Bravery, Duty, and Honor
My Boy Jack is about the famous British author Rudyard Kipling and his belief that all young men have a responsibility to defend their country. This is why Rudyard wants his son Jack to fight in World War I. In fact, he obsesses over the importance of sacrifice and bravery so much that he ignores the very real possibility that Jack might die in combat. Of course, he’s aware that Jack might die, but he…
read analysis of Bravery, Duty, and HonorParental Expectations
In My Boy Jack, Rudyard lets his high expectations as a parent overshadow what his son actually wants out of life. Rudyard wants Jack to become a courageous and respected military official, and this blinds him to the fact that Jack resents him for exerting so much parental pressure. Part of the reason it’s hard for Rudyard to see this dynamic is that Jack legitimately wants to join the army, which makes it seem…
read analysis of Parental ExpectationsPatriotism and the British Empire
My Boy Jack explore the real-life famous writer Rudyard Kipling’s belief in the virtue and superiority of the British Empire. The play’s portrayal of his patriotism is consistent with Kipling’s actual views in real life, since he believed that England’s colonial practices benefited not just England itself, but also the many countries it colonized. Rudyard cares so deeply in My Boy Jack about the threat of World War I because he worries that the…
read analysis of Patriotism and the British EmpireLoss and Resilience
My Boy Jack acknowledges and explores Rudyard’s grief over losing Jack—even if the play also portrays him in a negative light for prioritizing honor and duty over his own son’s life. Both he and his wife, Carrie, are already familiar with what it’s like to lose a child, since one of their daughters, Josephine, died at the age of seven. In many ways, the memory of Josephine haunts the entire family: Jack…
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