Kim is a novel about a young boy named Kim and his maturation into an adult. In the meantime he has many adventures playing the "Great Game" and trying to help the Lama achieve "freedom from the Wheel of Things" (Kipling 12). A Bildungsroman is a novel that shows the development of a child maturing into an adult in which the protagonist identifies his or her role in the world (Bedford Glossary 39). Rudyard Kipling uses characterization, themes, and setting to develop the idea of ​​Kim as a Bildungsroman. Even as we see Kim mature over the course of the novel, she continues to question her place in the world. Kim is therefore an incomplete Bildungsroman. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The way an author “describes and develops” (Bedford Glossary 56) a character is known as characterization. Kim is an incomplete Bildungsroman and Kipling uses characterization to develop this idea. Kim faces many difficult situations that are “largely adult in their form and meaning” (Kaul 427). At the beginning of the novel Kim discusses the Lama with Mahbub Ali stating, “I tell you he cannot lie, as you and I know” (Kipling 20). This shows how Kim, although she was a child at the time, does not possess the innocence we attribute to childhood. He faced difficult and adult situations, forcing him to grow up early. However, he has not reached a level of maturity in the sense that he considers it a negative trait that the Lama cannot lie. As Kim ages and matures, she begins to question her existence, her role in the world. He says: “I am Kim. I'm Kim. And what is Kim?" (Kipling 234) This shows how Kim's character is reaching maturity by asking himself this profound question. Rather than telling us, Kipling uses indirect characterization to show the development of the character Kim through things that says, thinks and does. Kim discusses two key themes, loyalty and race. Kim has loyalty to many people including Mahbub Ali, Lurgan Sahib and, above all, the Lama. His loyalty is personal, professional and sometimes a combination of both. At the beginning of the novel, Kim is loyal only to himself. This changes when he begins to develop a deeper relationship with the Lama. Kim's loyalty to the Lama turns into love, as can be seen in a conversation between Kim and Mahbub Ali when Kim says, “but that value I see, and to him my heart is drawn” (Kipling 122) Kim's relationship with Mahbub Ali also grows over the course of the novel to become one of mutual respect and even admiration. As Kim's loyalties change, we see him mature. Race is another topic discussed in Kim. Kim is white, the Lama is from Tibet, Mahbub Ali is from Afghanistan “that mysterious land beyond the passes of the North” (Kipling 18) and we also meet Jat, Hindu and Sikh characters among many others. It's interesting how Kim treats people of other races compared to how other characters treat people of other races. Although Kim differentiates between races, he does not treat people differently if they are of a different race, hence his nickname "All the World's Little Friend" (Kipling 5). Kim's acceptance of people of other races demonstrates his maturity, even as a child he accepted a feat that many adults struggle with. Kipling uses themes to develop Kim's Bildungsroman. Kim is set in colonial India in the 1880s and 1890s (Kling 297). The “Great Game” is at the center of Kim. It involves the struggle between Britain and Russia for control of the Middle East and Central Asia (Kling 302). It was a difficult time to live in.