Character Of Nagaina In Rikki Tavi By Rudyard Kipling

Nagaina is from the story “Rikki Tikki Tavi” by Rudyard Kipling. Nagaina, the cunning cobra, is the antagonist in the story who tries to be queen of the garden but gets threatened when Rikki Tikki arrives. She is also a mother of young cobras eggs waiting to hatch and her husband is the vicious Nag. In the story, Nagaina shows that she is quick, murderous and sneaky. First, Nagaina shows how quick she is when she and Rikki Tikki are racing for the last cobra egg. Nagaina outruns Rikki Tikki because “...When a cobra runs for her life she goes like a whiplash across a horse’s neck…”(26). Rikki Tikki still goes chasing after her. Darzee’s wife tries to stop Nagaina but it’s no use. Nagaina goes like an arrow down the path towards her snake hole.

“Nagaina was coiled up on the matting of Teddy’s chair, within easy striking distance of Teddy’s bare leg, and swaying to and fro, singing a song of triumph” (24). Nagaina only cares about killing Teddy’s family because she thinks they are responsible for killing her husband, Nag. “If you move, I strike, and if you don’t move, I strike, Oh foolish people who killed my Nag!” (25) Nagaina sang to herself. Nagaina also shows that she is murderous when she is fighting Rikki Tikki. Nagaina is ruthless when she fights. “Again and again she strikes” (25)! All she wants is revenge on Rikki TIkki and his