The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling is actually a great deal more than a book of stories for kids. The author created an incredibly well-thought-out moral world in which instinct, law, faithfulness and survival are tested by danger and brightness. Kipling does not just create great characters, but he also constructs a world of authority and care. In the introduction to “Mowgli’s Brothers”, Kipling grabs your attention and takes you to the Seeonee Hills, where the “Law of the Jungle” is more than just a saying; it’s a way of life, fear and honour. Because of this, you’re not only reading a fable but also able to experience a world that is 100% alive.
The collection is one of the strongest advantages of this work of fiction because it is made up of several different pieces instead of just one story. The stories or pieces range from not only having different themes but also different rhythms and moods; examples include “Kaa’s Hunting”, “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”, “Toomai of the Elephants”, and “Her Majesty’s Servants”. Because of this variance, the breadth of adventure becomes much larger, so at one point in time you can be involved in the intense, animalistic, tribal warfare between tigers and wolf packs, while at another point in time you have a mongoose conquering a cobra that has invaded a household. Or, you can watch an elephant boy experiencing joy in the wonder of the night. The table of contents page, or the contents page, can be viewed as an adventurer’s roadmap, traversing through jungles, along riverbanks, and through the encampments of the military with slick, confident ease.
Mowgli is the most intriguing character in the book. He is not only a human boy nurtured by wolves, but he also exists between two worlds and does not belong completely in either of those worlds. The tension of Mowgli’s existence results in much of the story’s emotional power. While Mowgli learns to communicate with the animals through the jungle’s language, the inevitable awareness of his human future continually grows to pressure him. The three main supporting characters (Bagheera, Baloo, and Akela) represent knowledge, discipline, or the diminishing powers a person possesses. However, in opposition to these three characters is Shere Khan, who is not only memorable as a villain but also exemplifies those qualities of corruption and pride. Kipling creates an epic battle between the two forces of good and evil; yet, throughout the story, Kipling makes the reader feel as though there is an emotional connection between the main character, Mowgli, and all the other characters.
Long after its creation, this work will endure. One reason for this is Kipling’s strength in writing, particularly his depiction of how people communicate in both normal conversation and various types of performances (e.g., the performance of rites). Another way in which Kipling contributes to the “musical” effect of his work is by using repeat passages in the book (e.g., repeating choruses, chants, songs, and laws), which helps unify the work and lend it an overall “rhythm” or “cadence” as you read the different sections of it and they connect to each other. The stories in this book can be found in written form; however, each story has been carefully crafted (upon completion) by this author in a manner that accurately reflects the time period they were created. Each phrase has been placed together in such a manner as to convey an increased sense of tension (i.e., suspense) when viewed collectively.
It continues to be very well received by the public today (a fact that underscores the universal relevancy of this work) just as much as it was when first published. The continuing relevance of the book’s universal message (i.e., that a person’s identity develops through interactions with members of our societies by being in close contact with nature) will result in continued enjoyment of the stories from readers through many future generations as they see themselves in these stories as members of society. This epic tale has so many meanings and adventures; it has new ways of showing us how much fun we can have being kids and how much we can enjoy being adults who want control, peace, and a feeling of safety. “The Jungle Book” shows that there will always be tension between a person and their environment, but when that person understands who they are, they can create their world as they want it.
