Rudyard Kipling's 'The Mark Of The Beast'
Principles of Nature A person’s principles define who they are for example if a person is full of hate and bitterness then a monster lurks within. The author’s story secretly stands for when Britain invaded India which is where the story takes place. The author also shows how the main character’s struggle to find their principles of nature or good morals rather than the heartless and violent ones they already have. The characters in the story are just as violent to the natives as the British are when they invaded. Morals and historical background both have major effects into understanding this story. In Rudyard Kipling’s The Mark of the Beast the author offers criticism of the interaction between the colonizers and the colonized. This leads to an understanding of morals and historical background that the author intended to display. Rudyard Kiplings The Mark of the Beast was first published in 1890. That means this story has remain popular for over one hundred years and shows the true effect it has on others. An article online states that it was first published in the Pioneer on 12 and 14 July 1890. This proves that the story is very important because people still read it today. It does this by showing that
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morals and values are very important and that people need to hold on to our values. Their values at the time were to worry about what they wanted and only what they wanted. This story also shows history and how others need to remember it so that people do not repeat ourselves in the future. It is to try to prevent the same things over again and learn from it but people never listen and history then repeats itself until others decide to listen.
British powers wanted to control India for its natural resources. They wanted to show them and others just how powerful they were. Britain also wanted India for the revolutionary benefits of owing the country. They also wanted India for the new and easier trade routes that they could accomplish when they took control over the land. Online resources prove this by stating that Britain profited from India’s vast supply of tea and cotton. This proves how the British wanted to control India for personal benefits and were inconsiderate to the residents who stayed there. They even helped India before coming into their country and taking it over forcefully. Britain did not care about what happened to people if they got what they wanted. Just as in the story when the characters do not care about the natives but only want what they need and nothing else. What Britain did not realize was that they needed to change their morals as a country to succeed and not by stealing other countries successes and passing it off as their own. But, if someone brings harm to others it will come back and destroy everything and the monster that lurks within will come out. When someone does not put in the effort to learn of the people or natives or how they are, and push them aside like chopped liver it shows just how cruel a person can be. Knowledge is the key to achieving great things and without disasters occur as in the story when the main characters had not acquired knowledge about the natives. Bringing harm to those around never ends well for anyone because someone will end up getting hurt regardless of the situation. The text proves this by stating “His knowledge of natives was, of course, limited, and he complained of the difficulties of the language” (Kipling 1). He did not even put in the effort to even attempt to learn the language. One of the main character lacked morals and will end upsetting the natives in a distasteful and revengeful way just because he does not have good morals for others. The author also uses irony to poke fun at the characters’ morals by them not even realizes just how bad they are. Situations arise in the story where strange occurrences happen to the characters and they do not even realize it. The main text does an excellent job of explaining this by stating “Horrid doggy smell, here, and ‘said he.’ You should really keep those terriers of yours in better order. Try sulfur, Strick.” (Kipling 8). The character does not even realize that the nasty odor of dog was from him. It was from when the natives had turned him into the beast that he really was on the inside. And he has no memory of anything happening to him so he blames it on the other animals, but does not realize that the true animal is him. And he is the only one who can fix that by changing his morals and not only caring about what he wants and realize that he needs to treat others just as good as he treats himself. When or if he ever comes to find that understanding then he will realize just how evil and cruel he was to everyone around him. The main characters suffer from internal conflict within them and struggle to figure out what is the right thing to do.
