A Lethal Lust: Emotion and Downfall in "The Man Who Would Be King" Lachlan Murdoch MacLean 11th Grade

Beauty is easy to find within the basics of human nature, such as elemental love or the innocent playfulness of children, untouched by the world’s nastier truths. However, primal instincts held within mankind are not always as elegant as one would hope, for lust, greed and the thirst for power are capable of driving one beyond their better judgement. These very emotions present themselves within Rudyard Kipling’s “The Man Who Would Be King” and bring the downfall of Daniel as his lack of insight blinds him from an indisputable reality.

Though Daniel and his partner-in-crime Peachy successfully infiltrated the country of Kafiristan and built their statuses as gods, Daniel became lost in all of the glory. He, out of the two friends, became increasingly more enthusiastic to play out his role as the king. After a few months passed and he settled into his newfound position, he desired more than gold and glory; “The winter’s coming and these people won’t be giving much trouble, and if they do we can’t move about. I want a wife” (Kipling 105). In his eyes, the only thing that would make him more godly was to have a family and to raise a heir to his throne. Within this idea alone, many potential problems are present. The task of...