Mowgli, Bod, Values, and Society

In considering The Jungle Book and The Graveyard Book to be conduct books written for children (and adults), and Mowgli and Bod to be the ‘ideal child’, readers are able to ascertain much about the values of good behavior and how they have changed from the late nineteenth to early twenty-first centuries.

               In Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, one of Mowgli’s most admirable characteristics is his obedience. Mowgli is not willing to disobey the laws of the jungle, even when he playfully disobeys his guardians, Baloo and Bagheera. Mowgli learns from the time he is brought into the jungle world that there are rules that must be unconditionally followed; it is just how the jungle works. For the most part, Mowgli obeys the rules. He learns all of the languages of the jungle, even though he does not want to. He obeys his elders during the Pack Council meetings, even though they often look down upon him. If Mowgli does not follow the rules, he is often beaten by Baloo or other members of the jungle. For example, during one lesson when Mowgli runs away from language learning, he is cuffed until bruised by Baloo for defying Baloo’s teachings. Readers are therefore expected to view Mowgli’s obedience to the jungle that accepted him as his most admirable trait.

Mowgli is also loyal to his animal friends, sometimes to the point of being against his own self-interest. Mowgli’s loyalty inhibits his learning and open-mindedness toward life outside the jungle. He refuses Haathi and Akeela’s suggestions that he will one day leave the jungle, claiming that he hates the human world. And once Mowgli actually experiences the human world, he becomes ever more set in his determination to remain a part of the jungle. Mowgli’s fierce loyalty to his family, to guardians, and to his home is also presented as an admirable trait. But in some ways, Mowgli’s loyalty undermines his own learning opportunities. Mowgli’s immediate distrust and anger at the people of village compromises an opportunity to learn about humans and the world to which he will one day return. In this instance, (but admittedly in hindsight) Mowgli’s loyalty is not to his advantage. However, we are expected to respect Mowgli for his unwavering concern for his animal friends and his jungle home. We are also expected to admire the fact that Mowgli (for the most part) does as he is taught and does not violate the laws of the jungle. His fierce loyalty, respect for figures of authority, and obedience are all presented as admirable traits. Mowgli thus gives readers insight into the values of the late nineteenth century. If Mowgli is considered to be the ‘ideal boy’, then obedience, respect for authority, and uncompromising (bordering on hard-headed) loyalty are to be considered ideal traits. The Jungle Book suggests that these traits are most admirable and should be desired and desirable in every human being.

               However, Bod’s value in Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book is slightly different. Although Bod learns the laws of the graveyard, comparable to Mowgli’s learning the laws of the jungle, Bod is encouraged to discover the outside world in the safest manner possible. Bod knows he will one day have to inhabit this human world, and so he takes it as his duty to learn as much as he can. Bod’s unquenchable curiosity is given as his most noteworthy trait. This contrasts with Mowgli, who refuses to learn about his future world, even to the point of hurting his own chances in this world. Additionally, although Bod is expected to be obedient and respect the teachings of his guardians Silas, Mrs. Lupescu, and the Owenses, this doesn’t always happen. For instance, Bod is encouraged by Silas to learn about history and letter-writing from the dead in the graveyard. In addition, when Bod suggests that he should go to school, Silas, although at first unwilling, is convinced when Bod declares he wants to learn about ‘everything’. There are numerous other instances of Bod bending the rules of the graveyard out of personal curiosity, like when he travels into the Potter’s Field and befriends Liza. But in these moments, Bod’s curiosity is not punished in the way Mowgli’s transgressions are. Although Bod may receive a stern reproach or, at most, a spanking, he is then later encouraged to explore again the world he will have to inhabit. Bod’s deep desire to learn and explore is thus presented as an admirable quality.

Additionally, Bod’s deep empathy is also presented as an admirable trait. Throughout The Graveyard Book, Bod is presented as a boy who has the ability to talk to, connect with, and make friends with everyone. He is able to form genuine friendships with a human, a vampire, a werewolf, a witch, and the assorted dead. Bod’s willingness to make new friends with most everyone he meets is given as an admirable trait. Bod’s personality again reveals the values of the twenty-first century. Gaiman is asserting that curiosity, the willingness to experience and learn, and the willingness to be kind and make friends with all different sorts of people are valued most highly in our society today. Obedience, on the other hand, can be put aside for the sake of any of these other characteristics. If rule-breaking is necessary to make friends (like in Bod’s friendship with Liza), so be it.

In The Jungle Book and The Graveyard Book, notions of good and admirable qualities are revealed through the ‘ideal child’ models of Mowgli and Bod. By presenting the personality traits of these boys as admirable, both Kipling and Gaiman are revealing traits that constitute a good human from their respective time periods. For Kipling, obedience, respect for authority, and loyalty are of the utmost importance for Mowgli and for the late-nineteenth century. For Gaiman, however, curiosity, willingness to explore and experience, and empathy are invaluable for Bod and for living in the twenty-first century. As both authors reveal qualities for the making of admirable children and adults through their protagonists Mowgli and Bod, they are also revealing the societal values from their respective eras.

