Kipling wrote “The Jungle Book” in the style of native Indian tales that serve as models for proper behavior for young children in society. These stories are often laden with pithy sayings and proverbs encapsulating moral messages intended for the audience’s education.
The Law of the Jungle
In “The Jungle Book“, the Law of the Jungle forms a background code of behavior guiding interactions and associations between the forest fauna. It takes such a prominent place in the narrative, and Kipling emphasizes its importance in maintaining social harmony. It alludes to politeness and good manners to help keep a peaceful and well-functioning society.
The Law of the Jungle, which never orders anything without a reason, forbids every beast to eat Man except when he is killing to show his children how to kill, and then he must hunt outside the hunting grounds of his pack or tribe. The real reason for this is that man-killing means, sooner or later, the arrival of white men on elephants, with guns, and hundreds of brown men with gongs and rockets and torches. Then everybody in the jungle suffers. The reason the beasts give among themselves is that Man is the weakest and most defenseless of all living things, and it is unsportsmanlike to touch him.
The Narrator, Chapter 1
The animals of the jungle are warned against killing man because man is especially vindictive and will go to great lengths to take revenge against the loss of one of their own.
Now the Law of the Jungle lays down that if there is any dispute as to the right of a cub to be accepted by the pack, he must be spoken for by at least two members of the pack who are not his father and mother.
The Narrator; Chapter 1
In its wisdom, this code requires that other members besides a cub’s parents, who are naturally biased towards it, should accept it. The rule recognizes that the bond that holds the pack together goes beyond blood ties.
Alienation and Abandonment
Abandonment is a central theme in the stories of “The Jungle Book“; the following quotes vividly portray Mowgli’s raw emotion when being kicked out of the wolf pack and the human village.
“Man-Pack and Wolf-Pack have cast me out,” said Mowgli. “Now I will hunt alone in the jungle.”
Mowgli, driven out by the villagers; Chapter 5
In “Tiger, Tiger”, after Buldeo accuses him of being a witch to the villagers, Mowgli is driven off. Mowgli feels rejected by both humans and wolves. After facing hostility and exclusion from both groups, he resolves to live independently in the jungle, embracing his unique identity. Mowgli expresses his isolation and determination to survive on his terms. Being cast out by human and wolf communities, he decides to rely solely on himself and his knowledge of the jungle.
Many of the wolves that looked thee over when thou wast brought to the Council first are old too, and the young wolves believe, as Shere Khan has taught them, that a man-cub has no place with the pack.
Bagheera to Mowgli; Chapter 1
Bagheera warns Mowgli about his pack brothers’ betrayal, but Mowgli finds this hard to believe. The panther tries to explain to him why the pack is turning against him.
The jungle is shut to me, and I must forget your talk and your companionship; but I will be more merciful than ye are. Because I was all but your brother in blood, I promise that when I am a man among men I will not betray ye to men as ye have betrayed me.
Mowgli, on his banishment; Chapter 1
Mowgli tries hard to come to terms with the betrayal of the pack, and he makes this speech when he takes his leave of the pack after his confrontation at the Council of the Rock. He is generous and gracious, choosing not to, for old times’ sake, repay the pack’s betrayal with equal treachery.
Ahae! My heart is heavy with the things that I do not understand.
Mowgli, betrayed by the wolf pack; Chapter 1
Mowgli’s heartbreak is so intense, and he is full of rage and sorrow at the betrayal of the wolf pack when he learns that the wolves he thought of as brothers hated him. He cries out to Bagheera when he feels these confusing and tormenting emotions he has never experienced before.
Adage and Advice
Now and then, sage advice and profound adages litter the pages of “The Jungle Book.” Not only do they fit in with the narrative, but they are also suitable for application in our lives and teach valuable lessons about life.
Now, don’t be angry after you’ve been afraid. That’s the worst kind of cowardice.
The troop-horse to the young mule; Chapter 13
Bravery is usually thought of as an absence of fear. The mule tries to mask his fear by looking angry but is advised by the troop-horse. The troop-horse’s idea is that fear is natural, and bravery is trying to come to terms with the fact of fear. To get angry at fear is to deny the fear and is a form of cowardice.
