I chose this paper because in it I take the opinions of other authors as well as my own analysis on the book of Kim and use all this information to synthesize deeper meaning behind it’s context and plot.  Both analysists offer criticism on what the book is trying to communicate by finding themes in the story as well as historical influences that illuminate important messages being conveyed.  This paper is good for my English Major showcase because it focuses a lot on looking at a text and criticizing it as well as bringing to light portions that relay specific meanings in terms of what is analyzed.  This paper relates to number three of the six learning outcomes for the English major.  To further explain why this is, this paper clearly criticizes a well known text by taking the judgements and educated analysis of two other authors as well as myself and produces coherent meaning from these evaluations.  Much of the analysis and criticism is done as mentioned slightly through a historical lens, as well as the environment and character development seen.  Specific critical terminology is used by the authors Baucom and Annan in their respective critical papers on the book and this is evidenced within the paper’s multiple citations in support of assertions made.

Josiah Titus
ERH 302
LTC Ticen
October 20, 2019

Reading Kim through literary scholarship

The novel Kim is a story focusing on a young boy’s journey in India and his relationship with a lama, a spiritual holy figure who allows Kim to help him on his journey of enlightenment. In the book many themes are presented surrounding the progression of events that impact and influence Kim the character, transpiring events which allow him to find a place in the evolving world specific to him. Many criticisms have been written on this story though where highly intellectual discussion is had on various aspects and facets dealing with the stories history, accuracy, political engagement, religious ideals, character analysis, symbolism and much more. Two notable criticisms written on the story are Kipling’s Place in the History of Ideas by Noel Annan and The Survey of India by Ian Baucom. Many themes are prevalent in their writing, but one big theme present in both works which can be dissolved down into separate themes is the idea of histories deep involvement in Kipling’s writing seen in the stories setting as well as seen through influences on Kim dealing with through his purpose and the eventual fulfillment of it.
Both criticisms are very different in how they deliver the message intending to be received by readers. The main point in both reflect this overall theme of histories deep correlation to the book’s progression. Noel Annan in her article focuses more closely on the author, and his intentions with historical themes present in the story, while Baucom takes an approach that looks more at the setting of the story but it’s relation to Kim’s influences. Annan’s criticism delves into the political and social history evidenced in the plot of Kim, making up its basis. Annan looks at other authors who give commentary on Kipling’s writing in the novel and draws in other viewpoints, all culminating in seeing the relevance of what happens in the book through cultural traditions in India and historical significance. Overall, what they say is that Kipling’s writing has contributed greatly to the understanding of Englishmen, Indians, and Imperialism (324). The main point in the other article has similar elements within. Baucom’s point is along the same lines, but the focus of his criticism lies in his discussion on how the story is representative of real past events and symbolizes without making it factual, what has gone on in India in the past century with the characters and plot posing as caricatures. Kim’s identity is of high analysis and it can be presented in various ways when we look at his representation of a cartographer.
Annan’s criticism at it’s base revolves around Kipling and what his focus was in developing the themes he did within. As stated by her right at the beginning of her criticism, “Criticism has not yet come to terms with Kipling: the man and his works symbolize a part of British political and social history about which his countrymen have an uneasy conscience” (323). Annan puts her critique all in perspective with her opener. The man and his works as said here represent Britain’s world stage to an extent. Kim as a whole is things taken from what has happened in India and Britain’s lineage of existence and materializing them in the form of a story which incorporates Buddhism, The Great Game, and other components of the war amongst many events from history. Social history is the overarching word here as it entails the two when it’s brought out in the story. Obvious examples are strewn throughout, as Kipling’s story couldn’t be complete without those aspects. The lama is the biggest example of Kipling putting in a common cultural theme dealing with the religion of Buddhism which then stays throughout the whole of the story. In our introduction to the man, Buddhism being concerned is adequately touched on with Kipling writing, “In the entrance-hall stood the larger figures of the Greco-Buddhist sculptures done…statues and slabs crowded with figures that had encrusted the brick walls of the Buddhist…of the North Country” (8). Another example where history is incorporated bringing in a event this time, slightly political in a sense is when Kim meets the old man at a party who was involved in the mutiny of 1857, a real historical event integrated for accuracy and historical relevance. Kipling writes, “It was an old withered man, who had served the Government in the days of the Mutiny as a native officer” (42). Here the historical accuracy and it’s insertion is clear. Kim learns of the old man’s role in the struggle and then the story develops from here with Kim informing him of incoming troops from Pindi and the two share a correlation in the story. Both the lama and this old man themselves show histories social involvement, which is Annan’s core point.
