Mowgli represents the struggle between civilization and the innate instincts of nature. As a human raised by wolves in the jungle, he embodies the idea of being torn between two worlds: the wild and the civilized. Throughout the story, Mowgli learns essential life lessons from the animals around him, particularly from Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther, who teach him about loyalty, friendship, and survival.
Moreover, Mowgli symbolizes the concept of identity. His journey highlights the quest for self-discovery as he grapples with his human nature versus his upbringing in the jungle. His connection to the animals emphasizes an intrinsic bond with nature, illustrating a key theme of the book—finding one’s place in the world.
Ultimately, Mowgli’s character serves as a mirror to the reader, prompting us to reflect on our own ties to society and the instinctual aspects of our being. Through Mowgli, Rudyard Kipling invites us to question what it truly means to belong and how we navigate the balance of our inner wildness with the expectations of civilization.