“Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” –George Orwell

Biography

George Orwell (born Eric Arthur Blair) was born on June 25, 1903 in British India. When George was a year old, he moved to England with his mother and his sister Marjorie. George started attending a convent school at the age of five. George then attended prep school. He went on a scholarship, and he hated it because he was obviously less wealthy than the other students, but he was also much more intelligent. Rather than attending University, George joined the Imperial Police, the predecessor to the Indian Police Service. He served his time as a member of the Imperial Police in many countries, but for the most part he was stationed in Burma. At the start of World War II, George joined the English Home Guard, defense organization of the British Army. Orwell did not enjoy being a British officer, because it was clear that the British were forcing control on Burma (Woodcock). After being involved in what he considered to be a corrupt government operation, he began to write about his experiences. In addition, he worked for the British Broadcasting Organization and wrote for the Observer and the Tribune. In 1928, Orwell decided that he no longer wanted to be involved in the activities of the Imperial Police, and he resigned. George’s writing has very clear social, literary and political themes. He used his personal experiences and views to influence his writing. Orwell’s political opinions provided material for all of his writing, including his two most famous literary works, Animal Farm and 1984 (Woodcock).

 

George Orwell (born Eric Arthur Blair) was born on June 25, 1903 in British India. When George was a year old, he moved to England with his mother and his sister Marjorie. George started attending a convent school at the age of five. George then attended prep school. He went on a scholarship, and he hated it because he was obviously less wealthy than the other students, but he was also much more intelligent. Rather than attending University, George joined the Imperial Police, the predecessor to the Indian Police Service. He served his time as a member of the Imperial Police in many countries, but for the most part he was stationed in Burma. At the start of World War II, George joined the English Home Guard, defense organization of the British Army. Orwell did not enjoy being a British officer, because it was clear that the British were forcing control on Burma (Woodcock). After being involved in what he considered to be a corrupt government operation, he began to write about his experiences. In addition, he worked for the British Broadcasting Organization and wrote for the Observer and the Tribune. In 1928, Orwell decided that he no longer wanted to be involved in the activities of the Imperial Police, and he resigned. George’s writing has very clear social, literary and political themes. He used his personal experiences and views to influence his writing. Orwell’s political opinions provided material for all of his writing, including his two most famous literary works, Animal Farm and 1984 (Woodcock).

Woodcock, George. "George Orwell | Biography - British Author." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Nov. 2014. Web. 8 Jan. 2015.

Summary

 

Down and Out in Paris and London (1933)

 

This book tells the story of a financially unstable English writer. It starts with the narrator living in Paris and teaching English. The book shows the ugly truth behind the poverty that existed in Paris at the time. The narrator faces financial issues and is unable to support himself. The narrator contacts his friend Boris in an attempt to find work. However, Boris is also without work and is practically starving to death. After several months, the narrator and Boris find work at a hotel. Later, Boris convinces the narrator to quit the hotel job for a seemingly better job at an upscale restaurant. The narrator is shocked by what he sees happening behind the scenes. The restaurant is luxurious and clean, but the kitchen is disgusting. Love does not exist in the narrator’s life. He is too busy struggling through each day and desperately trying to financially support himself enough to be able to afford food and shelter. The narrator travels to London after being promised a job as a babysitter, but then discovers that the job is not yet available to him, because the family who offered him the job is out of the country. Once again unable to support himself, the narrator has to sell his belongings to try to make ends meet. However, he spends too much money on hotels, and is then forced to start living as a bum. He is forced to sleep in lodges and eat at shelters, which he hates. During his time in shelters and on the streets, he wishes that England would do something to help those who cannot support themselves. In the end, the narrator takes out a loan and has eight more days left until his employers return and he can have a job again.

 

Burmese Days (1934)

This book takes place during British colonialism. U Po Kyin is the judicial officer of Kyauktada, Burma. He plans to destroy the career of Dr. Veraswami. John Flory is a timber merchant who lives in Burma. U Po Kyin writes false stories about the doctor and threatens Flory because of his friendship with Dr. Veraswami. Flory becomes very close with Mrs. Lackersteen’s niece, Elizabeth, who moves to Burma. He wishes to marry her, but Mrs. Lackersteen stops the proposal, because Verall, a military officer, is coming to the district and wishes to marry Elizabeth. Mrs. Lackersteen tells Elizabeth about Flory’s Burmese mistress, so Elizabeth instead fall for Verall. This devastates Flory. U Po Kyin is still trying to sabotage the doctor, and he plans a rebellion that he will blame on Dr. Veraswami. The rebellion is started, and an officer kills a native. The officer is found dead shortly after, which causes a riot. U Po Kyin tries to stop the riot to become a hero, but the riot is instead stopped by Flory. This act ruins U Po Kyin’s plan to sabotage the doctor as well. After the riot, Verall leaves Burma, and Flory and Elizabeth plan to wed again. However, unable to let go of his plans of sabotage, U Po Kyin hires Flory’s old mistress to ruin Flory and Elizabeth’s relationship. Elizabeth leaves Flory, and he is so distraught that he commits suicide. All of U Po Kyin’s plans succeed. He plans to fix his life to become a better person, but he dies before he is able to do so.

 

 

 

Critical Analysis of the Author's Works

In both books that I read, Orwell used his own experiences to influence literary fiction that was meant to prove a point about the corrupt nature of the government. Not only is it apparent in the two books that I read for this project, but it is obvious in all of his pieces, whether they be journal entries, short stories, or books. Orwell was able to so accurately depict British colonialism in his writing because it was something that he actually experienced. In both books, it is obvious that Orwell was drawing from experience in order to write his stories. For example, the narrator in Down and Out in Paris and London relates to Orwell and his family because he did not come from money, and he had to deal with poverty in his life. He wrote separately about how miserable he was at boarding school because he did not fit in with the others (A&E Television Networks). It’s clear that Orwell struggled with poverty, and it influenced his writing, and the point of view from which he wrote this book. He did not show the rich person’s point of view at any time throughout the book. The wealthy seemed to just be a part of the story in order to juxtapose those who struggled with poverty. In Burmese Days, Orwell draws from his own experiences as an Imperial Police Officer (Scutts). Obviously Orwell was unhappy with his participation in the Imperial Police. He began to realize that the natives of Burma did not want to be controlled by England, and he felt guilty that he was part of the group that forced control on them. Most of the events in this book actually took place, and the people were inspired by real people that he was involved with during his time in Burma. In the book, the Imperial Police Officers are the antagonists. The book exhibits the mistreatment and violence that Orwell witnessed while stationed at Burma. I think that Orwell wanted to make it clear that he was not supportive of the action that the British Government took prior to World War II. (Scutts)

"George Orwell." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 14 Jan. 2015.

Scutts, Joanna. "George Orwell in Life and Literature." Biographile George Orwell in Life and Literature Comments. Random House, 21 Jan. 2014. Web. 8 Jan. 2015.