Discussion Topic
Mowgli's Lack of Fear Toward Jungle Animals
Summary:
In The Jungle Book, Mowgli's lack of fear towards jungle animals like Bagheera and the wolves is attributed to his unique upbringing and innate fearlessness. Bagheera, a former captive of humans, has never harmed Mowgli, fostering trust. Mowgli's boldness is noted by Mother Wolf from his first arrival, as he shows no fear despite being alone and vulnerable. This fearlessness, possibly due to naivety or courage, helps him adapt to the jungle's challenges, making him a valuable pack member.
Why doesn't Mowgli fear Bagheera in The Jungle Book?
There is a moment in The Jungle Book in which Mowgli reaches up and under Bagheera's chin. There Mowgli discovers that Bagheera has a bald spot. The panther explains that nobody in the jungle knows that Bagheera carries that mark. It is the mark of a collar, showing Mowgli and readers that Bagheera had been raised in captivity by man. Bagheera freed himself, and he states that he is far more dangerous than Shere Khan because Bagheera knows the ways of men as well as the ways of the jungle. Mowgli then states that everything in the jungle—except for Mowgli himself—fears Bagheera.
“Yes,” said Mowgli, “all the jungle fear Bagheera—all except Mowgli.”
One reason that Mowgli doesn't fear Bagheera is because Bagheera has never given Mowgli a reason to. Bagheera has been one of Mowgli's primary caregivers and teachers since Mowgli first arrived in the jungle and was taken in...
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by the Wolf Pack. Bagheera, the wolves, and Baloo are all fierce predators in their own right, but none of them have ever done anything to Mowgli that would cause him to begin fearing them. Additionally, readers repeatedly see that Mowgli is a boy without fear. It is one of the first things that Mother Wolf notices about him.
“He came naked, by night, alone and very hungry; yet he was not afraid!”
Mowgli will be asked time and again if he is afraid of something or someone, and Mowgli repeatedly responds by asking why he should be afraid. On the one hand, Mowgli could genuinely not be afraid because he is that brave. On the other hand, it could mean that Mowgli is simply too naive and doesn't grasp that he should be afraid. Overall, Bagheera has never given Mowgli a reason to fear him, and Mowgli is not characterized or controlled by fear.
Why isn't the man-cub in The Jungle Book afraid of the wolves?
As Mother Wolf acutely observes, when the man-cub—whom they later name Mowgli—first comes to them, he is naked, alone, and very hungry. But one thing he isn't is frightened. In fact, Mowgli is so fearless that he's already pushed one of Mother's wolf cubs to one side.
Mother Wolf appears astonished that Mowgli is so unafraid. Yet it's not really all that surprising that the man-cub should be like this. After all, he's too young to feel frightened; he doesn't know what the world is like or how dangerous the jungle is.
One might also say that Mowgli has a kind of natural strength that makes him fearless. There's clearly something about this young child that helps him adapt to life in a jungle environment, where, appropriately enough, the law of the jungle prevails.
Mother and Father Wolf can see this quality in Mowgli, which is why they choose not to kill him, as would be their right under the law of the jungle, but to raise him as one of their own. Clearly, they sense that Mowgli would make a worthwhile addition to the pack. Fearlessness is an important quality in this neck of the woods, especially when the fearsome tiger Shere Khan is prowling around.