Question

Then something began to hurt Mowgli inside him, as he had never been hurt in his life before, and he caught his breath and sobbed, and the tears ran down his face.

“What is it? What is it?" he said. "I do not wish to leave the jungle, and I do not know what this is. Am I dying, Bagheera?"

"No, Little Brother. Those are only tears such as men use," said Bagheera. "Now I know thou art a man, and a man's cub no longer. The jungle is shut indeed to thee henceforward. Let them fall, Mowgli; they are only tears." So Mowgli sat and cried as though his heart would break; and he had never cried in all his life before.

—“Mowgli’s Brothers,” The Jungle Book,
Rudyard Kipling

Why is Mowgli's response unusual?



What does the response indicate to Bagheera?

Answer 1

Mowgli's response is unusual because, until that moment, he has never cried in his life. His tears signify a deep emotional experience that he had not encountered before, suggesting a shift from his previous identity as a carefree jungle creature to a more complex emotional being, akin to humans. The fact that he is sobbing and feeling an intense internal pain indicates a profound realization of loss and separation from the jungle, his home.

Bagheera's interpretation of Mowgli's tears indicates to him that Mowgli has matured and transitioned into manhood. Unlike the carefree existence he held in the jungle, Mowgli's emotional pain signifies that he can now feel deeply, understand the weight of loss, and grapple with the implications of growing up. Bagheera recognizes that these tears is a sign of Mowgli's humanity, marking a pivotal moment where he must now navigate the complexities of human emotions, ultimately signifying the end of his childhood and belonging in the jungle.