Anthropomorphism in ‘The Jungle Book’ and ‘The One and Only Ivan’

Anthropomorphism gives human characteristics or behavior like attributes to objects or animals. The use of anthropomorphism is demonstrated throughout the books ‘The Jungle Book’ by Rudyard Kipling and ‘The One and Only Ivan’ by Kathrine Alice Applegate. Mowgli from ‘The Jungle Book’ portrays the main character; however, he is not the one demonstrating anthropomorphism as he is what is known as a man-cub. He is a human raised by a pack of wolves who take him in, and the use of anthropomorphism is demonstrated within the animals of the jungle. In ‘The One and Only Ivan’ anthropomorphism is demonstrated through the use of the first person of a silverback gorilla, named Ivan who is living in a cage at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Applegate and Kipling demonstrate the use of anthropomorphism in their novels to allow readers to understand all human characteristics and emotions are universal and can be shared by all creatures.

In ‘The Jungle Book’ readers are able to see how universal human emotions are portrayed through the use of the animals. Kipling allows readers to see life from a new perspective rather than the typical human view. With the use of anthropomorphism, the animals are able to have thoughts and emotions resulting in them to be just as clever as any humans could be. Readers are able to see the use of emotion in the first chapter, of ‘Mowgli's Brothers’. Tabaqui and Father Wolf are conversating about Shere Khan when Father Wolf remarks with, “‘He has no right!’. Father Wolf began angrily—'By the Law of the Jungle he has no right to change his quarters without due warning. He will frighten every head of game within ten miles, and I—I have to kill for two, these days'” (Kipling, 5). From the use of this quote, readers are able to see right at the start how angry Father Wolf is, and will do what he has to do. Anger being a very human-like characteristic demonstrates to readers not only do humans feel emotions but animals as well. With this emotion, it allows readers to quickly see when a character is feeling a certain way and this is demonstrated in the novel. The use of anthropomorphism allows for the characters of a novel to be categorized into different groups. As Keen has stated, “The conventions of this tradition sort animals into sympathetic and unsympathetic categories, in stereotyped and often racist representations kept fresh through children's books, Disney film adaptations, and even serious literary fiction” (138). Keen here clearly is not the only one demonstrating how these characters throughout ‘The Jungle Book’ is categorized in different groups. Readers are able to understand that through the use of anthropomorphism characters of ‘The Jungle Book’ not only experience emotions and human-like characteristic, but they are also categorized into specific groups just as humans are of today's society. Not only do the characters feel these emotions, but each character possesses human-like positions. The jungle community has the mother, the teacher, the leader, and the enemy. Readers see the role of the mother wolf who is always there for her child and will fight for his life, even though he is not blood. Baloo is the sleepy brown bear who is the generous teacher, and want to teach Mowgli the Law of the Jungle, and what he must do in order to survive in it. Akela is the lone wolf pack leader who leads the pack; however, the pack seems to not want him. Finally, the enemy, Shere Khan, who wants Mowgli dead. Due to the fact, each character possesses anthropomorphized traits, in the end, the animals are still just animals, but Mowgli is different. Mowgli being different shows an emotion unsure to his animal brothers when he needs to leave the wolf pack to escape from Shere Khan. With the animals unsure of seeing a human feel these emotions it allows the readers to see a different side of the animals. Each animal in ‘The Jungle Book’ will always possess some type of humanlike quality which shows readers how similar they are to humans.

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In ‘The One and Only Ivan’ readers, yet again are able to see how universal human traits are through the main character Ivan. This novel is very different as it is told from the perspective of a different species, other than a human. Reading through the eyes of a gorilla is something different and shows that Ivan has a good understanding of the human world. Not only is Ivan discovering different aspects of humans, but readers are also understanding what it is like from a perspective other than oneself. Some actions that humans do may seem quite strange to animals, and readers can see how Ivan feels in the way he expresses himself. Not only does Applegate provide insight to the readers on how some actions humans do arise questions to animals, but Stebbins states in her article, “animal minds make observations about humans and nonhumans that are critical to a full understanding of the relationship between the mental states of animals and human access to them” (115). Right at the start, it is evident to readers Ivan clearly does not like humans as much as humans like him. This is evident when Ivan says, “At times like this I wish humans could understand me the way I can understand them” (Applegate, 48). The fact that Ivan can understand humans allows for readers to sympathize with Ivan in a very heartfelt way. Although it is evident Ivan is not too fond of humans, he does not like to act in an uncivil way. When these two children are banging against Ivan’s glass and throwing pebbles, he had called them “slimy chimps”, but following he had stated, “I’m sorry I called those children slimy chimps. My mother would be ashamed of me” (Applegate, 76). With the use of both these quotes, readers can infer Ivan feels the same type of emotions and possess very similar human-like qualities.

The fact that Ivan possesses these human traits demonstrates just how much Ivan wants to be appreciated and loved; not only for his artistic ability but for who he is. Although he is caged up, his mind seems to take him to another place while he draws. Normally he draws items in his cage such as an apple core, or a banana peel. Mack, the boss, and owner of the animals sell Ivan’s paintings for money. It is evident Mack seems to appreciate his work more than him. This is demonstrated when Ivan says, “My finger painting has been sold for forty dollars (with frame). Mack is happy. He brings me a huge pile of paper and big buckets of paint. ‘Get to work he says’” (Applegate, 200). Mack, solely wants Ivan to keep painting pictures in order for him to entertain the humans, and to be rich. In a way, it a quite selfish act. The fact that Applegate demonstrates how Ivan wants to be appreciated shows how society is. Many individuals of society today want to be valued and appreciated for who they are, but individuals may look past it. Here Applegate is able to incorporate societal problems many humans face every day through the use of anthropomorphism. Ivan knows he should be loved and appreciated for more than just his artistic ability. It is interesting for Applegate to incorporate the use of artistic ability to seek a means of connection between humans and animals. The use of anthropomorphism allows readers to see the human trait of the artistic ability Ivan possesses and for readers to see how it affects him.

Anthropomorphism plays a key role in both ‘The Jungle Book’ and ‘The One and Only Ivan’. Throughout Kipling’s novel, key factors of portraying human-like emotions such as anger played a role in many of characters personalities. The use of portraying certain emotions allows readers to connect on a different level with the characters; even more so with the fact that the characters are not human. Not only do the characters in ‘The Jungle Book’ experience certain emotions, but they all also play a role in being a part of a human-like community. Each of the characters plays a certain role in the jungle community which allows for readers to infer with the use of anthropomorphism humans and animals can experience a very similar lifestyle. Likewise in ‘The One and Only Ivan’, Applegate uses anthropomorphism to express emotion through the main character. In this case, readers get a sense of the main character wanting to be loved and appreciated; as well as the human characteristic of art. Applegate and Kipling are able to provide insight to readers with the use of anthropomorphism in both their novels to help understand all human characteristics and emotions are universal and can be shared by all creatures.

Works Cited

1. Applegate, Katherine A. The One and Only Ivan. 1st ed., Harper Collins, 2012.
2. Keen, Suzanne. “Fast Tracks to Narrative Empathy: Anthropomorphism and Dehumanization in Graphic Narratives”. SubStance, vol. 40, no. 1, 2011, pp. 135–155. JSTOR.
3. Kipling, Rudyard. The Jungle Book., Harper Collins, 2016.
4. Stebbins, Sarah. “Anthropomorphism”. Philosophical Studies: An International Journal for Philosophy in the Analytic Tradition, vol. 69, no. 2/3, 1993, pp. 113–122. JSTOR.