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Situational Irony
Chapter 2
Explanation and Analysis:
Orwell's writing style in Burmese Days is characterized by decidedly negative (or unfavorable) descriptions of all the novel's characters. Many of the characters are craven, racist, apathetic, or complacent, and these negative character traits bleed into the rest of the novel. John Flory, the closest thing to a protagonist in Burmese Days, exhibits many unfavorable character traits. In accordance with this, Flory bears a birthmark marring half of his face. Note the initial description of this birthmark, from Chapter 2:
The first thing that one noticed in Flory was a hideous birthmark stretching in a ragged crescent down his left cheek, from the eye to the corner of the mouth. Seen from the left side his face had a battered, woebegone look, as though the birthmark had been a bruise—for it was a dark blue in colour.
