Poem Analysis - The Puzzler

An Enigmatic English Identity

Rudyard Kipling's "The Puzzler" presents a wry and somewhat bemused observation of the English character, contrasting it with the perceived straightforwardness of the Celtic people. The poem adopts a tone that is both admiring and slightly exasperated, highlighting the English tendency towards understatement and indirect communication. While the poem never descends into outright criticism, there's a subtle undercurrent of wonder at the English ability to achieve great things while remaining seemingly inscrutable. The mood is mostly consistent, maintaining a light, observational stance throughout.

Kipling and the Empire

Kipling, a celebrated writer of the British Empire era, often explored themes of national identity, duty, and the perceived superiority of the British. His works frequently reflect the social and political attitudes of the time, including a certain degree of nationalistic pride and a belief in the strength and resilience of the British people. This context is crucial for understanding "The Puzzler," as it showcases Kipling's fascination with the unique, often perplexing, traits he attributes to the English character, traits he sees as contributing to their success.

The Inscrutability of Action

One of the primary themes in the poem is the inscrutability of English motives. Kipling repeatedly emphasizes the lack of clear articulation regarding their decisions. Lines such as "For undemocratic reasons and for motives not of State,/They arrive at their conclusions--largely inarticulate" underscore this point. The English seem to operate on a level beyond logical explanation, making their actions unpredictable and almost baffling to outsiders. This is contrasted sharply with the Celt, whose actions are predictable and easily understood.

Straw into Weaver's Beam: Resourcefulness

The poem highlights the theme of unexpected resourcefulness. The image of converting "the straw that they were tickled with" into "a weaver's beam to break their foeman's head with" is particularly striking. It suggests the English possess a remarkable ability to take seemingly trivial or even negative experiences and transform them into instruments of strength and power. This symbolizes their capacity to derive strength from unexpected places, turning perceived weaknesses into advantages. This imagery paints a picture of quiet resilience and hidden potential.

The Power of Silence

The final major theme is the power of silence and understatement. The poem contrasts the loquaciousness of the Celt with the English tendency to remain silent, particularly about their motivations and intentions. "And while the Celt is talking from Valencia to Kirkwall,/The English--ah, the English!--don't say anything at all." This silence is presented not as a weakness, but as a source of strength and perhaps even strategic advantage. By withholding information, the English maintain an air of mystery and control, leaving others to speculate about their intentions. This suggests that their strength lies not in their words, but in their unspoken actions.

Smoking Room Epiphanies

The smoking room serves as a recurring symbol in the poem, representing a space where oblique truths are revealed. It's a place of informal conversation and subtle hints, where "illumination comes" through "clouds of 'Ers' an 'Ums.'" This suggests that the true motivations and reasoning behind English actions are not readily apparent, but can only be gleaned through piecing together fragments of information from casual, often indirect, conversations. The smoking room, therefore, symbolizes the difficulty of fully understanding the English mind.

Unveiling the Puzzle

In conclusion, "The Puzzler" is a complex, somewhat affectionate, portrait of the English character. Through vivid imagery, understated humor, and a focus on themes of inscrutability, resourcefulness, and the power of silence, Kipling paints a picture of a people who are both frustrating and admirable. The poem leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and perhaps a lingering question: is the English character truly as enigmatic as Kipling suggests, or is their apparent simplicity a mask for a more profound depth of understanding?