Perception of Nature and the Language of Imperialism in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book

English (OpenAlex)

Published in 1894, The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling has become a greatsuccess in England. Telling the story of Mowgli who is raised by the animals inthe Jungle, the book portrays Mowgli and animals as symbolizing thereunification of human beings and nature. The story is generally perceived as aBildungsroman with undertones of imperialist discourse or Mowgli is perceivedas a romantic hero who represents the noble savage that embraces and reuniteswith nature. However a closer look reveals the fact that the depictions ofnature sanctified, function as discursive reproduction of its materializationand reinforcement of the modern hierarchy between man and nature and cultureand nature. Thus, the aim of this article is to propose a fresh look atKipling’s text through the frame of human-animal studies.