Thesis on "Dr. Veraswami"

Thesis 15 pages (5289 words) Sources: 8 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Ambivalence of Dr. Veraswami of George Orwell's Burmese Days

Better known for his classic novels, Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm, George Orwell was also the author of a number of other compelling books that have attracted a great deal of scholarly attention over the years. In his first novel, Burmese Days, though, Orwell provides modern readers with some poignant examples of what life was like in colonial Burma when the British were in control but were not universally accepted by the indigenous peoples. Moreover, Burma was certainly not unique among the nations of Southeast Asia, and with the sole exception of Thailand, all of these countries experienced the colonization of imperialist European nations at some point in their long histories in ways that left a lasting legacy. In order to gain some fresh insights concerning how the colonization of Burma played out from the perspective of the native Burmese, this paper provides an examination of Orwell's novel, Burmese Days, to determine how one of the relatively minor characters, Dr. Veraswami, is sometimes with the empire, supporting it although he is colonized, as well as the manner in which he also evinces his native behaviors that are congruent with his Burmese heritage. A summary of the research and important findings are presented in the conclusion.

Review and Analysis

When any country is colonized by another, there will be some natural reactions that occur in response that are simply the result of human nature. On the one hand, there will be some degree of accommodation involved because a country does not become colonized by other countries that are less powerful of course, but on the other hand, no one likes to see foreign invaders on their native soil. These points are made by Aung-Thwin who relates that by and large, resistance to British colonialism in Burma was shaped by the particularly decentralized nature of the pre-colonial state and was further antagonized by the increasingly intrusive administration of the British (2003:376). According to Aung-Thwin, "The commercialization of agriculture and the expanding demands of the colonial administration created new concerns for peasants and elites alike, resulting in the development of alternate forms of political mobilization and vocabularies of protest" (376). The type and level of reactions by the Burmese nationals, though, was tempered by the realization that they lacked the ability to mount a coordinated response to the British at the time and they had been on the short end of the social stick in their dealings with the British for a number of years. In this regard, Guan emphasizes that, "The 19th century British colonial state which found itself increasingly reliant upon armed coercion to administer its territories because the indigenous institutions which it could have deployed for indirect rule had been destroyed in a series of Anglo-Burmese wars" (2004:386). It was in this turbulent, dynamic and politically charged environment that George Orwell found himself upon his return to the subcontinent.

The events that are described in Burmese Days are based on some empirical observations and personal experiences. When he was still a young man, Orwell returned to India and subsequently served in the Imperial Police in Burma for almost five years during the period from 1922 to 1927; however, there remains a dearth of primary documentation from this period in the author's life and there are no letters, reports, or administrative papers that have survived from Orwell's life in Burma (Paczulla 53). All that remains today are reminiscences of a few people who knew Orwell at one point or another during this formative period in the young author's life. The near consensus that emerges from what is available in the historical record, though, suggests that while Orwell was initially dedicated to his position as a colonial policeman and personified the role of a pukka sahib (e.g., a British colonizer); however, one of his contemporary describes Orwell as being "bookish and unclubbable" (quoted in Paczulla at 53). According to Paczulla, like his mother, Orwell adopted many of the native practices of the Burmese but unlike his mother in Bengal, he took the trouble to learn the native languages as well. In this regard, Paczulla advises, "Unlike most servants of the Empire, Orwell immersed himself in the culture and languages of the Raj. He learned Burmese and Hindustani as well as the more obscure Shaw-Karen tongue of the Burmese hill people" (Paczulla 2007:53). Over time, Orwell learned a great deal about the Burmese people and ultimately rejected the British imperialism that had been firmly in place and performed his duties as a policeman with a growing sense of discontent (Paczulla 53).

The novel is in fact replete with contrasts, contradictions and dualities that reflect this increasing sense of dissatisfaction by Orwell. For instance, according to Meyers, "Burmese Days, by George Orwell, is symptomatic of the reaction against conventional portrayals of Burma as a land of tinkling temple bells, gentle charming Burmans, and strong, silent Englishmen" (52). Although modern Burma in its current incarnation as Myanmar has assumed some truly sinister qualities as the ruling elite have prosecuted their own unique brand of totalitarianism, the images of late 19th century and early 20th century Burma in the minds of most Westerners are vastly different -- but still misplaced. In this regard, Meyers adds that, "The scene is Kyauktada District during the rebellion period, but there is nothing heroic about it. The English -- they number only half a dozen men and two commonplace women -- are too aloof, the Burmese too abject. Mind and body alike deteriorate in the heat and boredom" (52). Reflective of the Ugly American syndrome that characterized Western influence in Southeast Asia throughout the 20th century and the contrasts mentioned above, the British colonists in Burma described in Burmese Days were not above reproach by any measure but the native Burmese depicted are not much better either. For instance, Meyers points out that, "The one man among them who would have liked to take an interest in the people, Flory, the forest manager in a second-rate timber firm, is cold-shouldered for making friends with an Asiatic, the Civil Surgeon, Dr. Veraswami. The jungle Burmese are attractive enough, but those of the town seem to consist mainly of pimps, professional witnesses and corrupt magistrates" (52).

