Poem Analysis - The Return

Kipling's "The Return": From Boy to Man

Rudyard Kipling's "The Return" is a poignant reflection on the transformative power of war and experience. The poem, written from the perspective of a returning soldier, explores the profound changes he has undergone, moving from naive youth to a thoughtful, more mature individual. The tone is initially conversational and colloquial, shifting to moments of intense reflection and then back to a weary resignation. The poem grapples with themes of identity, disillusionment, and the complex love for one's nation, all viewed through the lens of firsthand experience.

The Crucible of War: A Shaping Influence

Kipling's background as a chronicler of the British Empire heavily influences the poem. While a specific conflict isn't named, the poem evokes the atmosphere of colonial warfare common during Kipling's time. The speaker's Cockney dialect ("'Ackneystadt," "'ave") suggests a working-class background, highlighting the impact of war on those often overlooked by the grand narratives of empire. The references to landscapes and events ("Towns without people, ten times took") paint a picture of a brutal, relentless conflict that reshapes the soldier's perspective.

Forging a "Bloomin' Soul": Identity and Transformation

A central theme is the speaker's personal transformation. The opening stanzas establish his journey from an "average kid" to a "thinkin' man." The catalyst for this change is the shared experience of war and witnessing both the horrors and the quiet heroism of his comrades. He doesn't claim pride or conceit but recognizes "the makin's of a bloomin' soul." This isn't a religious conversion, but rather a deeper understanding of himself and his connection to others. The stark contrast between his youthful innocence and his newfound awareness underscores the profound impact of war on his sense of self.

More Than Just Putty, Brass, and Paint: The Complexity of Patriotism

The poem grapples with a complex form of patriotism. The recurring refrain, "If England was what England seems/An' not the England of our dreams,/But only putty, brass, an' paint,/ 'Ow quick we'd drop 'er! But she ain't!" is a key to understanding the speaker's feelings. He acknowledges the flaws and potential hypocrisy of his nation, suggesting that its superficial aspects are easily discarded. However, he argues that there's something deeper, something that transcends the "putty, brass, an' paint," something worth fighting for. This "something" likely represents the people, the land, and the shared values that constitute the true essence of England.

Landscapes of the Soul: Vivid Imagery and Symbolism

Kipling employs vivid imagery to represent the speaker's internal landscape. The natural world – "Rivers at night that cluck an' jeer," "Plains which the moonshine turns to sea," "Mountains that never let you near" – mirrors the soldier's emotional state. The vastness and indifference of nature contrast with the immediate horrors of war, perhaps suggesting the insignificance of individual lives in the grand scheme of things. The "starvin' dogs that come to look/For owners" are a particularly poignant image, symbolizing the loss, displacement, and the lingering trauma of conflict. These images work together to create a powerful sense of the soldier's internal struggle and his evolving understanding of the world.

After the Roar, the Silence: A Weary Conclusion

The poem concludes with a sense of weary resignation. The speaker, "discharged," is "fall[ing] away/To do with little things again." The transition from the intensity of war to the mundane reality of civilian life is jarring. The final plea, "Gawd, 'oo knows all I cannot say,/Look after me in Thamesfontein!" is ambiguous. "Thamesfontein" is a combination of the River Thames and the Afrikaans word "fontein" meaning a spring, fountain or well. It may be the name of a pub, or a nostalgic invention – a merging of home and the foreign landscapes he has known. The speaker's return home is not presented as a triumph, but as a quiet, almost melancholic acceptance of his fate, forever marked by the experiences he has endured. Ultimately, "The Return" is a powerful exploration of the human cost of war and the enduring impact of experience on the formation of identity.