In “Mowgli’s Brothers,” Rudyard Kipling tells the tale of his celebrated “man-cub,” who is rescued from certain death as an infant and raised by a pack of wolves. Although a human being, Mowgli effectively becomes a “wolf cub” in nearly every other respect and grows to adopt the Law of the Jungle as his code…
Tag: Mowglis Brothers
Mowgli’s Brothers – Setting
Born in India in 1865, Kipling was a product of late nineteenth-century British imperialism, an expansionist policy that justified the economic benefits to be had in conquering undeveloped lands with a language of paternalism and benevolence. In 1899, Kipling’s poem, “White Man’s Burden” (which was in fact addressed to Americans as they took control of…
Mowgli’s Brothers – Literary Devices
Beast Fable “Mowgli’s Brothers,” as well as the other short stories in Kipling’s collection, is a beast fable, a story in which the characters are animals with human faculties. Kipling’s fable teaches lessons. The fable is effective in “Mowgli’s Brothers” because it creates a world beyond human civilization, the jungle, which is governed by a…
Mowgli’s Brothers – Themes
Nature versus Nurture The nature part of the story pertains to Mowgli’s innate classification as a human. His body is human, hairless and upright. The nurture part of the story pertains to his learned traits and characteristics. His extended foster family teaches him everything he must know to be a wolf. He hunts when he…
Mowgli’s Brothers – Characters
Akela Akela is the stoic leader of the wolf pack. He is also called The Lone Wolf. At Council Rock, Akela shows no change in emotion as the families present their cubs to the pack. Even when Mother Wolf pushes Mowgli into the moonlight, Akela proclaims, “Look Well, O Wolves!” Akela proves himself a fair…
Mowgli’s Brothers – Summary
The story opens with the presentation of Mother and Father Wolf and the family’s necessity for food. Father Wolf is readying himself to begin hunting to feed his mate and cubs when the jackal, Tabaqui, enters their den looking for scraps. Tabaqui finds a bone and is satisfied. After eating the bone, the devious jackal…