Boundaries Heighten Curiosity

            “The grass is greener on the other side.” We want what we can’t have. The primary difference between The Jungle Book’s Mowgli and The Graveyard Book’s Bod is that Bod can see beyond the graveyard fence to what lies outside of his world – Mowgli is completely submersed in the vastness of the jungle. Because he can see what he can’t have and wonders what the world of the living is like, Bod’s curiosity envelops him and he realizes that there are things he must learn outside of the graveyard to ever hope to live there someday.

            Boundaries have a funny way of heightening curiosity yet clearly defining one’s belonging. Because Bod feels that he doesn’t fit in with the world of the dead, yet he is physically bounded by the graveyard fence, he longs to explore the outside world where he came from and recognizes that there is knowledge out there that he needs. “ ‘I’ve learned a lot in this graveyard,’ said Bod. ‘But there’s a world out there, with the sea in it, and islands, and shipwrecks and pigs. I mean, it’s filled with things I don’t know. And the teachers here have taught me lots of things, but I need more. If I’m going to survive out there, one day” (Gaiman 180). Bod desires to no longer be bound by the fear that the man who killed his family, but rather to face it head-on and learn to protect himself.

            Mowgli, on the other hand, has more of a mental boundary, rather than physical boundary, in the jungle. The Law of the Jungle provides structure to the enormity of the area, but Mowgli has more freedom than Bod does, giving him an outlet for his curiosity. Mowgli can’t see the human world around him and know that he can’t go there. The freedom he has gives him more of a healthy curiosity of the world around him, not a desire to get out.

            In his earlier years, Bod could satisfy his curiosity by asking Silas questions and merely observing the world beyond the fence. But he doesn't always get a clear answer. He was even advised against going some places within the graveyard, like Potter's Field and the Witch's Headstone (Gaiman 100). But now, as he gets older and more confident, the graveyard boundaries are doing nothing but enforcing Bod’s instinct that he cannot learn everything he needs to know while limited in the world of the dead. He longs to be with people like him and to know how to defend himself. The limits of boundaries and laws define where Bod and Mowgli belong, but also spark a desire to break them.

The "Perfect" Child Model

Time always brings about changes, especially when it comes to culture. This difference is very evident when comparing and contrasting The Jungle Book and The Graveyard Book. The differences between Mowgli and Nobody can be boiled down to one simple thing, they are from different time periods. I believe that both Kipling and Gaiman were attempting to write about the ideal child when they chose their main characters. But, of course, these are two rather different things because the books were written more than 100 years apart. In The Jungle Book, Mowgli is an obedient, strong, and brave child. He is the epitome of a manly man, which was the ideal back when Kipling wrote the stories. Now Bod does exhibit some of these traits, such as bravery or courage, but the main difference is the way that the two learn. Mowgli is, for the most part, obedient, he learns by being taught. Bod on the other hand is a much more curious child. He explores more, and wants to go out into the world and learn things on his own. This curiosity exhibits the change in the "perfect" child model that has come about over the past 100 years. No longer is it ideal for children to be perfectly obedient and learn only what they are taught. Nowadays children are expected to figure out some parts of the world for themselves, and be more independent than ever before. Because of this, I believe that Kipling and Gaiman were basically doing the same thing, however the changes in our culture over the last 100 years caused Gaiman to adapt the personality and story of Bod from the original character of Mowgli. Of course The Graveyard Book was based on The Jungle Book, but there are disagreements on just how similar the two are. To me, it seems as though Gaiman was just updating The Jungle Book for modern times and this explains almost all the differences in the characters. It is not that Gaiman chose to change the personality of Bod from Mowgli, but it was dictated by our modern society. Otherwise no one could relate to the book and it would not sell. This change in culture accounts for the main differences between The Jungle Book and The Graveyard Book.

Children's Conduct

The Graveyard Book and The Jungle Book exemplify how children should behave in their respective times. Kipling’s themes reflect a desire for security and social structure while Gaiman’s themes reflect a desire for group happiness and prosperity.

Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, written at the end of the 19^th century, argues that children should be strong and obedient. Mowgli, the idealized male child, exemplifies all of these traits. The main trait is obedience, best exemplified by the law of the jungle. People and animals who obey the law of jungle live in harmony, while those who do not, such as Sheer Khan, the Bandar Log, and the Mugger, all suffer. When the wolf pack is trying to run Mowgli off under the direction of Sheer Khan, his response is, “I have obeyed the law of the jungle,” which should prove his loyalty and utility to the pack (Kipling 16). Other animals echo this theme of obedience, as Billy the Mule says, “All you have to do is obey the man at your head and ask no questions” (Kipling 146). Since disobedience causes problems for the whole group, such as army have problems if a pack mule does not do his job, obedience is a way of ensuring group security.

