Poem Analysis - Natural Theology

An Exploration of Self-Inflicted Suffering

Rudyard Kipling's "Natural Theology" is a satirical poem that examines humanity's tendency to blame a higher power for problems of its own making. The poem adopts a cynical and ironic tone, presenting a series of characters from different eras who attribute their misfortunes to divine intervention, while the true causes of their suffering lie in their own actions or negligence. This builds to a direct rebuke, shifting the poem from complaint to a more didactic tone.

The Blame Game: Shifting Responsibility Through Time

One of the central themes of the poem is the shifting of responsibility. Each stanza depicts a character from a different historical period, illustrating how this tendency transcends time and societal structure. The "Primitive" man suffers from eating a rotten whale, but blames the Gods. The "Pagan" blames his Gods for the plague, even threatening the priest. The "Medi/Eval" character suffers from contaminated water due to poor sanitation, but blames the Lord. The "Material" farmer's hens die mysteriously, and he faults God. The "Progressive" man mourns his son's death in war, blaming God for the horrors of battle. In each case, the character avoids acknowledging their own role in creating or contributing to their misfortune, instead projecting blame onto a divine entity.

Irony and Hypocrisy: Exposing Human Flaws

The poem is rich in irony, highlighting the hypocrisy inherent in blaming a higher power for problems that are clearly self-inflicted. For example, the "Medi/Eval" man's privy and well draining into each other is a direct cause of illness, yet he blames the Lord for his mother's suffering. Similarly, the "Material" farmer’s intensive farming practices likely contribute to the death of his hens, but he questions his Maker. This irony serves to expose the flaws in human reasoning and the tendency to seek external explanations for internal or self-created issues.

The Kettle as Metaphor: A Universe of Unattended Problems

The kettle in the chorus is a potent symbol for the larger issues explored in the poem. A leaking kettle, left unrepaired, becomes unusable, depriving the characters of tea. This simple analogy represents how neglecting small problems can lead to larger consequences. The line "The bottom is out of the Universe!" exaggerates this idea, suggesting that individual negligence can have widespread, even cosmic, implications. The kettle serves as a microcosm of the characters' larger failures to take responsibility for their actions.

Conclusion: The Burden of Free Will

"Natural Theology" ultimately argues that humanity is responsible for its own fate. The concluding stanzas explicitly state that suffering is not divinely inflicted, but rather a consequence of human choices. The poem emphasizes free will and the idea that "what comes after is measure for measure." Kipling suggests that individuals and societies reap what they sow, and that true affliction comes not from a vengeful God, but from the consequences of their own actions. The poem serves as a cautionary tale, urging readers to acknowledge their own agency and take responsibility for the world they create. The final line, "Only Thyself hath afflicted thee!" is a powerful indictment of humanity's tendency to deflect blame and avoid accountability.