Days in Burma
Days in Burma ( Burmese Days ) is a novel by George Orwell , who in the 1920s by the British Empire colonized Burma plays.
background
Orwell worked as a police officer in the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, which was annexed to British India in the 19th century , and left his service there in 1927 to become a writer. He himself said: “The service as an officer in Burma did not suit me and made me abhor imperialism , although nationalist sentiments were not very strong in Burma at the time and relations between the British and the Burmese were not particularly bad. When I was on vacation in England in 1927 , I quit my job and decided to become a writer. "
action
The action takes place in the fictional Kyauktada district in northern Burma. At the beginning of the story, the plot of the Burmese and massively overweight district judge U Po Kyin is told of the destruction of the reputation of an Indian doctor and prison director named Dr. Veraswami should result. The main character, however, is the 35-year-old single English timber merchant John Flory, who suffers greatly from the loneliness of life in the foreign landscape, surrounded by Burmese and some other Europeans, with whom Flory meets almost daily in the European Club . On the other hand, Flory is also fascinated by the Burmese and their way of life and, through his long stay in Burma, is so deeply rooted that a return to England seems utopian. In addition, he shows himself strongly marked by life between the numerous debauchery with alcohol and local prostitutes. He only finds relief in talks with the Indian doctor Dr. Veraswami. This is an avid supporter of British culture, from which he is excluded. Veraswami thus forms an optimistic antithesis to Flory's pessimistic views on colonialism .
When the niece of another timber merchant, Elizabeth Lackersteen, arrives in town, Flory finally seems to have got the company he has longed for - without even realizing the longing. After a few teething problems, Flory and Elizabeth develop a close friendship, which ends one evening in the club when Flory wants to propose to her, but is disturbed by an earthquake and then by Elizabeth's aunt before the crucial question is answered. The interference by Mrs. Lackersteen was on purpose, however, as she had been trying to marry the young woman to the highest-earning bachelor in town since Elizbeth's arrival and had just discovered that evening that a young police officer named Verrall would be stationed here in a few days . Since Verrall comes from a good family, Mrs. Lackersteen thinks she has found the better husband for her niece in him.
To alienate Elizabeth from Flory, her aunt tells about Flory's Burmese mistress , even though Flory had sent her away as soon as Elizabeth arrived. Elizabeth actually falls in love with the arrogant adultery, which Flory deeply saddened.
Meanwhile, having smear campaign of the district judge U Po Kyin borne fruit. He reveals the aim of this campaign: U Po Kyin wants to become a member of the European Club after the leadership in Rangoon issued the motto of accepting a local into the club, although the election was likely to include Dr. Veraswami would have fallen. U Po Kyin arranges a breakout from the prison, of which Veraswami is director, and plans a riot, the fault of which is also to be blamed on the Indian doctor. The uprising was quickly put down - mainly thanks to the help of the most submissive district judge U Po Kyin - but one of the rebels was shot by the English forest director Maxwell. Days later, Maxwell is found dead, an incident that was almost unthinkable for the time, which clearly shows the tension between the Burmese and Europeans. These are discharged after another attack by a European on local schoolchildren in an uprising aimed at the clubhouse of the European Club . Flory and Dr. However, Veraswami are able to prevent further escalation and thus become heroes overnight - above all, the doctor's reputation seems to be restored.
Verrall later leaves Kyauktada without saying goodbye to Elizabeth, which drives Elizabeth back into Flory's arms. Flory's world seems restored and the wedding is only a matter of time. However, the district judge U Po Kyin has not yet given up and instigates Flory's former mistress to make a scene during the Sunday service. The performance has the hoped-for success and Elizabeth is now more convinced than ever before that she does not want to marry Flory. Overwhelmed with grief and loss, Flory commits suicide .
Dr. Veraswami is then transferred to Mandalay and U Po Kyin is elected as a new member of the European Club . According to Buddhist beliefs , U Po Kyin plans to make amends for his sinful life by building pagodas , but dies of a stroke before the plan is implemented .
criticism
“The book may be of particular interest for two reasons: on the one hand, because it shows how a clear-sighted observer, even 70 years ago, could come to the conclusion in the twenties of the last century that the goal of European colonialism was nothing other than exploitation was; second, because George Orwell's criticism of capitalism has its roots in his criticism of colonialism. "
"With later admiration, the once so disregarded, other Orwell who bears testimony in novels, reports and essays to his time, the thirties and forties of the twentieth century, in which the face of Europe changed."
"A uniquely sharp-eyed witness of the times"
expenditure
- Days in Burma ("Burmese Days"). Diogens, Zurich 2000, ISBN 3-257-20308-X (translated by Susanna Rademacher).
- Burmese Days . Penguin, London 2009, ISBN 978-0-14-118537-8 (EA New York 1934).
- Burmese Days . In: The Complete Works of George Orwell . Volume 2. Editor Peter Davidson . London: Secker & Warburg, 1998 ISBN 0-436-20377-4
Web links
- Burmese Days - Sources, texts, works, translations, media on Wikilivres (also known as Bibliowiki )
- Full text (English)