In the story, Rikki- Tikki- Tavi by Rudyard Kipling, a young mongoose is washed away from his family because a flood. A young boy named Teddy finds him in his backyard located in Segowlee Cantonment, India. The family decides to keep Rikki- Tikki as a pet. While Rikki- Tikki was exploring, he encounters two cobras, Nag and Nagaina. As conflicts arise between Rikki- Tikki and the cobras, the reader is able to recognize key traits in the two characters. Rikki- Tikki shows that he is loyal, smart, and brave. Through her actions and thoughts, Nagaina shows that she is protective, smart, and ferocious. The two characters share many similarities and differences. The author of Rikki-Tikki portrays Rikki-Tikki as a character with features that protagonists …show more content…
The main key traits that stood out most were how protective Nagaina was of her small family, her cunning ideas to destroy Rikki-Tikki and his family, and her ferociousness. The author represents Nagaina who would do anything to keep her family safe. Nagaina had formed a plan to get rid of Rikki-Tikki before her eggs hatched so that they had no creature endangering their development and growth. “.......remember that as soon as our eggs in the melon bed hatch, they will need room and quiet”(Kipling 22). Nagaina’s worry for her children showed that she cared for her future children. Another example of how Nagaina is protective of her family is when Rikki-Tikki shows her the last egg remaining. Nagaina instantly turned around and demanded to have the last of her eggs(Kipling 25). The next feature Nagaina has is her clever mind. “ She had crept up behind him as he was talking to make an end of him”(Kipling 18). As Rikki-Tikki was encountering Nag for the first time Nagaina knew that she should attempt to kill Rikki-Tikki so that they could rule the garden without any dangers or fears. Another event in the story that showed her intelligence was when she came up with a plan to make Rikki-Tikki non-existent in their garden. “When the house is emptied of people….he will have to go away, and then the garden will be ours again.( Kipling 22). Nagaina planned to kill Rikki-Tikki’s family so that he would leave. Lastly, Nagaina was a dangerous and violent creature. In the beginning of the story, Nagaina attempts to strike the young Mongoose showing that she was not a snake who wanted to socialize with the other creatures(Kipling 18). The author yet again represents nagaina as a ferocious snake when she attacks Teddy and his parents. “ Look at your friends Rikki. They are still and white. They are afraid. They dare not move, and if you come a step nearer, I strike”(Kipling 25). This occurrence shows that