The Fiction of Orwell

Orwell's two classic fictions were Animal Farm and 1984 but he wrote others. His first fictional piece was Burmese Day and this touched upon his experience in Burma. As Orwell believed, colonializaton affected both the imperialist and the natives. The opening we are introduced to U Po Kyin, a Burmese magistrate. U Po Kyin was corrupt magistrate who learned that the best way was to play both ends with both the oppressors and his own people. U Po Kyin sided with the British and became a parasite upon the European masters. To gain movement upward, U Po Kyin was willing to sacrifice anybody that gets in his way- European or native.

As Kyin observed when questioned whether faking evidence against a leading rival Dr. Veraswami would work, Kyin replies, "No European cares anything about proofs. When a man has a black face, suspicion is proof."

The main character was Michael Flory and close friend of Kyin rival, Dr. Veraswami. Flory was a timber merchant but Kyin viewed Flory as weak man who will not defend or fight for Verswami. Flory had his weakness, a sexual affair with the local Ma Hia May, which would in the end destroy him. Dr. Veraswami biggest desire was to be ushered into the European club where he figured, correctly, that he would be become invincible and under protection of the British. There was movement to allow one native and Dr. Veraswami and U Po Kyin vied for that spot for the prestige that joining the club presages. Both understood that membership in the club would allowed either men to booster their own power. U Po Kyin in particular wanted that spot and even sets up a riot in the local town to gain that spot. U Po Kyin used his entire angle to gain his ultimate goal but what we saw was the evolution of Michael Flory.

Flory was ambivalent about imperialism. He profited from the system and he had been using Ma Hia May as his own sexual toy but he was a man who rather shy away from a fight as oppose to joining it. U Po Kyin counted on that when opposing Flory's friend Dr. Veraswami and he knew that most European did not want a native in the club. The book centered on Flory changes as he became more courageous in defending Veraswami and during the riot, led in dispersing the crowd. Flory change of character came as a result of falling in love with Elizabeth Lackersteen causing jealousy from Ma Hia May, who in her own way loved Flory. This despite that Flory treated her more as a slave than a equal. Elizabeth did not feel the same way about Flory, even though they dated. She also was going out with an officer who transfered in from India. It would be women who destroy Flory. Ma Hia May blackmail Flory (with the aid of U Po Kyin) about their affair and the affair finally was expose after Flory became a hero during the riot, his chance with Elizabeth was gone. What we witness was U Po Kyin working behind the scene and working everyone like a puppet. Even when all appeared lost or if U Po Kyin was stymied, he always had one ace. After the riot and Dr. Veraswami's reputation was enhanced due to his friendship with Flory, Ma Hia May exposed her affair. She did this on the advice of U Po Kyin.