Burmese Years

"The Burmese Years" is George Orwell's first full-length novel with autobiographical characteristics. It describes the changing and turbulent fate of a group of small people in the context of the great changes of the times. The story takes place in Myanmar under the colonial rule of the British Empire from the end of the 19th century to the first half of the 20th century. Two main lines run through it: one is the overt and covert struggle between the protagonist Flory (a British timber merchant stationed in Myanmar) and the corrupt and treacherous Burmese magistrate U Bo Kyin. The two lines intersect and intersect, developing independently and influencing each other at the same time. Colonial rule, racial discrimination and identity are the three major themes of "The Burmese Years". Especially in terms of identity, Orwell portrays a flesh-and-blood Flory. He knows that British rule is meaningless and hates the racial discrimination concept of "white supremacy" promoted by the imperialists. However, he lacks enough perseverance and the cowardice in his bones makes him shrink from helping Dr. Veraswamy successfully enter the white club... In the end, he cannot escape the tragic fate of being crushed and destroyed.