Complications of Love and Marriage
Flory is so lonely and desperate for companionship that he mistakes his feelings towards Elizabeth as true love, while in reality they have no deep understanding of each other. In fact, Flory and Elizabeth’s relationship is surface level and nothing like Flory ever dreamed of. They mainly talked about trivial things, and “he had never been able to talk to her as he longed to”(117). They are incompatible, yet Flory insists that she will fill the void in his life. Although I understand that Flory is troubled and insecure, he needs to realize that Elizabeth is not the woman he imagined her to be. For example, they have disagreements on the natives. Flory is fascinated by them, while Elizabeth is a racist and …show more content…
In a sense, Flory has an equal amount in common with Elizabeth as he does with Ma Hla May. However, he is able to publically engage in a relationship with Elizabeth but not with Ma Hla May, as it is socially unacceptable to be seen with a native woman. Flory’s lack of awareness is a major flaw and detrimental to him ever finding genuine happiness. I can’t help but think that Flory is foolish in believing that Elizabeth is right for him since her personality and beliefs are so clearly different from his. I am somewhat unsympathetic when Elizabeth rejects Flory for Verrall because I feel like he should know that Elizabeth is not right for him. On the other hand, I do sympathize with Elizabeth when Verrall leaves her without saying goodbye because they would ride “together every evening, danced together every night”(227) for three weeks which is enough of a relationship to warrant feeling used when he leaves her. Also, the pressure that Mrs. Lackersteen puts on Elizabeth to get married alongside the gossip that U Po Kyin and Ellis spreads would be disheartening, not to mention the fact that her uncle continually tries to molest her. Although I personally do not like Elizabeth as a character, I can see why during this time she would anxious about getting married and why she is upset when Verrall abruptly leaves. In retrospect, I may empathize more with Elizabeth than Flory because I can identify with her struggles as a woman. Either way, it is clear that the subplot of Elizabeth, Flory, and Verrall signifies the struggle to find meaningful relationships in Burma during the days of the British
Flory is so lonely and desperate for companionship that he mistakes his feelings towards Elizabeth as true love, while in reality they have no deep understanding of each other. In fact, Flory and Elizabeth’s relationship is surface level and nothing like Flory ever dreamed of. They mainly talked about trivial things, and “he had never been able to talk to her as he longed to”(117). They are incompatible, yet Flory insists that she will fill the void in his life. Although I understand that Flory is troubled and insecure, he needs to realize that Elizabeth is not the woman he imagined her to be. For example, they have disagreements on the natives. Flory is fascinated by them, while Elizabeth is a racist and …show more content…
In a sense, Flory has an equal amount in common with Elizabeth as he does with Ma Hla May. However, he is able to publically engage in a relationship with Elizabeth but not with Ma Hla May, as it is socially unacceptable to be seen with a native woman. Flory’s lack of awareness is a major flaw and detrimental to him ever finding genuine happiness. I can’t help but think that Flory is foolish in believing that Elizabeth is right for him since her personality and beliefs are so clearly different from his. I am somewhat unsympathetic when Elizabeth rejects Flory for Verrall because I feel like he should know that Elizabeth is not right for him. On the other hand, I do sympathize with Elizabeth when Verrall leaves her without saying goodbye because they would ride “together every evening, danced together every night”(227) for three weeks which is enough of a relationship to warrant feeling used when he leaves her. Also, the pressure that Mrs. Lackersteen puts on Elizabeth to get married alongside the gossip that U Po Kyin and Ellis spreads would be disheartening, not to mention the fact that her uncle continually tries to molest her. Although I personally do not like Elizabeth as a character, I can see why during this time she would anxious about getting married and why she is upset when Verrall abruptly leaves. In retrospect, I may empathize more with Elizabeth than Flory because I can identify with her struggles as a woman. Either way, it is clear that the subplot of Elizabeth, Flory, and Verrall signifies the struggle to find meaningful relationships in Burma during the days of the British