The Expansion of the British Empire
She was able to impose her supremacy over various regions around the world through military and economic means, which greatly contributed to the expansion of the British Empire. It was able to accumulate enough wealth through the economic exploitation of largely uncivilized communities in America, Asia, and Africa to develop industries, infrastructure, and a potent military force. As a result of the British and other European powers' ongoing exploration of the globe, some nations experienced colonization that endured for centuries. Colonization marked a turning point in the lives of many people who had to face a transition from complete freedom to an oppressive rule that employed punitive measures to ensure that colonial rule was maintained. While the blanket mission as portrayed by the various colonial masters in their continued exploration of the world was the spread of civilization, the resultant nature of colonization had dire consequences on the lives of the led. The feeling of oppression and curtailing of fundamental human rights led to the struggle for independence and the eventual end of colonization. The colonial structural shortcomings, empowerment of the colonized and the growth of regional and international lobby group eventually ended colonization. The ordeal faced by the colonized and the colonizers was unfavorable for many. While the British were depicted as the oppressors, the various British working in the British colonies were equally affected by the oppression they subjected on the colonial subjects. The representation and communication of the oppression ordeal has been witnessed in film productions, paint art, music and written literature. The presentation of the colonial experience in various forms of art takes into account creativity to represent the message in a rather humorous way. Many novel authors have produced work on colonialism among them George Orwell in his novel ‘Burmese Days’ published in the United Kingdom in 1934. George Orwell’s ‘Burmese Days’ embarks on a revelation of the British Rule in Burma which was part of the colonial British India. The message in the fictionally depicted book can be perceived as a true representation of the nature of British Empire understanding that the author George Orwell served as an Indian Imperial police officer between 1922 and 1927. A critic of the novel reveals a lot about the British Empire.
Imperialism in the British Empire
The disparity in the social, economic and cultural positions of the British and the people of Burma under the British colonial rule is centered on the imperialism ideology. Imperialism which is defined as the maintenance or creation of an unequal cultural, territorial and economic relationship among two parties is brought out in the novel by George Orwell. The main character in the novel; John Flory is a British expatriate timber merchant. The economic foundation of the key character in the novel is used by George Orwell to bring out the issue of imperialism in the British Empire. The main aim behind the imperialism ideology and application in the case of empire rules is to promote subordination and domination. Empires thrive out of the exploitation of its subjects by the rules to guarantee continued rule through economic dependence. The various characters in the novel express divergent views on the reasons for British rule in Burma and imperialism. Imperialism discussions between Dr Veraswami and Flory who are the subject characters in the book occur on several points of the novel. Flory in the novel describes the imperialism in the British rule as ‘the lie that we’re here to uplift our poor black brothers rather than to rob them.’ Imperialism in the British Empire rule is further asserted by Flory who notes that the only buildings built by the Britons in Burma were prisons. To enhance the economic, cultural and social inequalities, Flory states that the British brought diseases to Burma. In the novel, Dr. Veraswami is the representation of the nature of Britons. Dr Verswami argues that the British colonial rule has assisted in the improvement of education, infrastructure and civilization of the Burmese people. Dr Veraswami also asserts that the imperialism advanced by the British Empire assisted him get a doctorate status in Burma. Flory also like other Britons reiterates that he is only in Burma for financial gains. Westfield who is also a character in the novel notes the decline in the British influence in Burma and the then growing rebellion by the natives (Orwell, 3-300). British Empire advanced imperialism as a way of guaranteeing influence over its subjects. The representation of George Orwell of Burma was also duplicated in other British colonies across the world. However, the continued use of imperialism later led to uprisings against the divisive and oppressive rule leading to the struggles for independence.
Racism in British Empire
The novel ‘Burmese Days’ brings forth the racist nature of the British Empire rule. George Orwell uses the characters in the fictional book to represent the controversy surrounding racism that marked the British colonial rule. While racism was perpetrated against the native Burmese citizens, some of the Britons were not advocating for the vice as seen in the arguments in the book. The book thus tells us that as far as racism was being advanced by the British Empire rule, not all the Britons preferred the vice. The English club in the novel which comprised of the various characters in the book was used to bring forth the theme on racism. Mr. Lackersteen and Ellis are portrayed as racists with distaste for the native Burmese people regarding them as ‘black stinking swine.’ However, other club members including Mr. Macgregr and Flory seem to differ with the advocacy of racism. Mr. Macgregor raises a proposal to admit a native into their English club which was composed of only whites (Orwell, 3-300). Racism is depicted as playing a center role in the advancement and success of colonization in Burma and other places. Colonization was based on oppression and the view of the colonized as less human. To maintain the colonial rule, the British Empire had to oppress the Burmese natives. The racist actions, beliefs and attitudes exhibited by the British enhanced colonialism by placing the Burmese natives in an inferior position in the hierarchy of power against the British. The novel tells of the deeply engrained racism in all aspects of the British Empire rule (Porter, 7).
Identity in British Empire
Flory who is the main character in the novel is depicted as a person with a lost identity. While the British can be seen as brutal and inhuman towards the colonial subjects, the novel depicts a grey area in the relationship between the British and the Burmese. Flory is torn between maintaining a British identity and mingling with the Burmese. Flory dismisses the purported achievements of the British Empire rule in Burma. Flory also depicts openness in befriending the Burmese people referred by his white friends as ‘niggers.’ Another character; Elizabeth is introduced at a later stage of the novel. Flory tries to introduce Elizabeth to the Burmese culture in vain (Orwell, 3-300). Flory seeks approval from both the Burmese people and his fellow white Englishmen by wanting to live a life blended from both the Burmese and the English cultures. The identity issues brought forth in the novel tells that not all the British in the British Empire had a subjective perception towards the subjects of the rule (Jackson, 12).
Conclusion
‘Burmese Days’ by George Orwell brings into the limelight the finer details that shaped the British Empire rule in its colonies across the world. The economic exploitation, racism and the compromise in the relationships between the Britons and the colonial subjects is brought forth in the novel. While the book is fictional, the message passed in the book can be deemed as factual. The British Empire had to employ various measures to sustain its power and loyalty of its colonial subjects. The creation of a dependence relationship through economic exploitation and the creation of a class system placing the Britons at the top of the power hierarchy helped in sustaining colonialism. The depiction of the British Empire rule as told in the novel showed various shortcomings that even the British nationalists noted and refuted. The novel tells us of the awareness of their atrocities by the British against the colonial subjects represented by the Burmese people in the novel.
Work Cited
Darwin, John. The Empire Project: The Rise and Fall of the British World-System, 1830-1970. Cambridge, UK; New York Cambridge University, 2014.
Jackson, Ashley. The British Empire: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013.
Orwell, George. Burmese Days. New York: New Canadian Library, 2016
Porter, Bernard. British Imperial: What the Empire Wasn't. London; New York: I.B. Tauris, 2016
