I think what Kipling’s doing with Tommy is really powerful. The poem shows how society can be hypocritical when it comes to respecting people based on their circumstances. In peacetime, Tommy’s just another soldier doing his job, and he’s treated like any other lowly worker. But when war comes, all of a sudden, he’s a hero, and the same people who ignored him are now praising him. Kipling contrasts these two attitudes to comment on how society often gives respect and recognition only when it’s convenient or necessary, not when it’s truly deserved. This makes the theme of respect in the poem seem a bit empty, like it’s more about appearances than real appreciation.