In the story of “Rikki-tikki-tavi” by Joseph Rudyard Kipling, Nagaina, an antagonist, is a black cobra lurking in a garden in India with an evil intent for everyone who gets in her way. Nagaina ruled the garden along with Nag, a fellow black cobra, until the family that lived in the bungalow ,which was next to the garden, recently took in a mongoose, named Rikki-tikki-tavi, who threatens their rule. Throughout this story Nagaina has proven herself to be protective, cold-hearted, and ill-willed. First of all, the black cobra, Nagaina, showcases how she is protective for her young or just protective in general. Nagaina show her ability to be protective when on the veranda she is faced with a decision. “Nagaina spun clear round, forgetting everything for the sake of the one egg…” (25). Nagaina’s feeling of needing to avenge Nag is suddenly forgotten about and she even willing to do anything for the sake of that last egg. You could tell she was desperate because of the way she reacted to that. “ The big snake turned half around and saw the …show more content…
“Stay still, I’m not ready yet… If you move, I strike, and if you don’t move, I strike.” (24) Nagaina said this showing no mercy to those that she takes dislike in. She displays how cold-hearted she was in multiple parts, threatening to harm or kill people. “Rikki-tikki, I led Nagaina toward the house,and she has gone to the veranda and -oh come quickly- she means killing” (24) This other example shows how cruel and merciless that Nagaina is and how she will do whatever it takes to carry out her revenge or terrorize the people and animals around. “She had crept up behind him as he was talking to make an end of him; and he heard her savage hiss as the stroke missed.” There are countless times Nagaina tried harming people or animals just showing how persistent in killing the people who she hates showing how cold-hearted she