He struggles with his emotions to try and find the right principles he needs. The text states that “The inner drama of the Cama is that his guest for the River of Life … for, this world of shadows” (Harrison, James. Rudyard Kipling pg.53.). Struggles arise within the character to find the right principles. This proves that the character did struggle internally. He struggled with his morals and the struggle between good and evil. His principles and values were being pulled in separate directions. The River of Life symbolizes the evidence of rightful thinking. While the world of shadows symbolizes the cruelty and darkness that lies
within. Britain wanted the natural resources that India had and took it with force. They needed the resources for the war and India also had many other advantages so Britain just went ahead and took control just because it would benefit its needs. Not even concerned with the people who reside there. They acted like beast just as in the story when the main characters treat the natives the same way. But there was good after effects of Britain taking over India. An example is India’s advanced technology and culture would not have been possible without Britain’s help. Sources prove this by “India is the world’s second-largest growing economy… the boom in Indian call-center and software industries could not have happened without it” (“Columnist” dailmail.co.uk). Indian technology and country standards would not be where they are today if it would not have been for Britain colonizing the country. Britain did invade India without considering the consequences but it also helped India advance to be what it is today. However, in the story there really was not a benefit for the main characters being there. They did not leave anything good or benefitting to the natives after they had departed from there. Britain also wanted India for their trade route and the revolutionary advantage from taking them. The natives did not have a choice at the time they had little or no say at all when it came to the government. Online articles state that Indian nationals had no say in central government and even at a local level, their influence on policy and decision making was minimal. This proves that the natives could not make any important decisions especially when it comes to the government. This made it extremely easy for Britain to come in and take complete control over them and they not have a say. So, Britain decided to act on that decision and take over and take what they wanted. To claim all its natural resources and the benefits of having it. Just as how Fleete, one of the main characters in The Mark of the Beast, acted and sought after what he and his partner wanted. It was just the same because the natives could not control whether they came into their country or not. In both cases the people do not have a say as to anything that will affect them later. India was named the crown jewel in the crown for Britain. They called it this due to all the benefits had that Britain needed and those they got after successfully conquering India. India had viable and important natural resources, they had a perfect trade route, and it was the perfect place for revolutionary success and Britain needed these things during the war. Proof of this is “India was considered the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. Queen Victoria had been made Empress of India and the British had a major military presence in India” (“India 1900 to 1947” historylearning.co.uk). These shows just how important it was and how much more powerful it made Britain by having it under their control. In the story to the main character India is only valued to for how much profit they can make from things there just as India was to Britain. The author ties these two things together to show the readers just how important this event was. Rudyard Kipling does an amazing job of composing this story together and of putting a deeper meaning into it that makes the reader dig and makes them eager to want to know why this piece was written. The author intended for the reader to find out about principles or morals that should be important to everyone but that some people lack and those people are monsters inside and out. Just like Fleete is in the story his inner beast comes out and he does not even realize that he is a horrible person and does not realize the people that he hurts by being the way he is. The author also intended for the readers to find out the historical background that was hidden and develop a deeper understanding. And to also see the similarities between when the British invaded India and in The Mark of the Beast when the main characters are in India to just get what they need and do not care to learn anything about the natives. They do not even care enough to learn the language and they thought the natives were nasty and did not care for them. Both morals and historical background come in to play a role into a better understanding of The Mark of the Beast.
morals and values are very important and that people need to hold on to our values. Their values at the time were to worry about what they wanted and only what they wanted. This story also shows history and how others need to remember it so that people do not repeat ourselves in the future. It is to try to prevent the same things over again and learn from it but people never listen and history then repeats itself until others decide to listen.
British powers wanted to control India for its natural resources. They wanted to show them and others just how powerful they were. Britain also wanted India for the revolutionary benefits of owing the country. They also wanted India for the new and easier trade routes that they could accomplish when they took control over the land. Online resources prove this by stating that Britain profited from India’s vast supply of tea and cotton. This proves how the British wanted to control India for personal benefits and were inconsiderate to the residents who stayed there. They even helped India before coming into their country and taking it over forcefully. Britain did not care about what happened to people if they got what they wanted. Just as in the story when the characters do not care about the natives but only want what they need and nothing else. What Britain did not realize was that they needed to change their morals as a country to succeed and not by stealing other countries successes and passing it off as their own. But, if someone brings harm to others it will come back and destroy everything and the monster that lurks within will come out. When someone does not put in the effort to learn of the people or natives or how they are, and push them aside like chopped liver it shows just how cruel a person can be. Knowledge is the key to achieving great things and without disasters occur as in the story when the main characters had not acquired knowledge about the natives. Bringing harm to those around never ends well for anyone because someone will end up getting hurt regardless of the situation. The text proves this by stating “His knowledge of natives was, of course, limited, and he complained of the difficulties of the language” (Kipling 1). He did not even put in the effort to even attempt to learn the language. One of the main character lacked morals and will end upsetting the natives in a distasteful and revengeful way just because he does not have good morals for others. The author also uses irony to poke fun at the characters’ morals by them not even realizes just how bad they are. Situations arise in the story where strange occurrences happen to the characters and they do not even realize it. The main text does an excellent job of explaining this by stating “Horrid doggy smell, here, and ‘said he.’ You should really keep those terriers of yours in better order. Try sulfur, Strick.” (Kipling 8). The character does not even realize that the nasty odor of dog was from him. It was from when the natives had turned him into the beast that he really was on the inside. And he has no memory of anything happening to him so he blames it on the other animals, but does not realize that the true animal is him. And he is the only one who can fix that by changing his morals and not only caring about what he wants and realize that he needs to treat others just as good as he treats himself. When or if he ever comes to find that understanding then he will realize just how evil and cruel he was to everyone around him. The main characters suffer from internal conflict within them and struggle to figure out what is the right thing to do.
