The novel by the title ‘Kim’ was written and published for the first time in the year 1901 by an Indian author Rudyard Kipling. Considering its contents and comparing with the contemporary society of then, the book appears be a much modernized book for the period. The book appears to fit in many genres of literature which may vary from a classical literature book, children story or even a science fiction book. This makes the book one of the controversial books to analyze.
The background upon which the storyline of the novel is set reveals a great deal of historical events drawing a very vivid picture of India, religion, superstition and aspects of war. Other social crimes are also highlighted in the book. This makes the whole text a thrilling book to read.
The reason making so readers think of this book as a children book is the information about the life in the streets. This makes the book appear nice for children use since it will inform them of the dangers faced by street urchins and hence they appreciate the fact of having their parents around.
The book can be claimed to be good for scholarly use. The use by scholars will help them have the best of the literacy works compiled during that period and offer a good comparison to the contemporary use of stylistic devices in language. Therefore, I would recommend at least mature people who are interested in creative works to read the book since it offers a brain opening structure to the reader enabling him/her to understand how to use language creatively and effectively to create mental images which is a basic requirement for those interested in writing creative works.
The book is also a good historical analysis of India and some of the areas around it about the time it was set in. Actually, the book was set in a war torn background where the physical war had just ceased but British soldiers were still present in India.
Analysis of the plot and accomplishment of the intended task of the writing
The background setting sets the mood of the reader at the correct pace. The story begins with a description of a small town known as Lahore and its surroundings. The protagonist is introduced as a beggar who was orphaned in poverty. By the description, the author sets the platform for the protagonist to do anything to remain alive. As later described in the plot, this initial setting plays a very important role for the character development in the novel. The fact that the protagonist is a half-cast (hybrid) of an Irish soldier and a white mother sets in motion the aspect of a multicultural society. With all the background settings put in place, the story is ready to begin. By the description, the author can be said to be successful in creating the necessary atmosphere and levels of suspense to sustain the reader’s appetite throughout the novel.
Analyzing chapter one, the main character is introduced as a13 years old boy who is orphaned and is under the care of an opium dealer. The main character lives on begging on occasional works in the farm of a horse trader. The main character decides to move out of the opium den and find life elsewhere. On his way out, he comes across a Buddhist who is out also in search for a sacred river. Kim decides to become his disciple and the duo set out in search for the sacred river. Kim informs Ali the horse trader that he will be leaving with Lama the Buddhist and he collects some documents from Ali. The two (Lama and Ali) appear arrogant of Kim’s secret dealings. On analysis, the first chapter opens with a decision to lead a different type of life for two characters. The main character makes a decision to search a better life and Lama also decides to search for spiritual new life. This sets the mood for any adventurous narration on how to achieve the goal for each character. It also introduces some suspense since we are not well briefed about the secret dealings that Kim is said to have and the content of the documents. The main stylistic device used for this part is irony. It is ironical for a person to just agree to let go of an orphan simply because he wants to go even without trying to know more about his dealings.
Chapter two of the book introduces more characters. The characters are used to represent the diverse social backgrounds and religions. This part of the novel appears to best explain the multicultural nature of the Indian society. In his description and illustration, the author is able to successfully develop the main character who he claims is a friend to the whole world. The introduction of the other characters also helps develop the main theme f the differences that exist in the set society. The two arrives at Umballa. Kim delivers the documents given to him by Ali to the colonel of the British army and overhears of an impending war on the border. The author by this mode is able to depict the secret dealings that were introduced in the first chapter yet left hanging. He also creates suspense since no one knows who are at war with whom.
In the third and forth chapters, Kim and Lama take a stroll and by mistake trespasses on a framer’s land who hurls abusive words at the two but later realizes Lama’s holiness. Lama preaches to the farmer and the then angry Kim urging them to detach from the human emotions and control. On a later occasion, the two are entertained. Kim’s character as a jolly person is depicted in this part of the novel when he cracks a joke of being a prophet who can foresee a battle with soldiers matching towards the border (impersonation). He narrates what he overheard. An old Indian soldier who had worked for the British army questions Kim who vividly describes the colonel who he had delivered the documents to. The following morning, the two set out on their journey to Grand Trunk Road which they would use to trace their sacred river. On the way, the old soldier escorts them and one again, the Lama preaches to the two on the need for spiritual atonement.
Chapter five describes the beginning of Kim’s enlighten. On one of his errands, he spots the red bull which his father had narrated to him. His heart leaps with joy and he sneaks to the red bull which happens to be in the barracks. He is captured and brought before two spiritual leaders who by the help of the documents that Kim had carried from Ali indentify him as the son of a former soldier and not an Indian beggar. This makes him to be recruited into a school which he attends for three years and becomes a surveyor. On one of his outings, he is sent to the mountains with the British army and he helps protect some documents Russian soldiers wanted and delivers them to the British colonel. This shows that Kim is still a spy and undercover agent. The novel ends with a dilemma in which Kim has to decide whether to follow spiritual enlighten or not.
Analyzing the success of the author in the general storyline, the author successfully illustrates the solution to the individual problems of the two main characters in the story. Each achieves a new life as it was their quests. Kim is able to walk out of poverty and illiteracy while Lama gains the spiritual atonement by finding the sacred river. The war the author introduced in the first chapter is finally fought while the character of Kim is fully developed towards the end of the novel. Suspense is also well maintained in the novel and transition of the two main characters from one life to another is described.
The author on the other side fails to fully develop some of the characters. Though this may be viewed as a way of avoiding bulk in the book but some of the briefly described characters like Ali appear not a part of the novel though they help develop the story line and character of the main character.
The grammatical use in the novel is medium standard making it easier for any literate person to read. This makes the book even better since it is easily understood. The general rules of language are also adhered to making the book a good one for grammar enhancement.
The intertwines in the structure of the story and the parallel development of the main characters to maturity is also a heavily used style that reduces the readers’ boredom by eliminating monotony on only one story line.
