If—

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1910

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Summary

Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Themes

The Virtues of Stoicism

One of the major themes addressed by Kipling’s “If—” is virtue as it relates to stoicism. The speaker of the poem advises the reader not to complain about loss and hardship, to endure pain, and to maintain strength and self-constraint.

Stoicism has its roots in ancient Greek philosophy. The Stoics believed that emotions like anger, embarrassment, and fear were negative qualities. The person who had attained moral and intellectual perfection, a “sage,” was free from these undesirable attributes. Later Stoics of the Roman Empire, such as Seneca and Epictetus, believed that to control one’s emotions and live a life of virtue would make one impervious to misfortune and unhappiness.

The reader of “If—” is advised to avoid extremes and to be modest so that they can “talk with crowds and keep [their] virtue” (Line 25) and “walk with Kings” (Line 26) without losing—nor lose the ability to get along with or appeal to ordinary people.

Readers should also be humble, and they should let go of harmful things and remain positive. The speaker advises as well to never pay attention to negative or critical people. These virtues are the pathways to success.

Ideal Behavior and Paradoxes

Kipling uses opposites—or paradoxes—to help flesh out the type of ideal behavior that leads to and/or defines virtuous living. These ostensibly self-contradictory statements or propositions include virtue without arrogance, dispassion while demonstrating fortitude, and practicing nobility while at the same time remaining humble. For some, it might sound counterintuitive to maintain self-restraint and a humble sense of self while at the same time practicing nobility and focusing on the self. For others, it might sound like common sense to avoid arrogance while practicing virtuous living. What Kipling points out by pairing these paradoxical attributes is how easy it is for people to develop an elevated sense of self.

Success also plays a large role in managing ideal behavior. In the poem, the speaker (father, mentor) informs the listener (son, reader) that defeat is a part of life. If one fails to attain success, one must not give up. The speaker maintains the pairing of success and defeat throughout the poem, informing the reader that to lose “and start again at your beginnings / And never breathe a word about your loss” (Lines 19-20), one can become a successful person in life. Kipling therefore suggests that there are highs and lows in life as related to circumstances, but there shouldn’t be excess when it comes to character attributes.

On Being a Man

On a literal level, Kipling’s “If—” finds inspiration from two male figures that were important in his life: his son and Leander Starr Jameson. This interpretation alone would limit the appeal of the poem; however, the use of general terms and non-gender specific references (until the final line of the poem) enable the poem to appeal to anyone.

However, this wide appeal, accompanied by Kipling’s “jingo imperialism,” does not rescue the poem from criticism on this front. Critic James Jeffrey calls Kipling “one of the most sexist dead white men among a sizeable roster” (Jeffrey, James. “You’ll be a Man, My Son!” The Critic, 27 June 2020).

This reading also connects to Britain’s view of itself at the turn of the 20th century. As a colonizer of a large percentage of the world, its young men, soldiers, and would-be leaders needed to feel worthy of playing a role in the world’s largest empire.

As the writer of The Jungle Book and other stories about human archetypes in animal form, Kipling was aware that “being a man” can mean different things. On the one hand, being a man in the conventional/heteronormative sense is a person with the qualities traditionally associated with males, such as bravery, spirit, or toughness. On the other hand, it could simply refer to a man as opposed to an animal—in other words, man means human, mankind means humankind—or a “greater” being (human) compared to a “lesser” being (chicken).

The capitalization may also suggest a hierarchical position, such as one where authority determines management or oversight over others. Just as boys can relate to the predicaments of Cinderella or the curiosity of Alice, those who are not the stereotypical definition of being a man can find encouragement in the poem; they can share an affinity with the young man who is being addressed in Kipling’s “If—” and thereby live virtuous lives.