It is with these townspeople that Orwell concerns himself, including the focus of this paper, Dr. Veraswami, as well as other civil servants who provide much of the intrigue for the novel. Many modern observers might question why these native Burmese would even concern themselves with the uppity and snooty British who occupy their town and hold them is such disregard and contempt, but there is a great deal of prestige involved with becoming part of the controlling British in-crowd even though they are resented at the most basic level by most Burmese. For instance, Stewart notes that it is reasonable for Dr. Veraswami to seek to gain admission to the exclusive European club because he is, after all, a physician and although he did not have the same level of education or training that are required today, two years of education of whatever sort placed Dr. Veraswami head and shoulders above the vast majority of his fellow Burmese. As Stewart points out, "Besides Orwell's use of a mocking narrative voice, which takes every opportunity to point out the protagonist's shortcomings, Burmese Days also features the secondary character of Dr. Veraswami who exhibits a genuine decency in the sense Orwell prized" (38). The ambivalence of Dr. Veraswami is made evident throughout the storyline as he is drawn first one way and then another in his quest for acceptance among those he would prefer to hate while embracing his erstwhile friendship with Flory. For example, Stewart notes that, "Veraswami, a Burmese physician, is influenced both by his Burmese heritage (which situates him as a subordinate in the colonial outpost) and by his standing as a physician (which gives him some status, even with the Englishmen)" (38).

Dr. Veraswami is not alone in his ambition to gain access to the Europeans' club and their acceptance as an equal on whatever terms, and herein is the source of yet more intrigue in Burmese Days. In this regard, Meyers notes that one of the corrupt magistrates involved, one U. Po Sing, manipulates both the native Burmese as well as the British for his own nefarious ends. According to Meyers, "U Po Sing, the sub-divisional magistrate, actually wins promotion for suppressing a rebellion he never saw, a rebellion at which, indeed, he had connived for that very purpose; he then proceeds to frame false charges and ruin Dr. Veraswami simply because the poor little man is honest" (52).

With these types of evil machinations taking place, it is little wonder that even the most likeable characters in the novel meet with less than desirable consequences and this is certainly what happens with the book's protagonist, Flory. Not only is it incredibly hot and humid where he lives, but Flory is beset by… READ MORE

How to Reference "Dr. Veraswami" Thesis in a Bibliography

Related Thesis Papers:

Dr. Seuss and World War II Research Paper

Dr. Seuss and World War II

Most people automatically think of children's literature they hear the name "Dr. Seuss." Perhaps

Horton Hears a Who or Cat and the Hat come… read more

Research Paper 6 pages (1774 words) Sources: 8 Style: MLA Topic: Literature / Poetry

---

Dr. Karl Brandt Essay

Dr. Karl Brandt

"Karl Brandt, an arrogant, dour, and tight-lipped ideologue… rose to be head of Germany's euthanasia (T4) program. He ruthlessly and steadily ascended from there to… become a… read more

Essay 4 pages (1220 words) Sources: 4 Topic: World History

---

Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis and Puerperal Fever Research Paper

Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis and puerperal fever

The last two centuries of medical history are rich in discovery and innovation, and includes such medical breakthroughs as the isolation of penicillin and… read more

Research Paper 5 pages (1721 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Nursing / Doctor / Physician

---

Dr. King's Letter From Birmingham Jail Term Paper

Dr. King's Letter from Birmingham Jail

During his extraordinary career, Martin Luther King addressed not only the needs of his negro audience, but also communicated effectively with his opposition in… read more

Term Paper 3 pages (991 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Philosophy / Logic / Reason

---

Dr. Kings Leadership Style Research Paper

Dr. King's Leadership Style

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., has an enduring legacy in American history as a passionate preacher who was also a very effective Civil Rights leader. He… read more

Research Paper 5 pages (1715 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Leadership / Mentoring

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>