Jungle book

Kipling’s Jungle Books were extremely didactic and uplifting. I especially enjoyed the differences between man and animal in “The Miracle of Purun Bhagat” and “Red Dog.” The relationships between man and beast as well as one in relation to the other are very transient in both tales.

In “Red Dog” Mowgli exclaims, “Nay, nay, I am a wolf…It is no will of mine that I am a man.”[1] in response to Akela’s assertion that he is a man. It is also important to notice that although Akela acknowledges that Mowgli is human, he also calls the boy “Little Brother.”[2] This shows how close the wolf feels to the young boy although he is human. Akela is not the only one who classifies Mowgli as human. Kaa does as well, when he hears of Mowgli’s erred plan saying, “That is Man’s [sic] talk and Man’s [sic] cunning.”[3]

[4]Mowgli and Kaa.

Mowgli does admit he is a man but “in my stomach that this night I have said that I am a Wolf [sic]. I called the River and the Trees [sic] to remember.”[5] But his claim to being a wolf this night is undermined as Kipling describes how Mowgli liked to “make the Jungle know that he was their overlord.”[6] Additionally, his actions highlight the boy’s human nature. Mowgli’s initial attitude to overcome the dhole is immature and overzealous. It is not until Kaa, an animal, is able to reason with the boy that Mowgli comes to his senses. Kaa is also the genius behind the great plan to kill the dhole, which is successful, using Africanized honeybees.

[7] An Africanized honeybee.

Bhagat’s relationship with animals is the opposite of Mowgli’s. Instead of loudly defending his parallelism to animals and nature he becomes one with them without even opening his mouth. Also, instead of being taught, he becomes a teacher. The people of the village learn from his example of heroism and silent leadership. Over time the people grow to respect this man who has the ability to charm nature without even trying. At first “the wild things, who knew Kali’s Shrine well, came back to look at the intruder.”[8] But over time, trust grew between the hermit and the animals and “At last, the musk-deer, the shyest and almost the smallest of the of the deerlets, came, too.”[9]

[10]Man and beast as one.

Bhagat’s final act of heroism came from a final act of selflessness, he saved the people of the village from a volcano such as the one below. [11] Mowgli’s connection to animals is one of loud and boastful student, while the Bhagat represents the silent, powerful teacher.

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[1] Kipling, Rudyard. 1992. The Jungle Books. New York: Oxford University Press, 300.

[2] Kipling, 300.

[3] Kipling, 290.

[4] http://www.filmstreet.co.uk/uploads/images/Jungle_Book_Mowgli_Kaa_657.jpg

[5] Kipling, 285.

[6] Kipling, 291.

[7] http://www.brainfleas.com/WindowsLiveWriter/AvianFluCarryingKillerBeessettoInvadeCot_955A/image%7B0%7D_thumb%5B1%5D.png

[8] Kipling, 175.

[9] Kipling, 176.

[10] http://www.graingertv.com/content_images/2/w_beast_within_334x249.jpg

[11] http://youtube.com/watch?v=OowFvnlWI90&feature=related