Kim：吉姆

OneoftheparticularpleasuresofreadingKimisthefullrangeofemotion,knowledge,andexperiencethatRudyardKiplinggiveshiscomplexhero.KimO'Hara,theorphanedsonofanIrishsoldierstationedinIndia,isneitherinnocentnorvictimized.Raisedbyanopium-addictedhalf-castewomansincehisequallydissolutefather'sdeath,theboyhasgrownupinthestreetsofLahore:Thoughhewasburnedblackasanynative;thoughhespokethevernacularbypreference,andhismother-tongueinaclippeduncertainsing-song;thoughheconsortedontermsofperfectequalitywiththesmallboysofthebazar;Kimwaswhite--apoorwhiteoftheverypoorest.Fromhisfatherandthewomanwhoraisedhim,Kimhascometobelievethatagreatdestinyawaitshim.Thedetails,however,areabitfuzzy,consistingastheydoofthewoman'saddledpropheciesof"'agreatRedBullonagreenfield,andtheColonelridingonhistallhorse,yes,and'--droppingintoEnglish--'ninehundreddevils.'"Inthemeantime,Kimamuseshimselfwithintrigues,executing"commissionsbynightonthecrowdedhousetopsforsleekandshinyyoungmenoffashion."Hispeculiarheritageasawhitechildgonenative,combinedwithhis"loveofthegameforitsownsake,"makeshimuniquelysuitedforabiggergame.Andwhen,atlast,thelong-awaitedcolonelcomesalong,KimisrecruitedasaspyinBritain'sstruggletomaintainitscolonialgriponIndia.Kiplingwas,firstandforemost,amanofhistime;bornandraisedinIndiainthe19thcentury,hewasafervidsupporteroftheRaj.Nevertheless,hisportraitofIndiaanditspeopleisremarkablysympathetic.Yes,thereisthestereotypicalWesternizedIndianBabuHureeChanderwithhisatrociousEnglish,butthereisalsoKim'sfriendandmentor,theAfghanihorsetraderMahubAli,andthegentleTibetanlamawithwhomKimtravelsalongtheGrandTrunkRoad.ThehumanityofhischaractersconsistentlybeliesKipling'sprivateprejudices,andraisesKimabovethemererippinggoodyarntothelevelofatimelessclassic.