Burmese Days

It seems there isn't

much on the net about Burmese Days that one can look over when getting ready to write an essay. I have provided one I wrote that is about 2 1/2 pages long and outlines some basic themes as well as analyzes the main character. Tell me what you guys think:

Burmese Days by George Orwell is not a book that commonly comes to mind when one thinks '"'Orwell'"' but nevertheless it holds a distinguished place in his career as a writer. The novel revolves around the lives of a handful of high-class English gentlemen living in Burma during the time of the British colonial period. The story focuses on one man in particular; John Flory, who gradually succumbs to his life of loneliness and boredom. Though a '"'pukka sahib'"' or Englishman residing in India, John still manages to steer away from racism and keeps a few Burman friends. Here a conflict arises. Each night the English men meet at the prestigious '"'European Club'"' to drink and make small talk about the locals. Only Europeans are permitted to gain membership to the club until a certain occasion rises that calls for each '"'whites-only Club'"' in India to elect a non European member. All the members are outraged and protest, except for John who supports the election, but does not possess the courage to admit to his beliefs. Behind the chaos and indignation, the European Club is faced with another disaccord, Elizabeth; a newly arrived English girl who has made her way to Burma. Elizabeth immediately attracts John but his insecurity and complete lack of confidence challenge his relationship with her. These sequences of events trigger a circumstance that leads to turmoil at the European club and the eventual downfall of John. The conflicts of John with himself and his society that I felt were important elements in the novel are: discrimination, self-acceptance and isolation.

Discrimination is an unavoidable theme in the book because it plays a role in almost every part of the story. Throughout the novel, the Englishmen (with the exception of John) see themselves as superior in every way to the Indian people. To them the Burmans are nothing more than maids, slaves, and peasants. When the European Club is asked to elect a non-white member all the Englishmen feel annoyed and infuriated that they must choose somebody that they consider of such filth and low rank in society. Discrimination plays an important role because it creates one of the main conflicts of the novel. John Flory does not share the ill feelings of his companions but his lack of courage and fear of rejection cause him to retain all of his feelings and protests; a situation which subsequently tears John"'"s conscience in two.

Self-acceptance is one of John"'"s