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3. Kaa’s Hunting
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Jungle Book, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Laws of Nature
Human and Animal Relationships
Loyalty
British Imperialism
Coming of Age
Summary
Analysis
This is a song the Bandar-log sing while roaming around the jungle. Primarily, the Bandar-log brag about themselves and the deeds they plan to accomplish. They are proud of their hands and their curved tails and think that the other animals in the jungle are jealous of them. They think they are the most like humans and will accomplish great things. However, as soon as they start to sing about the great things they plan to accomplish, they get distracted and move on to something else.
This song encapsulates the Bandar-log spirit and what Kipling finds repulsive about them. They are an egomaniacal group of beings who care only for themselves, and because of that, they cannot get anything done. Kipling champions collective responsibility and adherence to the established social order, and the Bandar-log represent the opposite of those values.
Themes
