If—

“If—” is one of Kipling’s most famous poems and one of the most famous poems in the English language. Unlike Kipling’s “The White Man’s Burden,” which is often referred to as a hymn to US Imperialism, the message in “If—” remains relevant in the 21st century, although not without controversy of its own. George Orwell, author of the novels Animal Farm and 1984, called “If—” “sententious,” which means that the poem is prone to moralizing in a pompous or affected manner. He considered Kipling a “jingo imperialist” and “morally insensitive” (Orwell, George. “Rudyard Kipling.” Horizon. London, Sep. 1941). However, he added, “[Kipling] dealt largely in platitudes, and since we live in a world of platitudes, much of what he said sticks.”

Kipling’s reputation has changed as political and social climates have evolved. It may be easy by today’s standards to judge the harsh patriarchal tone of the poem. “If—” is often overshadowed by “White Man’s Burden,” Kipling’s imperialistic poem of 1899. According to Peter Womack, “the imperial theme of “The White Man’s Burden” is at home in the ethical environment of “If—.” He continues, “Imperialism is not an autonomous value which is simply present or absent; rather, it is embedded in the images of masculinity, adulthood, responsibility, and virtue that make up Kipling’s distinctive poetic” (Womack, Peter.