Kim by Rudyard Kipling

 

'Kim'

by 

Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling was born on December 30, 1865, in Bombay, British India. Shortly before Rudyard's birth, his parents, John Lockwood Kipling and Alice Macdonald, left the United Kingdom due to John's appointment as a professor at Bombay's Jeejeebjoy School of Art. Rudyard was born on the university's campus, and his parents named him after Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire (where John and Alice first met). Kipling's parents referred to themselves as "Anglo-Indians," and Rudyard's early years were marked by a dual influence of his country of origin and his country of residence. At the age of five, Rudyard and his younger sister, Trix, were sent to the United Kingdom to begin their formal education while their parents remained in India.

Historical Context of Kim

As a pseudo-autobiographical novel, Kim is based on real-world events. The story takes place during Great Britain’s colonial occupation of India at the peak of the Great Game, a nineteenth-century rivalry between the British and Russian empires over colonial influence in Asia. This tension resulted in a protracted war of espionage, diplomacy, and minor military skirmishes, mirroring missions like Kim and Hurree Babu’s in the northern mountains of India and resulting in a vast network of spies and informants. Contrary to the amicable relationships depicted in Kim, however, dynamics between Indian agents and their British superiors were likely less congenial in historical reality, as were relationships between colonial subjects and their colonizers more broadly. A clear example of this is the old soldier’s account of the Revolt of 1857-58, a bloody mutiny by the Bengal army which the soldier, a staunch British loyalist, attributes to madness. In reality, the revolt was a direct response to Britain's exploitative colonial practices, considered by many to be the first Indian War of Independence. Such revisionist history is common across Kim. Though critiques of British colonial rule occasionally surface, the novel typically portrays British occupation in positive (or at least neutral) terms. The novel frequently celebrates British cultural and technological achievements like the railroad system, the Lahore Museum, and the Grand Trunk Road, while it downplays incidents of colonial violence, exploitation, and injustice. Such wishful visions of colonialism were common in Victorian England, however, with many Europeans adopting Kipling’s now-infamous notion of the “White Man’s Burden”— the idea that civilized nations (i.e., white nations) have a duty to civilize less advanced nations.

Key Facts about Kim

• Full Title: Kim
• When Written: 1901
• Where Written: England
• When Published: 1901
• Literary Period: Victorian/Edwardian Era
• Genre: Picaresque Novel, Bildungsroman
• Setting: British India, after the Second Afghan War
• Climax: The lama discovers the river.
• Point of View: Third Person

Plot Overview

 

Kimball O’Hara, Jr., known as "Kim," is a poor, Irish orphan in Lahore, British India. Prior to his parents' deaths, his father worked as an Irish army officer, and his mother as a nursemaid. Although Kim is white, he blends in like a native among the Lahore streets and speaks Urdu as if it were his native tongue. Kim is supervised by a local Lahore woman who runs an opium den. One day, Kim spots a Buddhist lama from Tibet outside the Lahore Museum. Kim volunteers to be the man's chela, or disciple. The lama is searching for the River of the Arrow, one of the Four Holy Sites of Buddhism. Kim decides to accompany the lama south on his mission.

On his journey south, Kim stops at the home of Mahbub Ali, a horse trader. This is a pivotal event, as it signifies Kim's first entry into the world of espionage. Mahbub Ali works as a spy for the British empire, and since Kim is traveling south, he asks him to deliver a classified letter on his behalf. Kim and the lama head to Umballa, where the protagonist delivers Mahbub Ali's letter. While in Umballa, Kim has a session with a Hindu priest who ruminates on topics of destiny and fate. The priest shares that the prophecy made by Kim's father prior to his death will come true: Kim will be led to a Red Bull where he will then find his life's course. When Kim and the lama continue to search for the River of the Arrow, the prophecy does come to fruition. While staying at the home of a Kullu woman they meet on their travels, Kim and the lama encounter white soldiers planting a flag in the ground. Kim is shocked when he sees the image on the flag—a red bull on a green field, true to his father’s prophecy.

When Kim approaches the campsite to learn more, he is greeted by a reverend. The reverend rummages through the documents draped around the protagonist's neck and finds that he knows Kim's late father. The British infantry wants to become Kim’s “guardian.” Kim doesn’t want to be separated from the lama, but the lama is intent on journeying alone to the River of the Arrow. Kim is sent to enroll in school with the goal of one day being enlisted in the military. When Kim begins school, he is mocked by his peers for his lack of "Britishness." He only wants to be reunited with the lama.

Kim is persuaded by Colonel Creighton to enroll in another school named St. Xavier's. Kim concedes, as it is located further south (which means he can be geographically closer to the lama). Colonel Creighton realizes that Kim possesses numerous traits that would make him a successful spy, and he begins grooming him to work for the secret service. Although Kim enjoys his time at St. Xavier's, he still hatches a plan to escape from campus. Colonel Creighton worries about Kim's whereabouts, and Mahbub Ali later finds the boy begging on the streets of Umballa. Mahbub Ali convinces Kim to re-enroll in school until he is hired, and the two journey to another town called Simbla where Kim meets a man known as Lurgan Sahib. Lurgan tests Kim in a variety of areas to determine if he is fit for a spy career. Kim passes each test, and he is introduced to "the Babu" to finalize his training.