Neil Gaiman takes a very different approach in dealing with childhood behavior. Written in the early 21^st century, The Graveyard Book contends that children should be curious and empathetic. While curiosity usually results in trouble for Mowgli, leading to his capture by the Bandar Log and subsequent punishment, curiosity is an essential part of Bod’s life. While he does get into trouble for being curious, such as his capture by the ghouls and the man Jack nearly finding him during his encounter with Abanazer, Bod’s curiosity is the only thing that leads him out of the graveyard. Bod recognizes that only by exploring the world and learning new things can he defeat the Jacks and live his life up to his “infinite potential” (Gaiman 179). In addition, the last thing Mrs. Owens tells Bod when leaves the graveyard is to “leave no path untaken,” a task that requires curiosity and the exploration of new places (Gaiman 307). Without curiosity as a motivator, the living would be unable to realize their potential. Besides curiosity, empathy is an emphasized characteristic in the modern child. Bod’s empathy for the plight of Liza Hempstock, leads him on a quest to get a headstone for her. This quest puts him in danger, as he encounters people who can contact Jack. However, in return for empathizing with Liza and trying to help her, she says, “now, perhaps I can do a good turn for you” (Gaiman 132). Liza helps Bod avoid Abanazer and Tom and later becomes his friend. Bod’s empathy for Liza results in greater happiness for Liza and for himself, making two lives better. The power of empathy is something that the modern child should understand and use to help improve collective human life.

Obedience to Law: Mowgli vs. Bod

Mowgli's survival in The Jungle Book, written by Rudyard Kipling, is entirely dependent on his willingness and ability to learn and follow Jungle Law.  Very rarely does the reader see Mowgli disobey the Law, and never purposefully.  When this occurs Mowgli is punished very severely for his transgression, both by his mentors and with being placed in an incredibly dangerous situation.  When compared to Mowgli's (almost) complete obedience to the Law, the reader sees a large distinction to Bod of The Graveyard Book, written by Neil Gaiman.  There are numerous occasions in The Graveyard Book where Bod consciously chooses to disobey the Law, and meets with mixed results because of this.   The fact that Bod is able to weigh the costs and benefits of disobeying the Law, and then act accordingly based on his evaluation, sets him apart from Mowgli.  Due to this difference between the two protagonists, the reader is able to infer that Kipling placed a greater importance on strict obedience to the Law than Gaiman, who allows Bod to bend the Law when he feels it is necessary.

One of the few instances during The Jungle Book in which Mowgli breaks Jungle Law is during "Kaa's Hunting."  Mowgli has not been warned by Baloo to never associate with the Bandar-Log, and as a result he spends time with them, "...and then they gave me nuts and pleasant things to eat..and said I was their blood-brother..and should be their leader one day" (Page 30).  For his mistake, Mowgli is met with a long, harsh tongue-lashing by Baloo.  For breaking the Law, even unknowingly, Mowgli receives stern punishment.  This story illustrates Kipling's views on the importance and unquestionable nature of the Law; it is the duty of all citizens to know it and follow it completely.

Bod breaks Graveyard Law many times, but never as successfully as Chapter Four, "The Witch's Headstone."  He is told countless times never to leave the graveyard because he cannot be protected outside of its borders, but Bod feels such great empathy for Elizabeth Hempstock, due to her being buried on unconsecrated ground without a headstone, that he decides to risk a trip into the living world.  Bod is met with all kinds of peril, but ends up able to find a beautifully colored paperweight to use as a headstone for Liza.  Due to his display of kindness, he gains a very valuable friend in Liza when she shows her approval of her new headstone, "'Not bad,' said a pert voice from the Potter's Field behind him. 'Not bad at all.'"  Liza will in return help Bod on his journeys several times.  Bod bends Graveyard Law when it is to help another individual, the good of a person surpasses the good of the Law.

By comparing these two stories to one another, the reader can hash out themes and viewpoints of the respective authors of both books.  Kipling implies that a strict adherence to the Law is completely necessary, and even a slight misstep is reason enough for punishment.  However, Gaiman suggests that in some situations, a bending of the Law is acceptable if it is necessary to help another person.

