Burmese Days

First published in 1934 Burmese Days is a novel by George Orwell. Set in British Burma during the waning days of the Empire it is a portrait of the dark side of the British Raj. The story is based on Orwell’s own experiences as a police officer in Burma. The main character of the novel is John Flory and he represents what is known as the pukka sahib who upholds British values and the British way of life. Flory is deliberately contrasted with other British residents of the area however he has real respect for the local culture and is not bigoted as the others. The others stand for the more normal course of British imperialism with the British exercising power over people for whom they have contempt. The strong pessimism of Orwell is seen in the way Flory is marginalized by the British community precisely because he is not the bigot others are and so Flory cannot survive in this atmosphere and commits suicide.