In the first three stories of The Jungle Book, which form a self-contained narrative about the childhood and boyhood of Mowgli, the Law of the Jungle is introduced early when Father Wolf remarks that Shere Khan is breaking it. Since the Law of the Jungle provides the moral code for all the jungle people, the first and paramount virtue is learning and keeping to it. In "Kaa's Hunting," Mowgli impatiently flouts the Law and is promptly punished when he is captured by the Monkey People, who are contemptible because they have no Law, meaning that their lives are sordid and ineffectual. They do nothing but annoy the jungle people, shrieking and gibbering at them from the fringes of their ordered society.

The Law of the Jungle enforces strict boundaries of etiquette. Each animal must know his or her place, including the correct hunting ground, how to move hunting grounds without angering other predators, and how to address other animals politely. However, the Law is also ruthless. Courage and strength are good while cowardice and weakness cannot be tolerated. When Akela, the leader of the Wolf Pack, can no longer make his kill, it is expected that a younger, stronger wolf will kill him and take his place. Shere Khan, though he is a tiger and should be at the top of the jungle hierarchy, is despised for weakness and cowardice since he is lame and seeks easy prey.