British colonialism in India, which spanned from the mid-18th to the mid-20th century, marked a period of significant cultural, economic, and political domination by the British Empire over the people of the subcontinent. This period of British rule is often called the “British Raj,” and it lasted from 1858 until 1957. Because India was one of Britain’s largest and most important colonies, “British India” novels like this were popular. As The Jungle Book was written by a staunch British Imperialist during the height of the British Raj, it is strongly influenced by this colonial context. The stories, while rooted in Indian cultural traditions and mostly set in Indian landscapes, are seen through a British lens. They reflect the author's own experiences and perceptions as a British subject born in colonial India, and they paint British rule as a positive and helpful force for good.
The action of the book is mostly located within the dense jungles of central India. Kipling’s language luxuriates in the bright colors, scents, and sounds of the forest. However, the book also ventures beyond the Indian subcontinent, notably in Kotick’s tale "The White Seal." This story is set against the vast expanse of the Bering Sea, an area that delineates the Pacific and Arctic oceans. This variation in setting isn't just a change in the backdrop. It’s part of the book’s colonial project, meant to teach children that all forms of conquest and exploration are good ambitions to pursue. Kipling also introduces readers to Indian villages, the houses of colonial officers, and animal dens.
The jungle itself is strictly divided up into different animal territories. Each has its own rules and its own set of challenges to be navigated. It is a place where the human world and the animal kingdom sometimes intersect, a liminal area with its own laws. It also blurs the line between fantasy and reality, as ancient ruins cast intricate shadows and age-old rivalries clash and multiply. Kipling also incorporates tropes and images from traditional Indian cultural tales and practices into his writing. He uses animal archetypes like the tiger, the cobra, and the elephant, giving the reader a sense of local color. However, the tales containing these animals are not simply retold old tales. They come with Kipling’s British interpretation, in which British rule always comes out on top. Kipling also romanticizes and exoticizes the Indian subcontinent in this book, making it seem like a place of mystery and magic. This was common in the Victorian period, as it made the lands held by the British Empire seem like fantastical, mythological treasures, not countries already full of people.
