Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Kim, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Mentorship and Parenthood
Race, Identity, and Colonialism
Connection vs. Detachment
Misogyny
Summary
Analysis
Kim dictates a letter to the lama begging him to meet him in Lucknow. Colonel Creighton confronts Kim, asking him to bring him his “cheroot-case” to his house that evening. Kim inquires after the Colonel, and the letter-writer tells him he is widely known as a fool, particularly in his purchasing of horses. Reflecting on his knowledge of the Colonel, such as Mahbub’s respect for him and his relationship with the Commander-in-Chief, Kim disagrees, reasoning that he is likely the person whom Mahbub spies for. Pleased with himself for not betraying his knowledge of the Colonel’s house—which he had been to before—Kim reflects positively on the Colonel, seeing him as a clever man “after his own heart.”
Successfully passing the colonel’s test, Kim proves his shrewdness and capacity for discretion. This experience enlightens Kim as to the Colonel’s true nature, recognizing in him a kindred spirit—a secretive man who deals in subtleties and codes, treating life as a game. A testament to his powerful people-reading skills, Kim correctly identifies Creighton as not only a man of intelligence—despite his reputation as a fool— and his status as Mahbub’s spymaster.
Themes
Several days later, Father Victor brings Kim to the train station, expressing hope that St. Xavier turns him into a “white man.” On the train, Kim reflects for the first time on the nature of his identity, asking himself: “Who is Kim?” The Colonel sends for him and reveals Kim is to become a chain-man, a position which, the more they talk, gradually becomes clearer to Kim: Creighton will employ him much as Mahbub did. Creighton tells Kim that, though white, he should never look down on black men, claiming there is “no sin as great as ignorance.” Creighton drops Kim in Lucknow, and Kim, convincing the driver to drive him around, revels in the beauty and liveliness of the city.
On the train to St. Xavier’s, Kim experiences an identity crisis. Bombarded by a host of new external pressures and expectations—a novel experience for the former street urchin— Kim clearly feels his life has been taken out of his own hands, forcing him to reckon with the nature of his identity and his place within the world. Once free to do and act as he pleases, Kim is now confronted with a future that is not of his own making.
Themes
Kim spots the lama along a wall and the two reconnect. The lama tells of his travels with the widow, criticizing her incessant talking, and his eventual arrival at the Tirthankars’ Temple, where he now resides. The lama clarifies that he is only in Lucknow to ensure his money is well-spent, not out of affection for Kim. Kim tells the lama he has no friend “but thee,” begging him not to go away. The lama tells Kim not to weep, explaining that “Desire is Illusion.” Still, he is touched by Kim’s expression of love, and promises to return.
Kim and the lama display unprecedented levels of affection, seemingly catalyzed by their sudden, forced separation. Distance, and for Kim, crisis, seem to have opened their eyes to the extent of their mutual devotion. For both characters, this signals a marked shift in their prior worldviews: Kim’s egoism has been tempered, as has the lama’s detachment, despite his insistence otherwise.
Themes
The narrator summarizes Kim’s experiences at St. Xavier’s, describing his friendships with the other boys and his acclimatization to his sahib identity. There, Kim learns to write and do math, new skills which he revels in. When the school holiday begins in August, however, and Kim is instructed to go to a barrack school, he disguises himself as a Hindi—with the help of a bazaar girl—and escapes, intending to visit the daughter of a schoolmaster. Colonel Creighton relates Kim’s disappearance to Mahbub who laughs it off, explaining that Kim has simply gone back to the road. As evidence, Mahbub shares Kim’s letter to him with Creighton, a letter which coyly asks Mahbub to avert Creighton’s anger.
Here, Kim proves his propensity for acclimatization, embracing his education at St. Xavier’s and his new identity as a sahib. However, Kim does not forget his old identity, escaping over break to immerse himself among the native peoples of the country. This underscores Kim’s chameleon-like abilities, as well as the deep allegiance he has to his native country and people; despite the potential consequences, Kim follows his heart.
Themes
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Colonel Creighton wonders whether it is wise for Kim to go off alone, but Mahbub points out he will have to when he joins the “Great Game.” Creighton is unsure, but Mahbub reassures him Kim will show up in a month’s time. This prediction proves true, and a month later Kim meets Mahbub on the Kalka road outside Umballa. Kim recounts his experiences during his time off, including a near-death experience with fireworks, and asks if Creighton has forgiven him. Mahbub says yes but scolds him for taking off. Kim, however, jokes that his vacation was much needed, having already become too much of a sahib. Kim agrees to travel with Mahbub to Umballa.
Reassuring Creighton of Kim’s reliability and competence, Mahbub reveals the extent of his confidence in Kim. Such advocacy speaks to the impact Kim has on those close to him; while he may be mischievous and wily, he can also be incredibly loyal, at least to those who earn his trust. This scene also sheds light on Kim’s personal motivations for leaving St. Xavier’s. Though he has willingly embraced his new life as a sahib, he is clearly concerned about the long-term impact of his acclimatization, fearing that he has already become too white.
Themes
