. One day he left without saying good-bye to Elizabeth or paying any of his bills (268). It is very doubtful that he would ever be forced to pay his debts and all indications pointed to him leading the same charmed life he had always known. Like imperialism, Verall was all business. Neither Britain nor Verall were in Burma to make friends, rather they were there for purely selfish reasons. Europeans might have claimed

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