The boiling tension at the center of the novel stems from the Burmese desire to achieve independence, which plays a central role in the Freestone’s fear about the safety of their plantation, the invasion of Japanese soldiers in Burma, and Burmese and Kachin rebellion against Japanese forces.

Many characters are defined by their relation to the fight for Burmese independence. For example, Nang and Magwe are on opposite ends of the spectrum—Nang supports Jackson and the British, and Magwe supports Japanese invasion, which he believes will lead to decolonization. Jackson has a unique role in this fight; though he is British and a foreign landowner, he talks frequently of the fact that eventually he will have to “give Burma back to the Burmese” (313). He advocates for Burmese independence in parliament, and Nang vouches for his efforts, saying, “What you may not know is that Mr. Freestone also believes Burma should be an independent country, governed by its own people. He has been quietly working on this for many years” (18).

Colonization plays through its vicious cycle in the novel. Japan claims to want “Asia for Asians,” but soon after they arrived, “[i]t was clear the [slogan was intended] for Asians of Japanese descent [.