England Your England facts for kids

"England Your England" is a famous essay written by the English author George Orwell. He wrote it in 1941, during a time called The Blitz. This was when Nazi Germany was bombing England during World War II.

In this essay, Orwell tried to explain what English culture and the English people were like. He wanted the rest of the world to understand England, especially because he worried it might be destroyed by the Nazi armies. He also believed that England would not become a fascist country unless it was completely broken.

The essay was actually the first part of a longer book called The Lion and the Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius. This book was published on January 19, 1941.

Understanding England's Identity

George Orwell thought England was one of the most democratic countries in the world at that time. However, he also felt that England didn't always have a clear view of the world. Instead, it sometimes had a very strong, almost blind, sense of patriotism.

For example, some rich English people and business owners believed that Fascism could work well with England's economy. They thought that because leaders like Benito Mussolini (from Italy) and Adolf Hitler (from Germany) were strongly against Communism, their ideas must be "England-friendly." So, these people even cheered when Mussolini's bombers sank ships that were helping the Spanish republicans.

It wasn't until later, when they realized that a fascist leader taking power in Spain would actually hurt England, that they changed their minds. They then understood that Fascism was bad for England because it often started with revolutions or relied heavily on military control. Orwell himself, however, admitted that Fascism might seem better for wealthy people (unless they were Jewish) compared to Communism or democratic socialism.

One Nation or Many?

Orwell also discussed how Britain was made up of many different groups, like Scots, Welsh, and English people. But he noticed that everyone considered themselves British when their country needed defending.

He also thought it might be more accurate to divide Britons by their wealth or social class. This would mean there might be two, three, or even four different "Britains" based on how rich or poor people were.

What Orwell Believed

Orwell wrote about how people flying overhead were trying to kill him, but they were "only doing their duty." He felt that even though they wouldn't commit murder in their private lives, they could drop bombs and not feel bad because they were serving their country.

He also pointed out that even though people in Britain feel very different from each other (like a Scotsman not wanting to be called an Englishman), these differences often disappear when they meet someone from another European country. To an outsider, an English person from London and one from Yorkshire might seem very similar.

Orwell believed that even the differences between rich and poor people seemed smaller when looking at the nation from the outside. He knew that wealth was very unequal in England, perhaps more than in any other European country. Economically, England might be two or more nations. But most people still felt like they belonged to one single nation.

He argued that patriotism (love for one's country) was usually stronger than class-hatred. It was always stronger than any idea of internationalism (working together with all countries). He gave an example: when England was in danger of being invaded, many people volunteered to defend it very quickly. This showed how strong traditional loyalties were.

England's Future

Orwell believed that England's core character would remain. He said that its gentleness, its way of being a bit hypocritical, its thoughtlessness, its respect for law, and its dislike of uniforms would stay. Even things like traditional foods and misty skies would remain.

He felt that only a huge disaster, like being ruled by a foreign enemy for a long time, could destroy a nation's culture. Even if big changes happened, like the Stock Exchange being torn down or tractors replacing horse ploughs, England would still be England. He saw it as an "everlasting animal" that could change a lot but still remain the same at its heart.