In “Mowgli’s Brothers,” the Law of the Jungle serves as a crucial framework for the animal characters and significantly influences Mowgli’s role within the Pack. Specifically, the law stipulates that beasts should not kill a human being without just cause, framing Mowgli as a unique and valued member of the animal community despite his human heritage. This legal structure creates a protective buffer around Mowgli, compelling characters like Akela to advocate for him when tensions arise. Rather than viewing him as prey, Akela appeals to the Pack’s moral consciousness by highlighting the shame in killing a brother without cause. The law not only emphasizes the connection between the members of the Pack but also imparts a sense of duty and responsibility to uphold this code. Consequently, Mowgli navigates the complexities of his dual identity as both man and beast, finding solace and acceptance in the jungle while still facing the perennial threat of being seen as an outsider. Thus, the Law of the Jungle shapes Mowgli's fate, safeguarding him from harm while simultaneously reminding him of the precarious balance between his two worlds.
The Law of the Jungle, which never orders anything without a reason, forbids every beast to eat Man except when he is killing to show his children how to kill . . .
"He is our brother in all but blood," Akela went on; "and ye would kill him here. . . . More I cannot do; but, if ye will, I can save ye the shame that comes of killing a brother against whom there is no fault—a brother spoken for and bought into the Pack according to the Law of the Jungle.”
—“Mowgli’s Brothers,” The Jungle Book,
Rudyard Kipling
Read parts of the text about the law of the jungle. Then write a paragraph analyzing how the law of the jungle affects one character in The Jungle Book.
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