“Fuzzy Wuzzy” by Rudyard Kipling: A Critical Analysis

(Soudan Expeditionary Force)

We’ve fought with many men acrost the seas,

  An’ some of ’em was brave an’ some was not:

The Paythan an’ the Zulu an’ Burmese;

  But the Fuzzy was the finest o’ the lot.

We never got a ha’porth’s change of ‘im:

  ‘E squatted in the scrub an’ ‘ocked our ‘orses,

‘E cut our sentries up at Suakim,

  An’ ‘e played the cat an’ banjo with our forces.

    So ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your ‘ome in the Soudan;

    You’re a pore benighted ‘eathen but a first-class fightin’ man;

    We gives you your certificate, an’ if you want it signed

    We’ll come an’ ‘ave a romp with you whenever you’re inclined.

We took our chanst among the Khyber ‘ills,

  The Boers knocked us silly at a mile,

The Burman give us Irriwaddy chills,

  An’ a Zulu impi dished us up in style:

But all we ever got from such as they

  Was pop to what the Fuzzy made us swaller;

We ‘eld our bloomin’ own, the papers say,

  But man for man the Fuzzy knocked us ‘oller.

    Then ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an’ the missis and the kid;

    Our orders was to break you, an’ of course we went an’ did.

    We sloshed you with Martinis, an’ it wasn’t ‘ardly fair;

    But for all the odds agin’ you, Fuzzy-Wuz, you broke the square.

‘E ‘asn’t got no papers of ‘is own,

  ‘E ‘asn’t got no medals nor rewards,

So we must certify the skill ‘e’s shown

  In usin’ of ‘is long two-‘anded swords:

When ‘e’s ‘oppin’ in an’ out among the bush

  With ‘is coffin-‘eaded shield an’ shovel-spear,

An ‘appy day with Fuzzy on the rush

  Will last an ‘ealthy Tommy for a year.

    So ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an’ your friends which are no more,

    If we ‘adn’t lost some messmates we would ‘elp you to deplore.

    But give an’ take’s the gospel, an’ we’ll call the bargain fair,

    For if you ‘ave lost more than us, you crumpled up the square!

‘E rushes at the smoke when we let drive,

  An’, before we know, ‘e’s ‘ackin’ at our ‘ead;

‘E’s all ‘ot sand an’ ginger when alive,

  An’ ‘e’s generally shammin’ when ‘e’s dead.

‘E’s a daisy, ‘e’s a ducky, ‘e’s a lamb!

  ‘E’s a injia-rubber idiot on the spree,

‘E’s the on’y thing that doesn’t give a damn

  For a Regiment o’ British Infantree!

    So ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your ‘ome in the Soudan;

    You’re a pore benighted ‘eathen but a first-class fightin’ man;

    An’ ‘ere’s to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, with your ‘ayrick ‘ead of ‘air —

    You big black boundin’ beggar — for you broke a British square!

Critical Questions about “Fuzzy Wuzzy” by Rudyard Kipling

·         How does Kipling portray the British soldiers’ attitudes towards the Fuzzy-Wuzzy warriors?

• Kipling portrays the British soldiers’ attitudes toward the Fuzzy-Wuzzy warriors with a mix of condescension, admiration, and respect. The soldiers refer to the Fuzzy-Wuzzies as “pore benighted ‘eathen,” indicating a sense of racial and cultural superiority typical of colonial attitudes. However, the poem also conveys deep respect for their bravery and combat skills, as seen in the line “But the Fuzzy was the finest o’ the lot.” Despite fighting against the British, the Fuzzy-Wuzzies are celebrated for breaking the British infantry square, an impressive military feat: “Fuzzy-Wuz, you broke the square.” This blend of superiority and respect reflects the complex emotions of the colonizers, who simultaneously view the indigenous warriors as both inferior and formidable.

·         What role does irony play in the poem’s depiction of British and Fuzzy-Wuzzy conflict?

• Irony is central to the poem’s depiction of the conflict between the British soldiers and the Fuzzy-Wuzzies. One prominent example is the speaker’s admission that despite the British soldiers’ advanced weaponry and training, the Fuzzy-Wuzzies were able to break the highly disciplined square formation: “For all the odds agin’ you, Fuzzy-Wuz, you broke the square.” This ironic reversal of expectations—where the British, despite their superior firepower, are outmaneuvered—creates a tension between the imperialist belief in British superiority and the reality of colonial warfare. Another ironic element is the acknowledgment that the fight “wasn’t ‘ardly fair,” referencing the unfair advantage the British had due to their rifles (“Martinis”). The irony lies in how the British soldiers, despite their technological edge, still express genuine respect for the native fighters.

·         How does the poem reflect the racial and cultural stereotypes of Kipling’s time?

• The poem reflects the racial and cultural stereotypes of Kipling’s time through its language and descriptions of the Fuzzy-Wuzzy warriors. The repeated use of phrases like “pore benighted ‘eathen” suggests a view of the Sudanese as uncivilized and spiritually lacking, typical of the colonial mindset. The focus on the Fuzzy-Wuzzies’ appearance, especially their “ayrick ‘ead of ‘air,” exoticizes them and emphasizes their difference from the British soldiers. These stereotypes reinforce the idea of the indigenous people as “other” while simultaneously reducing them to simplified, caricatured identities. However, the soldiers’ grudging admiration for their fighting skills complicates this portrayal, as they are described as “first-class fightin’ men,” suggesting that even in their supposed inferiority, they possess qualities that the British respect and fear.

·         What does the poem suggest about the nature of warfare and the human cost of imperialism?

• “Fuzzy Wuzzy” suggests that warfare, particularly in the context of imperialism, is not only about military superiority but also about resilience, courage, and the personal costs on both sides. While the poem acknowledges the British soldiers’ technological advantage, it highlights how the Fuzzy-Wuzzies’ bravery in battle left a lasting impression: “An ‘appy day with Fuzzy on the rush / Will last an ‘ealthy Tommy for a year.” This line suggests that the psychological toll of facing such fierce resistance weighs heavily on the British soldiers. The repeated references to the fallen comrades of both the British and the Fuzzy-Wuzzies (“If we ‘adn’t lost some messmates we would ‘elp you to deplore”) reveal that warfare is costly for all involved, irrespective of their place in the imperial hierarchy. The poem, through its combination of humor and somber reflection, underscores the human cost of imperialism, even while celebrating British colonial conquests.