“The Hill of Illusion” by Rudyard Kipling Joseph
“The Hill of Illusion” is a short story(about 6 pages long) by Joseph Rudyard KiplingJoseph. Its writer was born in Bombay on 30 December 1865. He was an English writer, journalist and poet, who lived the most of his life in England, in India and in South Africa. Some of his well-known stories are “The Man Who Would Be King” (1888) and “The Jungle Book” (1894) and his most famous poem is “If—“(1910). He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. He was the first English author and the youngest recipient to receive this award. He died on 18January 1936.
This short story was first published in the Civil and Military Gazette on 28 September 1887. It is written as a dialogue set in India in which two lovers (he and she) discuss. In the beginning, it seems that they want to elope. But, during their dialogue, they find out some characteristics of each other which are obstacles to their love affair. In the end, when they say goodbye, they do not trust each other anymore.
The man is 20 years old, a fresh comer to India wanting to run away with his lover. As the story continues, we understand that he is short-tempered. When she talks to him about other men, he becomes jealous.
“She: Nothing. You must grow accustomed to my ways. If I’m boring you I can go home. Here’s Captain Congleton coming. I dare say he’ll be willing to escort me.
He: Goose! Between us, too! Damn Captain Congleton. There!”
She is 16 years old, married with an old man. She is skeptical about the future and how his behavior will change. She is afraid of the scandal that will follow after the elopement. She cannot trust herself and she is not persuaded by his words.
SHE: There! The moment I begin to object, you get angry. What will you do when I am only your property—stolen property? It can’t be, Guy. It can’t be! I thought it could, but it can’t. You’ll get tired of me.
HE: I tell you I shall not. Won’t anything make you understand that?
The main theme of the story is love between two youngsters and their possible elopement. But doubts arise to them about their affair. They are not sure about their feelings asthe jealousy and the thoughts that come in their minds are obstacles to their love.
In this part of the dialogue, it is clear that both of them have doubts for their feelings.
He: I suppose I ought to say that I can trust you. I’ve ample reason.
She: Please don’t, dear. It hurts as much as if you hit me.
He: It isn’t exactly pleasant for me.
She: I can’t help it. I wish I were dead! I can’t trust you and I don’t trust myself. Oh, Guy, let it die away and be forgotten!
The title “The Hill of Illusion” shows this condition of uncertainty in their love. Finally, they do not trust each other and what they thought about each other in the beginning turned into doubts.
“The Hill of Illusion” is a nice short story which provokes thoughts to the readers. It is not an adventurous or a fascinating story but holds our interest. Although it was written more than 100 years ago, it holds a universal value since some parts of the dialogue could be the same between two lovers nowadays. It is definitely worth reading it. If you do want to read it, you can find it on
http://www.telelib.com/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/UndertheDeodars/illusion.html.
Bibliography
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rudyard-Kipling
http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/rg_hillillusion1.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudyard_Kipling
Παναγιώτης Παρνασσάς (Β3), Πρότυπο ΓΕΛ Ευαγγελικής Σχολής Σμύρνης