Boundaries Explored in Burmese Days Research Proposal

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Kyin is aware of the boundaries that exist but he is determined to overcome them. His ambition to become a member of the European Club corrupts him. His immediate boundary is Flory's friendship with Dr. Veraswami. Veraswami comes across as one of the decent people in the novel in that he does not allow himself to become involved with the depravity that Kyin does. Veraswami expresses a selflessness in that he allows Flory to confide in him but in this act, he is crossing a boundary because he is peeking at a side of the European life he would have never known otherwise. He delights in the Europeans loyalty to one another but he is also able to see the best and worst of this culture. It is also worth noting that while he is surrounded by these boundaries, he never loses sight of his own identity.

Boundaries are flexible to a certain extent and success or failure depends upon who is doing the flexing. Flory is perhaps most notable for flexing the boundaries between the Europeans and the non-Europeans but he gets nothing for it in the end. He appreciates different cultures and attempts to expose Elizabeth to them in a way that would make her appreciate it as well. Her reaction to them illustrates just how personal and deep boundaries are. Flory will not see the natives as Elizabeth does and she will never accept them as he has. Flory is friends with them and even takes a Burmese mistress. It should be noted that while Flory was forgiving of the boundaries that existed between these cultures, it made no difference to the society as a whole. His willingness to accept the non-Europeans provides a stark contrast to the others in the novel who see the non-Europeans as little more than animals. This is exemplified with his relationship with Elizabeth.

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She adopts the typical white attitude and through her and Flory's love for her, we see the devastating effects of such boundaries. Superiority reigns supreme and since it feeds the go, it keeps boundaries well in place.

Imperialism leads to boundaries, which leads to corruption in Burmese Days. The natives and the Europeans both want Veraswami destroyed. Imperialism also affects individuals on a personal level. For example, Flory straddles the line between both boundaries and eventually loses himself in the process. He wants to fit in with the natives yet he wants to win the love of Elizabeth. He cannot see how impossible either can be as long as the other exists. Dr. Veraswami is ruined. Kyin experiences success but his death cuts all of that short. Elizabeth's fate cements Orwell's judgment. We read, "Her servants live in terror of her, though she speaks no Burmese. She has an exhaustive knowledge of the Civil List, gives charming little dinner-parties and knows how to put the wives of subordinate officials in their places -- in short, she fills with complete success the position for which Nature had designed her from the first, that of a burra memsahib" (Orwell). This final paragraph illuminates Orwell's position that the evils of imperialism created boundaries. Elizabeth realized what the boundaries were and perpetuated them with her attitudes. In short, she did not care. Flory's death reduces him to the kind of insignificance of which Elizabeth views the natives. By the end of the novel, his reputation is ruined and his will to live snuffed out. The repercussions of boundaries are powerful in just these two lives. Burmese Days explores the human psyche by examining how it copes with boundaries. While we all respond to them differently, we can see how boundaries destroy, though intent or natural design.

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