Moral Ambiguity versus Binary Morality

First, foremost, and forever: I owe an enormous debt, conscious and, I have no doubt, unconscious, to Rudyard Kipling and the two volumes of his remarkable work The Jungle Book. I read them as a child, excited and impressed, and I've read and re-read them many times since. If you are only familiar with the Disney cartoon, you should really read the stories

—Neil Gaiman, The Graveyard Book, Acknowledgments

            As Gaiman’s epigraph indicates, Kipling’s influence on The Graveyard Book is fairly pervasive, extending to the novel’s narrative structure, character list, and general themes. Although Gaiman’s adaptation parallels The Jungle Book on numerous levels, his 21^st century version presents a novel spin on the binary opposition between good and evil offered up by Kipling.

            In The Jungle Book, the representation of good and evil is fairly clear-cut and easy to identify. Those animals that stray from the jungle law are marked as evil while those that strictly obey the ominous laws of the jungle are commended for their exemplary actions. For example Shere Khan, Mowgli’s nemesis, is characterized as evil when he breaks the jungle law by becoming the first jungle animal to kill (How Fear Came to the Jungle 159).  His selfish actions create a sense of fear, “that walks up and down the jungle by day and by night”(How Fear Came to the Jungle 170). The tiger is eventually eliminated from the plot when he vows to kill Mowgli, breaking yet another jungle law and showing a complete lack of any redeemable qualities.

              In contrast to the often one-sided characters of Kipling’s work, the potential for both good and evil exists in all of Gaiman’s characters. Even Jack, the novel’s most profound conceptualization of evil, is cast in a more humane light than the typical antagonist. Initially Jack’s predatory nature is brought to the forefront as the parallel between his role in The Graveyard Book and Shere Khan’s role in The Jungle Book becomes clear. Just as Shere Khan hunted for baby Mowgli (Mowgli’s Brothers 8-10), so does Jack use his sense of smell to track down baby Bod (How Nobody Came to the Graveyard 9).

However, as the novel progresses Gaiman’s unique macabre sense of humor begins to distort the reader’s perception of Jack’s nature. During a brief interlude in The Witch’s Headstone, the reader witnesses Jack in the kitchen with his grandmother (138). Given his apparent evil nature, Jack’s residence with his grandmother is incongruous with his previously presented disposition. The idea of dual identities in regards to Jack is further emphasized when it is revealed that the fumbling old bachelor Mr. Frost is actually Jack in disguise. Scarlett’s adamant protests that Mr. Frost is indeed nice (256) force the reader to consider which parts of Jack’s personality are innate: the middle aged man living with his grandmother, the harmless Mr. Frost, or the merciless murderer.

Jack’s moral ambiguity reiterates Gaiman’s preference for delving into the psychological and moral depths of his characters versus Kipling’s reliance on a black and white portrayal of morality. Shere Khan is the epitome of selfish evil while Jack represents the idea that perhaps no one is inherently good or bad.

Empathy

Empathy plays a key role in both The Jungle Book and The Graveyard Book. However, the reasoning behind the empathy of the main characters and the rewards they receive differ between the two stories. In The Graveyard Book, empathy is considered the civic duty of all people, in order to help those in need. In The Jungle Book, empathy is used as another means of group survival.

The Lady on the Grey in The Graveyard Book states the importance of empathy when she instructs the graveyard to have “charity,” (Gaiman 30). The Lady on the Grey instructs the graveyard to have charity in taking care of Bod, and be empathetic toward the infant who can not help himself. There are no benefits derived by the graveyard in helping the baby. Mr. Owens, speaking on behalf of his wife, says, “She sees it as doing her duty,” (Gaiman 21). Gaiman believes that people should empathize with others in need, not for any particular gain but simply because they need help. Bod, taken in by the graveyard because of the notion of empathy and charity to those in need, begins to commit charitable acts on his own later in the story. Two of his classmates steal and bully from other students, and Bod helps the classmates and prevents the bullying. Bod gains nothing, except perhaps a feeling of self worth, from helping his fellow students.  Bod helps the students in need because of Gaiman’s notion of empathy for the sake of those in need, and not because of a desire for group survival.

In contrast, characters in The Jungle Book use empathy as a means of survival among the constant threat of the jungle. Mowgli is accepted into the wolf pride in exchange for food, not because of an innate desire to help those in need. The young wolves respond to this exchange, when they say, “The cub can be bought for a price. It is the Law,” (13 Kipling). The wolves have no established desire or need to be empathetic toward the young child, but become empathetic in exchange for food. Akela, after the exchange of food for the child is finalized, states, “Men and their cubs are very wise. He may be a help in time,” (13 Kipling). Akela reveals the nature of empathy in the jungle in this passage. There are no favors amongst its inhabitants; rather help is given in exchange for a price or a perceived value in the future.

Both The Graveyard Book and The Jungle Book display empathy and compassion to a child in need. However, empathy in The Graveyard Book is given because it is perceived as the duty of those who give help. In contrast, The Jungle Book, uses empathy as a bargaining chip for the survival of animals within the jungle.