How did postcolonial critics interpret Rudyard Kipling’s writing?

Postcolonial critics have rekindled an intense interest in the work of Rudyard Kipling by interpreting his writing as both symptomatic and critical of imperialist attitudes.1

While Kipling is widely remembered for his celebration of British imperialism and his belief in a civilizing mission—which required white men to bring European culture to those he considered "heathen natives"—modern scholarship examines the complexities within his prose. Rather than viewing his work solely as jingoistic, postcolonial analysis often explores how his stories reflect the tensions and contradictions inherent in the colonial project. This critical re-evaluation highlights how his later, more elliptical and sombre works offer deeper implications regarding the nature of empire and xenophobia.1