Kim re-enrolls in school, though he spends his holidays going on adventures and training with Mahbub Ali and Lurgan. Before formally completing his studies, Kim is unenrolled from St. Xavier's so he can begin working. Mahbub Ali decides to take Kim traveling for six months as a "trial period" for his new career. The Babu dresses Kim in a costume of a chela, and he reunites with the lama at a Jain temple. The lama is impressed by Kim's growth and resourcefulness, and he hopes that Kim will join him again on his search for the River of the Arrow. Kim, who is wearing an amulet around his neck that signifies his involvement in the British Secret Service, is forced to put his spy skills to the test on a train to Delhi—he encounters a spy named E23 and aids him on his mission. The Babu, who approaches Kim in disguise, praises the protagonist for his quick thinking and resourcefulness. The Babu tells Kim about a new mission involving the Five Kings in the Himalayas. Kim decides to take the lama with him on his journey.

The Babu, the lama, and Kim begin climbing the Himalayas. The group meets up with two men—one from Russia and one from France. The lama begins explaining his drawing of the Great Wheel of Existence to the Europeans, but his holistic description is soon thwarted by the Russian man’s desire to purchase the drawing. When the lama refuses to sell his drawing, things escalate quickly. The Russian man strikes the lama in the face, harming him. Kim retaliates and the European duo quickly flee the scene on foot. Kim pursues them and fires shots with his new revolver. The lama is upset by the violence that surrounds him, but he is even more disappointed in his own desire to avenge his aggressor. He considers himself far from the path of enlightenment and hastily makes a plan to return to his quest for the River of the Arrow.

A woman in the village of Shamla arranges transportation for Kim and the maimed lama, and the two head south once again. On their journey, Kim and the lama are confronted by existential feelings, sickness, and sensations of guilt. When they arrive back at the home of the Kullu woman, both take measures to alleviate their suffering—Kim sleeps for 36 hours while the lama fasts and meditates. The lama has a vision that reveals the location of the River of the Arrow. However, he is unable to complete his journey alone—he needs Kim by his side.

At the end of the story, the lama smiles as “a man may who has won Salvation for himself and his beloved.” Ultimately, the lama has found a way for his religious faith to coexist with his love for Kim. The two bathe in the River of the Arrow, having finally achieved their goals together.

 Themes

The Anglo-Indian Identity Crisis

From the beginning of the novel, it is clear that Kim is in a predicament concerning his identity. As an Irish orphan growing up in the streets of Lahore, he can adapt to the numerous cultures and languages prevalent in India. He is markedly able to relate to people of disparate religious and cultural groups, which is unique given that he is ultimately from the land of the colonizer.

When Kim is taken in by his father's former infantry and sent to an Anglican school called St. Xavier's, his conflict of identity intensifies. It is the first time Kim is truly thrust into British society, and his social position immediately changes from being "ruled" to being "ruler." Although he enjoys some of the comforts of embracing his Anglo identity, there is also a part of Kim that remains uneasy and dissatisfied. Through espionage, Kim is able to reconcile his identity crisis. In this way, Kipling asserts his own political beliefs in regards to a unified British India, in which colonized and colonizer can peacefully coexist.

Equality Prevails

In his introduction of the Teshoo Lama character, Kipling puts forth the theme of equality and unity. In Chapter Twelve, when the duo are arriving at the Kulu woman's house, the lama tells Kim "To those who follow the Way there is neither black nor white, Hind nor Bhotiyal. We be all souls seeking escape." In this way, we see the lama teaching Kim how Buddhism transcends the divisions of traditional Hindu caste society. The illustration of the Wheel of Life, which ends up driving the story to its climactic moment, further underscores the importance of unity through acknowledgment of shared humanity.

Religion

Throughout Kim, religion is portrayed in its abundance and diversity, thus highlighting a key component of life in British India in the late 19th century. One prominent example of religion in the novel is Kim's exposure to Buddhism through his friendship with the lama. Kim is initially drawn to the lama because his life purpose appears to be something "greater" than what Kim has seen before. The Lama's spiritual journey, his quest for the River of the Arrow, and his unwavering commitment to his faith provide a lens through which Kipling examines the role of religious devotion in shaping individual identity and purpose.

Playfulness and "The Game"

From the moment that the reader is introduced to Kim snaking through the streets of Lahore, it is clear that the protagonist is, to borrow a phrase, 'bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.' We can imagine Kim with a grin, charming and conning his various neighbors. Kipling's portrayal of playfulness is nuanced, as it ultimately emerges as a coping mechanism for Kim's orphanhood. In this way, the reader understands how Kim's adaptability is a form of resiliency in the face of adversity.

The Secondary Role of Kim's Female Characters

Kim is an explicitly male story, with women serving as flat, secondary characters that merely contribute to the plot's propulsion of action. The absence of women from the novel propagates the idea that the topics of adventure, travel, and spiritual quests are only attainable for male characters & audiences. In this way, Kipling's portrayal of women is limited and reflects the social attitudes of the time.

Explorations of Destiny, Fate, and Prophecy

Destiny is defined as "the hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future." Meanwhile, fate is "the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power." Prophecy is a prediction. In Kim, Kipling plays upon these slightly distinct yet interconnected ideas in various ways.

Education

In Kim, Kipling explores both formal and informal modes of education, highlighting the diverse ways in which individuals acquire knowledge and skills in the complex sociocultural landscape of British-ruled India.

From what we can gather, it seems that Kim does not receive a formal education until he is enrolled at an Anglican school after visiting his father's former regiment. Kim has a horrendous time adjusting to school, as it represents his larger introduction into British/Western society. Kim argues with his peers and is seen as an outcast, primarily for his physical appearance, his language skills, and his overall comfort in Indian society. When Kim is transferred to St. Xavier's, he has an easier time socially. However, he continually tries to escape, preferring to live the life of a vagrant. In the novel, it is clear that formal education has its limits in shaping Kim's identity. Kim's true education is a product of his diverse experiences and the interactions he has beyond the classroom.