Fearlessness In Tikki-Tavi, By Rudyard Kipling

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” -Vincent Van Gogh. This means that if anything is to be accomplished, fearlessness is a key factor in pursuing the goal. Actually, fearlessness is the key factor in pursuing a goal. This important message is shown in the short story, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. The theme of the fictional story Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling is having courage will help achieve goals. Rikki-Tikki is a very determined and brave character in the story. For example, Rikki-Tikki stands up to Nag when he eats Darzee’s fledglings (paragraph 25). This piece of evidence shows that Rikki-Tikki has courage because he had the willpower to stand up to Nag even though he has never met a cobra before and was scared.

For instance, she was planning on killing Rikki-Tikki and the family so that she and Nag could be king and queen of the garden (paragraphs 49-51). This proves she’s selfish because she wanted to kill them just so she and her family could live happily. This event doesn’t display the theme because even though she had the courage to kill Rikki-Tikki and the family, she didn’t achieve her goal. In addition, Nagaina threatens to kill Teddy again as revenge because Rikki-Tikki killed Nag (paragraph 84). This shows that Nagaina is wicked because she is threatening to kill a little boy, but fails anyway because Rikki-Tikki defeats her. Thus, the theme isn’t displayed because Nagaina failed at her goal once again. In conclusion, the wicked, selfish, cobra, Nagaina, is another important character in the

For example, Rikki-Tikki says, “It must be the head...the head above the hood; and when I am once there, I must not let go,” (paragraph 57). This example of anthropomorphism illustrates Rikki-Tikki’s courage. Even though Rikki was slightly terrified of Nag, he pushed himself to kill him to save the garden from harm. In addition, Rikki tells Nagaina, “Yes, you will go away, and you will never come back,” (paragraph 94). This quote shows that his bravery and determination has paid off. Once he killed Nag and crushed all but one of Nagaina’s eggs, he finally drove her away from the garden. In conclusion, personification and anthropomorphism are used by the author, Rudyard Kipling, to show the theme, having courage will help achieve goals. Courage will help achieve goals is the theme of the fictional story, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, by Rudyard Kipling. Rikki-Tikki was the protagonist and Nagaina, the cobra, was the antagonist. They both have opposite characteristics so Nagaina doesn’t display the theme well while Rikki-Tikki does. Also, the theme was well displayed through the author’s use of personification and anthropomorphism. In conclusion, we should all have courage whenever we attempt anything, just like Vincent Van Gogh said. Without it, we will never accomplish