Rikki's Courage

Courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to move beyond that fear. Mongooses achieve this instinctively. They have no fear of death because they move past that and have the courage. The theme of Rikki-tikki-tavi is courage. Rudyard Kipling, the author, showed this through dialogue, imagery and characterization.
Kipling’s choice of words and phrases shows Rikki’s courage throughout the entire story. “Well, Marks or no marks, do you think it is right for you to eat fledglings out of a nest.” Right away Rikki shows he has no fear of Nag. He questions him right away and stands up to him. As his reputation grew people saw that he had no fear but courage. “Don’t kill me,” said Chuchundra. "I didn't--so you must tell me. Quick, Chuchundra,

The first instance that we learn of Rikki is how he was separated from his family at a very young age. “One day, a high summer flood washed him out of the burrow where he lived with his father and mother, and carried him, kicking and clucking, down a roadside ditch.” After that horrific experience he arrived at some humans house. He would not see his parents again but he kept going with his life. “He nearly drowned himself in the bath-tubs.” Rikki is curious and is not afraid to do anything. As he almost drowns in the bathtub, he is either oblivious to the danger of life or does not care about death. “He was afraid for the minute, but it is impossible for a mongoose to stay frightened for any length of time, and though Rikki-tikki had never met a live cobra before.” This was Rikki’s first serious confrontation. He had fear. He was scared of the cobra, but he had to block out the fear and fight for his life. He shows courage by doing this and makes a statement to everyone in the garden that he is not

Kipling uses a mongoose as his leading role. “His war cry as he scuttled through the long grass was: "Rikk-tikk-tikki-tikki-tchk!" This is where Rikki gets his name from his war cry. But his war cry is not just a façade. Mongooses are fierce predators. They are snake killers. They are brave, courageous and feared. “It is the hardest thing in the world to frighten a mongoose.” Kipling’s use of Nag, a great cobra, adds to the characters of this story. "I am Nag. The great God Brahm put his mark upon all our people, when the first cobra spread his hood to keep the sun off Brahm as he slept. Look, and be afraid!" Cobras are an evil creature. Few have the power to defend and kill these animals. One of the few animals that have this power is a mongoose. To put such strong and terrible creature up against another that has had little training with his parents is unfair. Rikki was acting on pure instinct when he took on the great Nag. The one advantage he had was to have the courage to overcome his fears and take on the