The parable of John Marcher and his peculiar destiny has spoken to many readers who have speculated on the worth and meaning of human life.

May decides to buy a house in London with the money she inherited from a great aunt, and to spend her days with Marcher, curiously awaiting what fate has in store for him.

However, many critics and ordinary readers have found that his tragedy only dramatizes, with heightened effect, a common longing for an exalting experience that will redeem a humdrum existence, although most individuals will not endure anything like Marcher's final revelation at May's graveside.

James placed "The Beast in the Jungle" at the head of volume 17 of the New York Edition (1907–1909) of his fiction, along with another insightful examination of life and death, "The Altar of the Dead."

In particular, the final sentence ends the tale with a succession of short (for James) but telling phrases: The escape would have been to love her; then, then he would have lived.

He saw the Jungle of his life and saw the lurking Beast; then, while he looked, perceived it, as by a stir of the air, rise, huge and hideous, for the leap that was to settle him.