As absurd as it may sound, the jungle is a surprisingly appealing place for children. What’s in it? Elephants, monkeys, snakes, and tigers—so Kipling was right to set his work in this exotic, dramatic world. A completely helpless human child goes through a difficult path of growing up among the animals. He learns the law of the jungle, which, in essence, isn’t really so “animalistic.” Yet despite everything, the human remains human. Not a single beast can withstand his piercing gaze.
All the heroes are animals, each endowed with its own traits. The sly and clever panther Bagheera, the kind and clumsy bear Baloo, the wise and calculating python Kaa…
One day the animals protected the little human from the tiger, and ever since then he has entered the life of the jungle, gradually becoming its master.
Mowgli is a truly heroic character. He is noble, brave, and honest. He is ready to sacrifice himself without looking back for his friends. He fears no enemies. And even as an adult, Mowgli still has the heart of a child—open, responsive, kind—and at the same time keenly reacting to insult, knowing what belongs to him and what does not. Kipling gave Mowgli simplicity of perception and genuine, childlike reactions. This adventure story tells of a person who preserved his humanity even in the wild jungle world.