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Mongoose Good, Cobras Bad

Who is Rikki-tikki? Whats a mongoose? Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, is a story by Rudyard Kipling,
about a mongoose who is taken into the care of an English family after being washed away from
his family during a flood. The transition from a normal mongoose family, to a family of humans,
creates the fish out of water scenario. Rikki-tikki, is unfamiliar to his new surroundings and
experiences growth as the story goes on. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, has the central conflict of Good vs
Evil, an everyday conflict for some humans. In common Good vs. Evil stories, there are heroes
and Rikki-tikki portrays one as he saves his human family from cobras, Nag and Nagain. Kipling
uses rhetorical devices, anthropomorphism and epithet in order to create a bridge that helps
readers understand the actions and roles of the animals.
Anthropomorphism is the device Kipling uses that helps readers understand the plot of
this story, he gives the animals human characteristics. (Wikipedia) Throughout the text, these
animals are able to uphold conversations with each other. The creation of the several dialogue,
humanizes the animals. During the beginning of the story the narrator describes Rikki Tikkis
actions, so Rikki-tikkis personality is shown through his first conversation of the story with
Darzee, the Tailorbird. In the conversation between Rikki-tikki and Darzee:
What is the matter? asked Rikki-tikki. We are very miserable, said Darzee. One of
our babies fell out of the nest yesterday and Nag ate him.Hm! said Rikki-tikki, that is
very sad but I am a stranger here. Who is Nag?
You are able to sense that these animals have emotions, another human characteristic
implemented with these creatures. Rikki-tikki express empathy, for Darzee who has lost one of
his eggs who actually is effected by losing a child. Another example of these animals expressing
emotions is when Darzee told Rikki-tikki about Nagain mourning over Nags death. Snakes and

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emotions dont really come to the minds off most people, so imagining a cobra sad makes the
snake less like a villain and a bit more human. The emotions of these creatures develop the plot
further, since Rikki-tikki felt the need to keep his owners safe he came up with a plan erase
cobras from the future. He tells Darzee:
Darzee, if you have a grain of sense you will fly off to the stables and pretend that
your wing is broken, and let Nagaina chase you away to this bush. I must get to the
melon-bed, and if I went there now shed see me.
This shows Rikki-tikki plotting, and mongooses dont really come up with plans, their actions
are purely instinct. This humanizes him further because it shows Rikki-tikki is actually smart and
able to think like a human. Not only does Rikki-tikki plot, but so does Nag and Nagain. In order
to get rid of Rikki-tikki, Nag has plotted to wait and kill the humans and then Rikki-tikki. These
snakes were made out to be smarter than usual snakes, giving them a human characteristic like
Rikki-tikki. During their plotting though, Nag had a sense of morality. He didnt want to kill the
humans, he found it unnecessary and asked Nagain But are you sure that there is anything to be
gained by killing the people? Snakes just attack when they feel threatened, so Nag is humanized
because he actually has morals. Both the hero and villains express human characteristics, so
readers are able to understand their actions better.
The main conflict of this story is Good vs Evil, with Rikki-tikki as the hero and Nag and
Nagain as the villains. Kipling uses epithets, the rhetorical device of using an adjective or
adjective phrase to describe Rikki-tikki, Nag and Nagain for their roles as hero and villains.
(Wikipedia) Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, states that, heroes are a combination
of virtues, which include, but are not limited to, joy, hope, love, serenity, loyalty, humility,
perseverance, faith, and honesty. (myhero.org) Even before becoming the hero of the story,

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Rikki-tikki has been described with positive words, similar to those listed by Campbell. During
the first night Rikki-tikki sleeps with Teddy, the child of the family, the mother questioned if
Rikki-tikki should be so close to her boy, but the father replies Teddys safer with that little
beast than if he had a bloodhound to watch him. Rikki-tikki is a creature the parents can trust,
so he has this protective description that other heroes in various tales have. Killing the small
snake Karait, was the first accomplishment that gave the hero title to Rikki-tikki, so the father of
the family called Rikki-tikki their providence. Providence stands for the protective care of nature
as a spiritual power. After the killings of Nag, Nagain and their eggs, Darzee exclaimed about
Rikki-tikki being valiant. Rikki-tikki had been described as a hero not only by his family, but
also by most of the creatures in the garden since many of them were prey for the cobras. With
complete opposite descriptions of the hero, Nag and Nagain, were deemed villains from their
very first appearance in the story. The adjectives associated with Nag and Nagain, were primarily
negative, suggesting that they were villains. As Nag has his first encounter with Rikki-tikki his
entrance was stated, ...from the thick grass at the foot of the bush there came a low hiss a
horrid cold sound that made Rikki-tikki jump back two clear feet. Horrid and cold, create an
unfriendly image as readers picture Nag slithering out from a bush. Cold is also used to describe
Nags heart, when Kipling states Nag knew that too and, at the bottom of his cold heart, he was
afraid. Readers can understand that Nag is evil, since cold heart wouldnt be associated with
good characters. Nagain, is part of the villain duo and her entrance is also deemed dark. As
Rikki-tikki dodges Nagains ambush on him, its stated that He heard her savage hiss as the
stroke missed. Savage was used for describing her hiss, which sends chills to the readers since a
snakes hiss can have that effect. The readers first encounter with Nag and Nagain, are similar in
which they are not the friendliest characters that appear in Rikki-Tikki-Tavi.

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Through the use of anthropomorphism and epithets, Kipling is able to help readers
understand why there is a Good vs Evil conflict. Using these rhetorical devices allow readers to
understand why Rikki-tikki, Nag and Nagian did the actions. Personifying human characteristics
on these animals makes it easier for readers to be in their shoes. The several adjectives used to
describe these main characters allow readers to associate which character had which role. The
positive adjectives that gave off the feeling of a hero were primarily used to describe Rikki-tikki.
The dark language that described Nag and Nagain, helped implement the idea that they were the
villains. Readers understand now why Rikki-tikki is battling against Nag and Nagain, because
readers are able to infer that it is a typical Good vs Bad story.

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Works Cited
"Anthropomorphism." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Feb. 2015. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropomorphism>.
"Epithet." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Dec. 2014. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
Harper, Charles. "Heroic Virtues: AN INTRODUCTION." The MY HERO Project: Forum. 1
Jan. 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2015. <http://myhero.com/forum/>.
"Joseph Campbell." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 6 Feb. 2015. Web. 23 Feb. 2015.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Campbell>.
Kipling, Rudyard. "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi." The Jungle Book. N.p.: Macmillan, 1894. N. pag. Print.