He struggles with his emotions to try and find the right principles he needs. The text states that “The inner drama of the Cama is that his guest for the River of Life … for, this world of shadows” (Harrison, James. Rudyard Kipling pg.53.). Struggles arise within the character to find the right principles. This proves that the character did struggle internally. He struggled with his morals and the struggle between good and evil. His principles and values were being pulled in separate directions. The River of Life symbolizes the evidence of rightful thinking. While the world of shadows symbolizes the cruelty and darkness that lies
within. Britain wanted the natural resources that India had and took it with force. They needed the resources for the war and India also had many other advantages so Britain just went ahead and took control just because it would benefit its needs. Not even concerned with the people who reside there. They acted like beast just as in the story when the main characters treat the natives the same way. But there was good after effects of Britain taking over India. An example is India’s advanced technology and culture would not have been possible without Britain’s help. Sources prove this by “India is the world’s second-largest growing economy… the boom in Indian call-center and software industries could not have happened without it” (“Columnist” dailmail.co.uk). Indian technology and country standards would not be where they are today if it would not have been for Britain colonizing the country. Britain did invade India without considering the consequences but it also helped India advance to be what it is today. However, in the story there really was not a benefit for the main characters being there. They did not leave anything good or benefitting to the natives after they had departed from there. Britain also wanted India for their trade route and the revolutionary advantage from taking them. The natives did not have a choice at the time they had little or no say at all when it came to the government. Online articles state that Indian nationals had no say in central government and even at a local level, their influence on policy and decision making was minimal. This proves that the natives could not make any important decisions especially when it comes to the government. This made it extremely easy for Britain to come in and take complete control over them and they not have a say. So, Britain decided to act on that decision and take over and take what they wanted. To claim all its natural resources and the benefits of having it. Just as how Fleete, one of the main characters in The Mark of the Beast, acted and sought after what he and his partner wanted. It was just the same because the natives could not control whether they came into their country or not. In both cases the people do not have a say as to anything that will affect them later. India was named the crown jewel in the crown for Britain. They called it this due to all the benefits had that Britain needed and those they got after successfully conquering India. India had viable and important natural resources, they had a perfect trade route, and it was the perfect place for revolutionary success and Britain needed these things during the war. Proof of this is “India was considered the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. Queen Victoria had been made Empress of India and the British had a major military presence in India” (“India 1900 to 1947” historylearning.co.uk). These shows just how important it was and how much more powerful it made Britain by having it under their control. In the story to the main character India is only valued to for how much profit they can make from things there just as India was to Britain. The author ties these two things together to show the readers just how important this event was. Rudyard Kipling does an amazing job of composing this story together and of putting a deeper meaning into it that makes the reader dig and makes them eager to want to know why this piece was written. The author intended for the reader to find out about principles or morals that should be important to everyone but that some people lack and those people are monsters inside and out. Just like Fleete is in the story his inner beast comes out and he does not even realize that he is a horrible person and does not realize the people that he hurts by being the way he is. The author also intended for the readers to find out the historical background that was hidden and develop a deeper understanding. And to also see the similarities between when the British invaded India and in The Mark of the Beast when the main characters are in India to just get what they need and do not care to learn anything about the natives. They do not even care enough to learn the language and they thought the natives were nasty and did not care for them. Both morals and historical background come in to play a role into a better understanding of The Mark of the Beast.