The Man Who Would Be King

"The Man Who Would Be King" by Rudyard Kipling is a story set in the late 1800s that looks at big ideas like wanting power, ruling other countries, and how foolish people can be. Two British adventurers, Daniel Dravot and Peachey Carnehan, dream of becoming kings in Kafiristan, a faraway place in Afghanistan. Leaving India, they make a plan to trick the people of Kafiristan into thinking they are gods, which helps them gain control. But things start to go wrong when Dravot wants to marry a local girl and become her king. This makes the people turn against them, showing how dangerous it is to be too proud and how easily things can fall apart. The story is a warning about the problems with trying to take over other countries and how those attempts can fail.