Annan uses Kipling himself and his interests to look at how historical components were brought in beyond the mere characters and setting. Annan says, “Kipling prided himself, however, on describing what Durkheim called social facts” (325). Durkheim, being Kipling’s inspiration for storytelling, is used by Annan to reference how Kipling as mentioned previously modeled his work from a sociological way relevant to past and present proceedings. Taking ideas from Durkheim, a sociologist in this period, his book’s goal was to show how society was developed and how it looked, being visualized for any reader. Probably the most evident part of this is The Great Game in Kim, which the main character takes part in when he joins the secret service. Annan then says to tie together his points, “The impression which his work as a whole gives is that of a man who sees human beings moving in a definable network of social relationships, which impose upon them a code of behavior appropriate to their environment” (325). Probably one of Kipling’s bests sentences to single handedly describe what his writing is intending to accomplish, this gives a clear analyzed consensus on what that is. Kipling’s whole ideology of his thinking on Kim that is communicated through his writing lies in the relationships made by the characters, what they mean in terms of growth and development in the book but at the same time their behavior must follow the strict implementations that an accurate setting dictates all roots tied with history. While Kipling is not going for something nonfictional, his fiction in order to convince and be exact must mightily include this. At the end of the book, Kim has realized his place in the world and how he is tied into the future of India’s history and his role in the Great Game through the secret service agency (234).
Baucom’s criticism does not so much directly revolve on the author or plot, more as it focuses on the setting of the story, while upholding the same points on this historical theme which as mentioned entails influences to Kim’s journey, something Annan touched on but not nearly as much. Sociology is involved in this article of criticism as well but it’s relationship to the story’s environment is way more obvious. As said before setting instead of the author is more keyed in on with this criticism, as well as how moving parts in the story including elements, characters and events influence what his goal and end goal that happens are. One of Baucom’s quotes that ties together the whole criticism together is, “In joining Kim to this band of wanderers mapmakers, Kipling identifies the problem of refashioning Kim’s identity with the dilemma of India’s montgomerie-era cartographers” (351). It’s all about taking the Kim known from the story and fixing multiple views on him to bring out a central state and arc of analysis that personifies who the boy truly is at the core, keeping moving parts and elements from other characters in mind. His development revolves around the pace of the other characters within, but the main one is Creighton, a man who plays a big part in the setting of this story.
Creighton himself provides an outlook of The Great Game and more symbolism of India’s history by what he does. What Creighton also does and what Baucom spearheads in his article is how Creighton demonstrates himself as one of Kim’s biggest influences, subsequently playing a huge lead in Kim’s development from that influence. Baucom puts a lot of emphasis on character. From the start Creighton wanted Kim reared properly, with the example of sending him to school in lucknow telling him, “…thou wilt go under my protection” 98). In his article, Baucom writes “Throughout the greater part of the text, we have been led to believe that Creighton, like Father Victor, Mrs. Bennett, and Kipling himself, remains committed to Kim’s sahibization, that indeed Kim’s sahibization not only is consistent with Creighton’s disciplining of India but will emerge as an offshoot of the colonel’s policing labors” (356). Kim is a work of Creighton in and out. Creighton weighs heavily in on the kid as seen in the novel when he appears in various places. From the start potential in the lad is seen by the man as Kipling writes, “That boy mustn’t be wasted if he is as advertised” (95). Kim’s abilities come into view early and Creighton knows he is talent that can’t be taken for granted India in it’s current time needs people like him. Once Creighton gets him into the service, this is what leads to Kim growing up through the Babu and getting back with the lama who is then able to complete his quest due to Kim’s new abilities.
Annan and Baucom share the theme of history, and influences had on Kim that relate to the history of the time. Annan delivers more in her criticism, but both have justifiable information backed by the book to huge extents. Annan is all about the author and how he puts moments and events in the story which have historical relevance as to portray accuracy, and get the plot moving forward, not just Kim specifically. Baucom focuses on the history of the story but through a lens that looks more at Kim’s character development through the setting and environment as well as being concerned with who’s in it. Creighton is the integral in Baucom’s discussion as his relation to the boy culminates in a litany of transpiring events that follow the ultimate finale of everything to do with Kim’s success and the lama’s journey. Both authors criticisms use history and influence as a driving force to show the reasons behind what happens Kim the book.

Works Cited
Rudyard Kipling. Kim, by Rudyard Kipling. W.W. Norton & Company, 1988.