“Ye fought for freedom, and it is yours. Eat it, O Wolves.”
Bagheera, when the Seeonee Pack request that Mowgli lead them; Chapter 5
Bagheera speaks to the wolf pack after Mowgli returns from killing Shere Khan, and the wolf pack asks him to become their leader once again. Bagheera answers them sarcastically, telling them that by banishing Mowgli, they had “won their freedom” and must live with the consequences, i.e., forfeiting their right to ask Mowgli to become their leader.
“You will never be able to stop the killing. Go and play in the sea, Kotick.”
Matkah to Kotick, Chapter 7
In “The White Seal”, Matkah, Kotick’s mother, tells him that the killing of seals by humans is inevitable and advises him to accept it rather than trying to change the situation. Matkah’s conservative perspective agrees with the status quo and discourages attempts to challenge it. However, Kotick’s determination and eventual success in finding a haven for the seals show the power of perseverance and innovation, contrasting with Matkah’s resigned outlook. Kipling uses this to highlight the tension between accepting existing conditions and the courage to seek change.
Each dog barks in his own yard!
Shere Khan to Raksha; Chapter 1
Shere Khan says this to the wolf pack when they refuse to give him Mowgli. The truth of the adage is that most animals are bravest in their territory and would stand their ground and offer stiff opposition if another animal challenges it there, even if the challenger is much more imposing.
A man’s cub is a man’s cub, and he must learn all the Law of the Jungle….Is there anything in the jungle too little to be killed? No. That is why I teach him these things, and that is why I hit him, very softly, when he forgets….Better he should be bruised from head to foot by me who love him than he should come to harm through ignorance.
Baloo to Bagheera; Chapter 3
Bagheera protests that Baloo’s methods of teaching Mowgli are harsh, as Baloo often employs corporal punishment to emphasize a point. Baloo responds that he would use whatever means necessary to prevent Mowgli from being harmed by ignorance.
All the jungle is thine, and thou canst kill everything that thou art strong enough to kill; but for the sake of the bull that bought thee thou must never kill or eat any cattle young or old. That is the Law of the Jungle.
Bagheera to Mowgli; Chapter 1
Bagheera, in parting with Mowgli, advises him never to hunt bulls. This is a sign of gratitude and respect as Bagheera paid for Mowgli’s protection with the wolf pack with a bull he killed in a hunt.
Knowledge and Ignorance
In “The Jungle Book“, Rudyard Kipling contrasts knowledge and ignorance through Mowgli’s education in the jungle, at the hands of Baloo and Bagheera, human superstitions, and the Bandar-log’s asinine silliness.
“The boy held the Master Word. I could have done no less.”
Rann, Chapter 3
In “Kaa’s Hunting,” Bagheera and Baloo thank Rann the Kite for relaying Mowgli’s message. Rann acknowledges Mowgli’s command over the jungle animals by using the Master Word, which grants Mowgli acknowledgment and respect among the creatures. It signifies Mowgli’s mastery and acceptance in the wild.
“Buldeo has not said one word of truth concerning the jungle, which is at his very doors.”
Mowgli, Chapter 5
Mowgli thinks out loud about Buldeo, a hunter who spreads misinformation about the jungle and its inhabitants. Having lived among the animals, Mowgli knows the true nature of the jungle, contrary to Buldeo’s exaggerated tales. Mowgli considers Buldeo ignorant. Kipling uses this to critique the arrogance and misunderstanding of humans who claim to know the jungle without truly understanding it, contrasting it with Mowgli’s authentic knowledge and experience.
“Don’t touch him, Patalamon. There has never been a white seal since – since before I was born.”
Kerick to Patalamon, Chapter 7
Kerick Booterin and his son Patalamon, seal hunters on the island, are preparing to drive seals to the killing pens. They come across Kotick, the rare white seal. Kerick, startled by Kotick’s appearance, fears that the seal might be the ghost of Zaharrof, an old debtor lost in a storm the previous year. Kipling uses this moment to underscore Kotick’s rarity and the awe it inspires among the hunters. It also highlights the superstitions that influence the actions and beliefs of the seal hunters, adding a layer of mysticism to the narrative and foreshadowing Kotick’s unique role in the story.
