Introduction
The plot of Rudyard Kipling’s novel “Kim” unfolds in India during the British Empire’s colonial rule. The author describes the adventures and difficulties of an orphan named Kimball O’Hara. Kim is half Indian and half Irish and was taught by a Tibetan Lama. The Lama introduced him to Buddhism and Eastern philosophy, so when Kim became a spy, he faced the issue of determining his identity and cultural heritage.
One of the novel’s themes is a genetic conflict with the environment. It is not easy for Kim to grasp all the contradictions of his cultural heritage, as he is somewhat devoted to both Indian heritage and British colonial culture. The novel “Kim” by Rudyard Kipling depicts the relationship between genetics and environment in creating a character’s consciousness.
Character of Kim
Kim’s personality presents a clash of cultures between the British colonizers and the Indian natives. It is difficult for the protagonist to cope with the feeling of contradictions in himself, which were the cause of the polarities of genetics and environment: “His choice – or his direction, if, as a prisoner, he is denied a choice – is implicit from the beginning” (Park, 2003, p. 558).
Therefore, the character himself is a metaphor for the social condition of India at that time. Kim grew up in India, so he speaks Hindi fluently, though his interactions with British soldiers also make him a subject of British culture. Through the process of becoming more and more involved in the British environment, the sense of personal commitment to a particular culture is called into question.
Symbolism and Religion as Tools of Self-Discovery
Religion in the novel is a means of self-knowledge, traced to Kim’s fascination with Buddhism. With the help of religion, he tries to follow the different paths people take to know themselves and explore life. In contrast, his commitment to more than one religion creates an internal conflict and provokes him to search for his identity. The lines of the poem describe this desire:
“In order to find yourself
You must interview yourself
Ask yourself questions
Question what you follow” (Pacis)
Consequently, the author shows the main character’s identity not as a combination of cultures but as his consciousness, created under the influence of factors.
The author’s use of symbols in the novel confirms the desire to find one’s direction in life. Therefore, the Arrow River serves as a symbol of the life journey that Kim must undertake in order to understand his essence. In addition, the river is traditionally a symbol of the flow of life; that is, some circumstances do not need to be resisted but glide with the flow (Park, 2003).
The road and the amulet symbolize different cultures and traditions, which are difficult for him to combine. Symbolism in the novel helps the reader understand the ambiguity of the character’s position. It reflects the inner struggle and the thorny path to defining one’s identity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the novel “Kim” by Rudyard Kipling raises critical personal questions and allows one to look deeper into the essence of human consciousness. The struggle to self-identify is shown in the example of the clash of cultures in India under British colonial rule. The author uses religion and symbolism to highlight Kim’s struggle to understand the influence of genetics and environment and come to the correct conclusion for himself. Finally, the novel argues that a person’s identity is not a product of influence but a complex, independent phenomenon formed in the environment and view of genetics.
References
Pacis, I. Discovering the treasure of your purpose.
Park, C. C. (2003). Artist of Empire: Kipling and Kim. The Hudson Review, 55(4), 537–561. Web.