Poem Analysis - Rimmon

Rudyard Kipling's "Rimmon" is a cynical and disillusioned exploration of faith, duty, and the compromises one makes in the face of societal pressure. The poem recounts the speaker's internal conflict as he outwardly participates in the worship of a false god, Rimmon, despite having witnessed its impotence and absurdity. The tone is initially resigned, tinged with bitterness, gradually intensifying into a more explicit contempt. The poem is a study in hypocrisy, born of political expediency and the enduring power of tradition.

A God Exposed as False

One of the poem's central themes is the exposure of false idols and the loss of genuine faith. The speaker and his comrades once held their own god in high regard, as evidenced by the "sacred ark" and the "virtuous men that knelt." However, their faith is shattered when they discover nothing more than an "uncleanly image" in the ark, a stark contrast to the divine presence they had imagined. This disillusionment extends to Rimmon, whose perceived power is revealed as a hollow facade. The "gilt, swag-bellied idol" is not a symbol of genuine authority but a grotesque representation of empty power, maintained only through spectacle and coercion.

The Weight of Tradition

Another significant theme is the conflict between individual conviction and societal expectation. The speaker's repeated bowing "for my father's sake" highlights the pressure to conform to established traditions, even when those traditions are recognized as hollow. This act of bowing becomes a symbol of the speaker's internal struggle. He knows Rimmon is a "dog," yet he still outwardly submits. This tension underscores the difficulties of challenging deeply ingrained beliefs and practices, particularly when those beliefs are tied to familial duty and social stability. The priests’ actions, hiding the truth and restoring the idol “because he had won us the war,” illustrate how easily truth can be sacrificed for political gain.

Imagery of Decay and Disillusionment

Kipling employs vivid imagery to convey the poem's themes of decay and disillusionment. The description of Rimmon as a "gilt, swag-bellied idol" suggests corruption and excess. The image of the idol lying "By the picket-pins that the dogs defile, / In the dung and the dust" is particularly powerful, emphasizing the god's degradation and the soldiers' contempt. This imagery contrasts sharply with the earlier descriptions of reverence and faith, highlighting the depth of the speaker's disillusionment. The "scorched and a scornful land" further emphasizes the barren spiritual landscape in which this false worship takes place.

Hypocrisy as Self-Preservation

The poem ultimately portrays a world where hypocrisy becomes a necessary form of self-preservation. The speaker's outward compliance with Rimmon's worship is not an act of genuine faith but a pragmatic choice to avoid social repercussions. His bowed head and feigned quaking are a performance, a calculated act of deception. The poem raises a question: is it morally justifiable to participate in a charade when the alternative might be social ostracism or even punishment? "Rimmon" suggests that in a world dominated by power and tradition, individuals may be forced to compromise their principles in order to survive.